WDFW, Snohomish County seek public input on Spencer Island habitat restoration

Reference Aug. 31 public meeting Zoom details on our website. 

Public virtual meeting scheduled Aug. 31

OLYMPIA – In partnership the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Snohomish County are looking for public feedback to guide habitat restoration efforts at the Spencer Island Unit of the Snoqualmie Wildlife Area and the Spencer Island County Park. The project’s goal is to enhance Chinook salmon habitat and advance ecosystem recovery, while considering public use and outdoor recreation on the site. 

Members of the public are invited to a virtual public meeting scheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 31 to learn more and share their feedback on the project’s proposed design. WDFW and Snohomish County will also take public feedback through an online public feedback form, which will be available on the WDFW website starting on Aug. 31. Comments will be accepted through Sept. 24. 

“We recognize that Spencer Island is a special place, particularly because of its close proximity to Everett," said Brendan Brokes, WDFW’s North Puget Sound Region Director. "We're committed to exploring the future of this area alongside the public." 

More information about the Aug. 31 virtual meeting, future online feedback form, and Spencer Island habitat restoration is available on WDFW’s website. 

In addition to the Aug. 31 virtual meeting, WDFW will also be sharing updates about the project with the Department’s Snoqualmie Wildlife Area Advisory Committee. Information about the group and its meetings is available on WDFW’s website. WDFW is also engaging tribal governments, technical experts, and stakeholders in the design of the Spencer Island habitat restoration project, as well as coordinating with the Corps. 

Spencer Island is in the Snohomish River estuary east of Everett. Steamboat Slough borders the property to the east and Union Slough borders the property to the west. WDFW and Snohomish County bought the property in 1989 under a joint acquisition and co-management agreement, with WDFW managing the north end and Snohomish County owning the south end.

In the early 1900s, the site was diked and developed for grazing and agriculture, resulting in the loss of tidally influenced forested wetlands and channels that provided important habitat for a variety of fish and wildlife, especially juvenile salmon. In 1994, Snohomish County completed a restoration project that involved removing sections of dike that allowed tidal water and fish into the southern portion of the property.  

In 2005, the dike caught fire and failed on the northern portion of the island, allowing tidal inundation into the entirety of the site. Although the entire island is now tidally inundated, remnant dikes and ditches still occur on the island that reduce habitat benefits for salmon and other species that rely on tidal wetlands. Project partners are considering a combination of dike lowering, dike breaches, and tidal channel reconfiguration as part of the restoration project. 

The Spencer Island restoration project aligns with the goals and vision of the Snoqualmie Wildlife Area Management Plan. The Department's vision for the Spencer Island Unit is to provide estuary marsh habitat for fish and wildlife species while, in collaboration with partners, providing wildlife viewing and waterfowl hunting opportunities for the public.

This work is supported through a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience grant as well as funding from the Corps to collaborate with WDFW. It’s a result of a long-term partnership between WDFW and the Corps through the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project. More information is available on the Department’s website. 

WDFW manages more than a million acres of land and hundreds of water access areas throughout the state. By actively managing lands, restoring habitats, and preserving wild places, the Department serves as stewards for Washington’s natural places, protecting the state’s land and water for its human and wildlife.