The Deer Harbor Estuary is the largest estuary on Orcas Island. Until the mid 20th Century, the estuary supported a chum and coho salmon run as well as native oyster beds. Starting in the 1860's forest clearing and development in the watershed, manipulation of the tributary streams, and the construction of the Channel Road Bridge altered the freshwater hydrology, vegetation communities, sediment dynamics and tidal flow patterns in the estuary. These impacts have lead to the elimination of shellfish populations in the lagoon, loss of salmon rearing and spawning habitat in the tributaries, and degradation of salmon foraging habitats in the estuary. The plan to restore estuary functions in Deer Harbor aims to correct the man-made conditions that have caused the degradation of the estuary’s aquatic ecosystem. Selected “early action” objectives developed in the Deer Harbor Estuary Feasibility study were implemented including removal of fish passage barriers in the main lagoon tributary, Fish Trap Creek, installation of native riparian plants and to provide shade and terrestrial insects and detritus to the aquatic environment, and mycoremediation techniques have been applied to begin to address ongoing sedimentation of the lagoon. The longer-term objective of replacing the Deer Harbor bridge with a longer span to restore the tidal hydrology of the system has been supported by restoration activities, which further engaged the community in this project. These actions are designed to begin the process of restoring the ecosystem of Deer Harbor that provide critical estuarine habitat for San Juan salmonid species. People For Puget Sound will continue stewardship and monitoring of the site and remains involved in ongoing efforts to replace the Channel Rd Bridge