Ducks Unlimited - Vancouver used this funding for the Spencer Island Estuary Restoration project, which connected isolated habitats to increase the range and distribution of salmon and increased salmonid access to tidelands and shorelines. The project site, owned by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, is one mile east of Everett, Washington. Restoration on the site was accomplished by removing existing levees, filling drainage ditches, and re-establishing old tidal sloughs and channels. Specifically, the project: 1. Restored tidal processes on the northern portion of Spencer Island 2. Allowed fish access to the project site by breaching the levees, removing tidegates, and restoring tidal channel connections with Union Slough and Steamboat Slough 3. Restored wetland plant communities by re-establishing natural hydrological processes and planting native vegetation. 4. Provided highly productive rearing habitat for Chinook and other salmon by restoring approximately 400 acres of previously unavailable estuarine wetlands 5. Improved floodplain function in the lower Snohomish River by increasing capacity through removing dikes on Spencer Island. This has provided an additional 400 acres of habitat that can be inundated during normal high tide and river flooding events. 6. Improved habitat complexity and connectivity for salmon by breaching the levee at the natural connection point for two main tidal channels. 7. Improved habitat conditions for waterfowl and other fish and wildlife species. 8. Maintained public access to the site for recreational opportunities, including hunting, bird watching, hiking, and wildlife photography, and nature study. Portions of the existing levee were modified as access trails onto the island. All required permits were obtained by fall of 2007 and on the ground restoration was completed during the fall/winter of 2007-2008. Project finalization was completed by June, 2008