The Carpenter Creek Estuary Restoration project's goal is to restore estuarine and nearshore conditions and processes in the marine and nearshore environment of Carpenter Creek /Appletree Cove Estuary.

In early 2012 Phase 1 of the Carpenter Creek Estuary Restoration project was completed. The Stillwaters Fish Passage, a 70' single span bridge, replaced a 6' box culvert on S Kingston Road. Two scour holes created by high-velocity tidal flows through the culvert were filled. Riparian plants were planted, mostly in construction zones.

The opening of the bridge removes a major barrier to fish passage between Appletree Cove and the Carpenter Creek Estuary. It also normalizes tidal flows and sediment and debris transfer into and out of the estuary.

Monitoring is a critical part of the ecosystem recovery plan for this site. A monitoring plan was included in planning for the culvert replacement. Stillwaters Environmental Center staff will coordinate monitoring tasks using volunteer 'citizen scientists' and University of Washington interns in consultation with scientists from various state/local agencies and the Suquamish Tribe.

Pre-bridge construction monitoring in 2011 established baseline information for processes and conditions--physical and biological--addressed in the monitoring plan. Bridge project implementation monitoring is complete. Post-construction monitoring under the monitoring plan is designed to allow ecologists and engineers to determine if the as-built project has achieved its restoration goals. This phase of monitoring will continue for at least ten years. Adaptive management techniques will be employed if it is determined that objectives are not being met.