DESCRIPTION
This project consists of 4 components of restoration, planning and conservation in the Goldsborough Creek estuary in Oakland Bay, South Puget Sound. The restoration component of the project consists of two related projects designed to rebuild lost salt marsh habitat. Component 1: Construction of up to 14-engineered logjams at the mouth of Goldsborough Creek designed to capture sediment to rebuild the creek mouth; Component 2: As phase one of a multi-phase project we will enhance the estuary and tidelands by importing bed material to create intertidal benches/shelves at appropriate elevations to allow for natural vegetation that will mesh with the creek mouth project; Component 3: A planning project will produce a final design for the removal of a bulkhead on Port of Shelton property on the north shore of the harbor. In a future phase we will reconfigure the shoreline to a more natural slope designed to fit with the Component 2 Shelton Harbor project; Component 4: This consists of a fee simple conservation acquisition of 14 acres of High Priority habitat on Eagle Point in Shelton Harbor. The property of interest includes 2 acres of freshwater wetland, 4 acres of tideland, 8 acres of riparian upland and 1600 feet of marine shoreline. All restoration will occur in areas rated as High Priority by the WRIA 14 technical committee and Enhance High Priority by PSNERP. This project is expected to benefit Chinook, coho and chum salmon as well as cutthroat and steelhead trout.
The Squaxin Island Tribe, in partnership with the Mason Conservation District and the South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group, propose to complete Phase 2 component B (West salt marsh lobe) of the larger West Oakland Bay Conservation and Restoration project in South Puget Sound. Phases 1, 3, and 4 were funded by other sources (including RCO project 15-1107). The final component of Phase 2, C (North salt marsh lobe), will be conducted through future grants. Phase 2 component B removes 811 creosote pilings in Shelton Harbor, removes 1/4 mile of bulkhead, and restores/enhances 28.6 acres of saltmarsh to promote the growth of intertidal vegetation. All restoration will occur in areas rated as High Priority and Enhance High Priority as designated by the WRIA 14 and South Sound Technical Committees and PSNERP, respectively. Preliminary designs are complete. Final design and permitting for all Phase 2 Components will occur in 2016 with construction of Component A slated for 2017. This proposal for Component B will use those designs, permits, and, if timing allows, will share those mobilization fees Fish species targeted to benefit from this project include natal coho, Steelhead, chum and cutthroat juveniles and adults as well as non-natal Chinook juveniles from throughout Puget Sound.
