Nisqually 2015 Ranked Project List

Nisqually River Council, July 2015

Our Mission..

To spend approximately $2.5 million to better the Nisqually River Watershed and the Puget Sound region.

»SRFB : $415,000»2015-17 PSAR: $1,400,000»2013-15 PSAR: <$750,000

1. Mashel Shoreline Protection Phase IV

• Protection of 2.49 miles of river and 374 acres in the Middle Mashel Gorge

• Geographic area of highest priority

• Adjacent to other protected properties

• Acquisition would remove threat of future timber harvest and development

• Property availability requires quick action

Project Sponsor: Nisqually Land TrustAmount Requested: $724,165

2. Mashel Eatonville Restoration Phase III

• Restoration effort to improve salmon habitat complexity, including installation of up to 12 ELJ’s, side channel reactivation, 5 acres riparian planting at the Mashel/Little Mashel Confluence

• Geographic area of highest priority

• Increases habitat diversity (largest limiting factor)

• Builds on earlier upstream phases

Project Sponsor: South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement GroupAmount Requested: $1,190,000

3. Whitewater Reach Protection ProjectProject Sponsor: Nisqually Land Trust

Amount Requested: $300,000

• Protection of 3800’ of mainstem shoreline, as well as associated wetlands (if all parcels are acquired)

• Geographic area of highest priority

• Adjacent to other protected properties

• 90% of project area is intact & fully functioning

4. Mashel Eatonville Restoration Phase III Conservation Easement

• Conservation easement of 5.1 acres and 690 feet of shoreline, preventing further residential development

• Geographic area of highest priority

• Would greatly facilitate the Mashel III restoration

• Would facilitate neighboring landowner relations

Project Sponsor: Nisqually Land TrustAmount Requested: $150,000

Nisqually Chinook Recovery MonitoringProject Sponsor: Nisqually River Foundation

Amount Requested: $41,500

• Provide field support to collect data needed for annual updates to harvest, hatchery, and recovery programs, including:

1. Collecting juvenile Chinook out-migration data via beach seining in the lower river, estuary, and nearshore

2. Collecting adult Chinook data at the fishery, weir, hatchery, and spawning grounds

West Oakland Bay Restoration & Conservation

Restoration, planning, and conservation of the Goldsborough Creek estuary1. Construct 14 ELJ’s to rebuild

the mouth of Goldsborough Creek

2. Remove .25 miles of dike and creating intertidal shelves for natural vegetation growth

3. Final design for the removal of Port Shelton bulkhead

4. Acquisition of 14 acres on Eagle Point

Project Sponsor: Squaxin Island Indian TribeAmount Requested: Approx. $200,000

Alt 1. Middle Ohop Protection Phase II

• Upstream of future Phase IV project site

• Geographic area of highest priority

• Conservation easement of 35 acres, 2200’ shoreline along upper Ohop Creek, 3 acres riparian planting

• Adjacent to NLT properties• Would potentially remove 1

development right, still in negotiations with landowner

Project Sponsor: Nisqually Land TrustAmount Requested: $230,000

Alt 2. McKenna Small Lots Acquisitions Project Sponsor: Nisqually Land Trust

Amount Requested: $600,000

• Scalable project looking to eventually acquire 35 acres, 15 separate lots, on the Nisqually mainstem based on a developed habitat strategy

• Lots are small (1-5 acres), yet very pricey with limited shoreline

• Geographic area of highest priority

• Acquisition of these lots would protect against future residential development

To make a long story short…

1. Mashel Shoreline Protection Phase IV2. Mashel Eatonville Restoration Phase III3. Whitewater Reach Protection Project4. Mashel Eatonville Restoration Phase III CE5. Nisqually Chinook Recovery Monitoring6. West Oakland Bay Restoration & Conservation

Alt 1. Middle Ohop Protection Phase IIAlt 2. McKenna Small Lots Acquisitions