SEATTLE, WA — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) met a major milestone with the signing of the Duckabush Estuary Restoration Project Partnership Agreement.
USACE Seattle District Commander Col. Kathryn P. Sanborn and WDFW Director Kelly Susewind signed the agreement that defines responsibilities, cost-sharing, and execution of work between USACE and WDFW, as the non-federal sponsor.
USACE and WDFW have partnered for over a decade to evaluate opportunities for aquatic ecosystem restoration along Puget Sound’s 2,500 miles of marine and estuarine shorelines, through the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration study.
Both collaborated with other state and federal agencies, tribes, county governments, conservation organizations, and academia for the study and preliminary design.
The Duckabush Estuary Restoration Project is the first in that study to progress toward the design and Project Partnership Agreement phase. The final design is expected by late 2025 and construction to start in late 2026, subject to federal funding availability and authorization.
“This project is a wonderful example of what we can achieve for local communities by delivering a new Highway 101 bridge while improving habitat for salmon and other species,” Sanborn said. “I am grateful to our partners for helping us achieve this important step in the process and look forward to starting construction.”
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This agreement marks the beginning of the next phase in a shared commitment to a healthy Puget Sound and details USACE and WDFW’s construction responsibilities. WDFW serves as the representative of state agencies to include the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
“This project is an example of what salmon recovery requires today: big projects with multiple benefits that generate wins for species, their habitats, and the community,” Susewind said. “WDFW and partners have dedicated many years of hard work to this project, and I’m proud to take this step with USACE toward beginning construction. These are the kind of partnerships we need to work toward recovering the health of Puget Sound and protecting salmon populations.”
The restoration project will improve the estuary’s ability to provide quality wetland habitat for native fish and wildlife by modifying local roads, elevating U.S. Highway 101 (U.S. 101) over the estuary, and replacing culverts.
The construction of a new 1,613-foot-long estuary-spanning bridge and removal of fill and bridges associated with the existing U.S. 101 causeway allows for:
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- The reconnection of four historic tidal channels that will result in improved rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids
- Increased resiliency to high-water events by distributing water and sediment flow across the estuary
- Greater overall habitat connectivity between the upper and lower extents of the estuary
This 38-acre restoration project will also include new parking amenities and estuary access opportunities, a left-turn lane from northbound U.S. 101 onto Duckabush Road, and stormwater run-off treatment to reduce pollutants entering the estuary.
