The overall goal of this project is to acquire and restore to intertidal wetland the DD6 floodplain to provide off-channel water storage for seasonal flood flows, and restore the natural tidal hydrology & associated fish and wildlife habitat. This restoration is important, as nearly 75% of the historic Snohomish River estuary has been converted to other uses. The loss of this estuary, and in particular its intertidal wetlands, jeapordizes species which depends on this habitat. The DD6 project would substantially enlarge the area of tidally influenced off-channel aquatic habitats that are essential rearing habitat for out-migrating juvenile salmon and trout. Additional benefits of the project include creation of the 150 acre upland wetland habitat and restoration of one salmon bearing stream and three other potentially salmon bearing streams. The public ownership of this site offers wonderful opportunities for trails on the dike, small boat launches and other facilities for students and the public to learn about the ecology of the estuary. Important lessons are expected to be learned from monitoring changes to site topography, vegetation communities and fish and wildlife populations, as the natural site conditions are re-established. In addition to channel re-configuration, ~20 acres will be re-vegetated with native species including: red alder, cottonwood, western red cedar, sitka spruce, red osier dogwood, Scouler's willow and western hemlock.