Project is suspended indefinitely due to locating or numerous cultural resources on the project site. Project was removed from the Three Year Work Plan at the request of the Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee.

The project is in the mainland part of Jefferson County Oak Bay Park, west of the Port Townsend Ship Canal in northwest Oak Bay. The site is comprised of a spit, salt marsh and open-water tidal lagoon, nearby eelgrass, and a documented sand lance spawning beach. Immediately south is Little Goose Ck., a coho salmon and resident cutthroat stream. This critical nearshore habitat is impacted by an armored rock revetment and derelict boat ramp. As this is the only refugia for out-migrating salmon before traversing the armored ship canal into Port Townsend Bay, removal of the rock revetment and boat ramp will benefit salmon by improving nearshore habitat conditions for out-migrating salmon and salmon prey.

The goal of the Oak Bay Park Sand Lance Spawning Habitat Restoration Project is to restore documented sand lance spawning habitat and improve nearshore marine habitat for salmon and salmon prey by removing the armoring and boat ramp. Potential restoration feasibility was conducted for Oak Bay Park in 2007 and detailed restoration feasibility and conceptual design was conducted this spring. SRFB support for Phase 1 (Design & Permitting) will complete final beach restoration and possible inlet relocation design, biological assessments, project permitting and pre-implementation planning. Phase 2 (Implementation) will rehabilitate sand lance habitat; restore marine riparian vegetation; and restore drift cell function to 1,110 lineal feet of nearshore habitat. This request is for Phase 1.

This project can be found in the Recreation and Conservation Office's Project Information System (PRISM) as #09-1659.