Event Title
Policy, science, economics and culture at a crossroads: restoring the Deschutes River estuary
Presentation Abstract
The potential restoration of the Deschutes Estuary in South Puget Sound has raised a unique set of disparate policy, scientific, economic and cultural interests and perspectives. The Deschutes River Estuary historically provided habitat for an abundance of shellfish and a large estuarine area for migrating salmonids at the southern extreme of Puget Sound. In 1951 the State constructed a dam across the estuary, totally transforming the estuary and creating Capitol Lake, a freshwater body. The dam also provided a transportation route to West Olympia across Budd Inlet. Creation of the lake also transformed the habitat, hydrology and water quality of the area. The lake and much of its adjacent lands are now part of Washington State's Capitol Campus, and are managed by the WA Dept. of Enterprise Services. After completing a report to the Legislature in December 2016, DES requested funds for an EIS. Almost seventy years after dam construction the habitat is degraded, water quality standards are being violated, and invasive species are rampant in the lake. Sediments coming down the Deschutes River have filled in much of the lake, raising water temperatures. Seals devour returning salmon at the entrance to the fish ladder in the dam. The Dept. of Ecology has been developing controversial and expensive water cleanup plans (TMDLs) for the Deschutes River and Budd Inlet as required by the federal Clean Water Act. Their technical studies have shown that the dam and lake are the largest contributors to poor water quality in Budd Inlet. According to Ecology’s studies, water quality standards in Budd Inlet cannot be met without removing the dam. In addition to other local point and nonpoint pollution sources, the study also implicates sources of pollution to the north of Budd Inlet, including wastewater treatment plants that discharge directly to Puget Sound waters. Players in this issue include Ecology, WDNR, WDES, State Legislature, Governor’s Office, Squaxin Indian Tribe, EPA, US Army Corps of Engineers, LOTT, Port of Olympia, City of Olympia, City of Tumwater, Thurston County, Olympia Yacht Club, local marinas, local environmental groups and others.
Session Title
Elwha Ecosystem Restoration: Emerging Lessons from a Comprehensive Project
Keywords
Deschutes estuary, Estuary restoration
Conference Track
SSE4: Ecosystem Management, Policy, and Protection
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE4-275
Start Date
4-4-2018 2:15 PM
End Date
4-4-2018 2:30 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Estuarine restoration--Washington (State)--Deschutes River; Dam retirement--Washington (State)--Deschutes River; Water quality--Washington (State)--Deschutes River; Marine pollution--Washington (State)--Deschutes River
Subjects – Names (LCNAF)
Washington (State). Department of Enterprise Services
Geographic Coverage
Deschutes River (Wash.); Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Policy, science, economics and culture at a crossroads: restoring the Deschutes River estuary
The potential restoration of the Deschutes Estuary in South Puget Sound has raised a unique set of disparate policy, scientific, economic and cultural interests and perspectives. The Deschutes River Estuary historically provided habitat for an abundance of shellfish and a large estuarine area for migrating salmonids at the southern extreme of Puget Sound. In 1951 the State constructed a dam across the estuary, totally transforming the estuary and creating Capitol Lake, a freshwater body. The dam also provided a transportation route to West Olympia across Budd Inlet. Creation of the lake also transformed the habitat, hydrology and water quality of the area. The lake and much of its adjacent lands are now part of Washington State's Capitol Campus, and are managed by the WA Dept. of Enterprise Services. After completing a report to the Legislature in December 2016, DES requested funds for an EIS. Almost seventy years after dam construction the habitat is degraded, water quality standards are being violated, and invasive species are rampant in the lake. Sediments coming down the Deschutes River have filled in much of the lake, raising water temperatures. Seals devour returning salmon at the entrance to the fish ladder in the dam. The Dept. of Ecology has been developing controversial and expensive water cleanup plans (TMDLs) for the Deschutes River and Budd Inlet as required by the federal Clean Water Act. Their technical studies have shown that the dam and lake are the largest contributors to poor water quality in Budd Inlet. According to Ecology’s studies, water quality standards in Budd Inlet cannot be met without removing the dam. In addition to other local point and nonpoint pollution sources, the study also implicates sources of pollution to the north of Budd Inlet, including wastewater treatment plants that discharge directly to Puget Sound waters. Players in this issue include Ecology, WDNR, WDES, State Legislature, Governor’s Office, Squaxin Indian Tribe, EPA, US Army Corps of Engineers, LOTT, Port of Olympia, City of Olympia, City of Tumwater, Thurston County, Olympia Yacht Club, local marinas, local environmental groups and others.
