By Rich Carlson, Restoration Ecologist, USFWS Puget Sound
Coastal Program
At the turn of the 19th century, a 3,300-foot
dike was constructed around the salt marsh wetlands of the Union River Estuary
in Lynch Cove, near Belfair, Wash. The
property was used for cattle and hay production and the dike was meant to block
tidal waters and create a pasture for farming.
The dike served that purpose for nearly 100 years before it
was purchased by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) in
2006. The WDFW determined that restoring
the historic estuary on the property would provide greatest benefit to wildlife.
Today, the property is part of the WDFW’s Wildlife Area Program which seeks to increase fish and wildlife
production, and hunting/fishing opportunities for the public.
This project is located in one of the most important winter
waterfowl areas in Hood Canal and South Puget Sound. The salt marsh is
particularly attractive to large numbers of migratory birds and other
wetland-dependent fish and wildlife species. Shorebirds and waterfowl
seasonally concentrate along the shoreline and depend upon the estuary and the
surrounding saltwater wetlands for feeding and resting areas.
Union River Estuary, Photo credit: Rich Carlson, USFWS
The project included a new trail over the wetlands. This trail opened to the public October 25, 2013. The trail is an extension of the popular
Theler Wetlands trail system, which stretches across two miles of Hood Canal
shoreline. Local schools will help
monitor the estuary for the natural tidal processes that restore vegetation and
attract fish wildlife to the area. You
are invited to come out and enjoy this estuary year round. The best access is to park at Theler Community Center, and walk east on the marked trail.
The successful transformation came about through work by
many of our partners. WDFW worked with the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group
(HCSEG) to secure a design grant from the Washington State Salmon Recovery
Funding Board in 2011.
This grant enabled WDFW and HCSEG to form a project design group. The design group consisted of WDFW, USFWS,
the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, North Mason School District, Theler
Wetlands Board, Skokomish Indian Tribe, and the Hood Canal Coordinating Council.
Public outreach was a priority for the
design group, which used public meetings, press releases, and meetings with
elected officials to solicit input on the project.
The design committee developed and reviewed 13 design alternatives
incorporating public comments into the designs.
The final design was considered the best balance of habitat benefits for
fish and wildlife, education and recreation opportunities for people.
The final design called for breaching the dike in two
locations and restoring 31 acres of estuarine marsh, including a tidal channel
network. The first and largest breach is
300 feet wide and connects the western end of the estuary with Hood Canal. The second breach, 100 feet wide, is on the
northern side and connects the estuary with the Union River. Both breaches are spanned by concrete bridges
to provide public access and are wheelchair accessible.
The majority of the project was funded with $1.8 million
from the USFWS National Coastal Wetlands Grant program. This grant was matched
with nearly $300,000 from Washington State.
