Creating tidal channels in new estuarine habitat in south Discovery Bay...
*****

Healthy salmonid habitat.
*****

Salmon Estuary - 2 project areas, North and South sites, for a total of 11 acres of restored
estuarine habitat.
*****

Wildlife already beginning to use the new estuary -- Director Rebecca Benjamin puts her footprint next to a Great Blue Heron print on the new estuary floor.
*****

Stormwater site in foreground, with ODNC in the backdrop -- location is just as you round the bend coming into Port Angeles on Hwy 101...
******

Heading out for forage fish sampling in
Hood Canal...
*****

Riparian Habitat Restoration

Restoration activities increase quality and quantity of spawning and rearing habitat for Chinook, Coho, Chum, Steelhead, and Cutthroat Trout on the rivers, streams, and tributaries of the Olympic Peninsula.

Habitat improvements include remeandering channelized streams, strategic placement of large woody debris, riparian tree planting, fish passage barrier removal, gravel nourishment, and livestock fencing.

North Olympic Salmon Coalition volunteers, staff and board members work with landowners, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Conservation Districts and Tribal biologists to identify and develop projects. Restoration crews and volunteers complete in-stream work during the low flow days of summer.

Volunteers plant trees in the winter and care for them throughout the year. Community groups are encouraged to adopt restoration project sites and become active stewards of their riparian community.

Private landowners make it possible by allowing projects on their land. NOSC works together with landowners to develop riparian conservation plans, establish conservation easements, and acquisition of critical habitat.

*****

Pitship Estuary Restoration
- Fall 2009-

In Fall 2009, excavation and construction of new estuary tidal areas began in Sequim Bay. The project is designed to replace an undersized culvert at the estuary mouth with a bridge to restore fish access and restore tidal connection to the estuary. Over time, restoration of tidal flushing will increase estuarine tidal channel length and complexity and increase salt marsh vegetation providing more habitat for juvenile salmonids and other organisms... To read more on this project please visit the project blog HERE !

*****

Salmon Estuary Restoration
- Fall 2008-

In Summer 2008, excavation and construction of new estuary tidal areas began in south Discovery Bay. A total of 11 acres of new estuarine habitat was created at the mouth of Salmon Creek, where it flows under Hwy 101 and into the bay. The construction was completed by the end of October, and the area is now on to the next phase of habitat restoration -- planting of native trees and shrubs on the sites... To read more on this project, see a slideshow of construction activities, and get links to project partners, please visit the project blog HERE !

*****

New Stormwater Facility

A new working stormwater facility was completed in summer 2008 at the Morse Creek area near Port Angeles. Morse Creek flows under Hwy 101 just adjacent to the Olympic Discovery Nature Center, and before the stormwater facility was constructed, all highway runnoff ran directly into the creek at that point. Now a new primary settling pond and a second filtration pond are built to settle out solids and filter out any additional pollutants coming from the highway runnoff. Both ponds have now been planted with native plants, which will further help in the filtration process, as well as provide habitat to area wildlife. For more information on the Olympic Discovery Nature Center, please visit the blog site HERE ~ we will be updating this site in the future as plans for the Center unfold...

*****

Forage Fish

NOSC Forage Fish Spawning Site Investigation for East Jefferson, Northwestern Kitsap, and North Mason Counties is now available. Please visit the Resources page to download these and other reports.

Click here to download the Forage Fish Brochure

*****

Project Support

Estuaries and nearshore habitats are essential to salmon recovery in the Puget Sound and Hood Canal.

As a Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group, NOSC provides financial support to a variety of restoration project partners and sponsors. NOSC supports efforts to protect and acquire estuarine habitat, and participates in cooperative projects with Tribes, WDFW, Marine Science Centers, and Marine Resource Committees to assess the health of these areas and identify and implement restoration projects.If you would like to know more, apply for funding or know of an interested landowner, call us at (360) 379-8051. We provide technical support, landowner consultation and project funding on private and public lands.