The Skokomish River is the largest freshwater source to the Hood Canal, and historically produced the largest runs of salmon and steelhead in the Hood Canal (Correa 2003); its function within the Hood Canal plays a crucial role to the health of the region. The goal of this project is to restore the natural habitat forming processes, functions and connections that characterized this landscape prior to conversion to agriculture. This project restores connectivity to side channels, tributaries, backwater habitats, and the connection between intertidal estuary and forested wetland habitat.

The Skokomish River Recovery Plan identifies restoration of the Skokomish Estuary as a high priority action that will support the recovery and long-term sustainability of naturally reproducing Chinook populations. The Hood Canal and Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca Summer Chum Salmon Recovery Plan identifies loss/degradation of estuarine habitat as a limiting factor in successfully recovering viable populations in Hood Canal. The Skokomish estuary complex constitutes the single largest contiguous saltmarsh habitat in Hood Canal.