Current Projects
The Northwest Straits Foundation supports projects and programs of the Northwest Straits Commission and the Marine Resources Committees of San Juan, Island, Jefferson, Clallam, Whatcom, Skagit, and Snohomish Counties.
Olympia Oyster Restoration In North Puget Sound
The Foundation has received funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to conduct a series of activities aimed to produce restoration grade Olympia oyster (O.conchaphila) seed, the only oyster native to the west coast, and identify sites in North Puget Sound for outplanting. Populations of Olympia oyster in Puget Sound have greatly declined in the past one hundred years due to a variety of factors, including overharvesting and industrial and nonpoint pollution. Many of those factors no longer pose a significant threat to the Olympia oyster and the opportunity for restoring this important species is ripe.
Dense beds of Olympia oysters provide significant ecosystem benefits by providing habitat for species critical to the marine food chain, such as crab larvae, and improving water quality. Only about 155 acres of beds with a density of 75 oyster/m2 remain of an estimated 5,000 acres historically. Only approximately 2 of these remaining acres are in the north part of Puget Sound.
Long-term goals and strategies for restoration of Olympia oysters throughout their historic range in Puget Sound were developed by interested parties in 2009 with a tentative goal to enhance 60 acres of oysters in Puget Sound to a density of 75 oysters/m2. The goal for the north part of Puget Sound is to achieve this enhancement density for 10 acres of beds.
Achieving this goal requires a number of steps taken at different times in the process. Activities taking place in this project are: genetic testing of key populations in Discovery Bay, Fidalgo Bay, and several other selected sites; monitoring of reproduction, dispersal range, and survival of existing populations in Discovery Bay and Fidalgo Bay; presence/absence surveys of potential sites in San Juan, Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, and Jefferson Counties; enhancement of selected populations through placement of cultch and oyster seed; development of restoration grade oyster seed; and outplanting of cultured restoration grade oyster seed to selected sites. The project is being conducted through a collaborative effort between the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the nonprofit Puget Sound Restoration Fund (PSRF).
Beach and Nearshore Restoration Projects
With funding from the Skagit Restoration Initiative, the East March’s Point Groin Removal Project removed 700 cubic yards of rock and concrete from the intertidal area in order to restore sediment transport beach processes and enhance forage fish spawning habitat in Padilla Bay. Crews from Skagit County Public Works conducted the removal operations. Pre-construction monitoring was completed in partnership with the WSU Skagit County Beach Watcher program. Initial backshore planting was also completed and will be monitored for establishment of native backshore vegetation growth. This project also received funding from the Department of Ecology Coastal Protection Fund.
Skagit Restoration Initiative (SRI) funding is administered in partnership with the Skagit Marine Resources Committee. SRI funds are designated for projects that restore the shoreline, nearshore, or marine resources of Fidalgo Bay or Padilla Bay. Photo: Removing boulders from the intertidal.
The Foundation is providing support for the Island MRC’s Cornet Bay Beach Restoration Project by raising and managing funds and assisting with contracts management. This project will restore 800 linear feet of shoreline and 1.1 acres of beach at the day use area of Cornet Bay in Deception Pass State Park. Creosoted bulkhead and fill stretching the length of the shoreline will be removed. The beach will be re-graded to match the natural contour and significant riparian planting will be installed. This work will restore the natural beach structure and enhance forage fish spawning habitat. The project is being implemented in partnership with State Parks’ upland renovation work and represents the largest nearshore restoration project supported by the Foundation. Photo:This bulkhead will be removed as part of the Cornet Bay Beach Restoration Project.
Derelict Fishing Gear Removal, Prevention and Research
The Foundation supports a range of activities that address the problem of derelict fishing gear in Puget Sound. For an in-depth discussion of this threat to Puget Sound, click here.
Derelict fishing gear removal in Puget Sound
The Northwest Straits Initiative has been removing derelict fishing nets from Puget Sound since 2002. After years of scrambling for funding, the Foundation received $4.6 million of federal funding in July 2009 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Northwest Straits Initiative is committed to eliminating harm from derelict fishing gear in marine waters of Puget Sound. We are well on the way to meeting our goal. Current project status is posted regularly at www.derelictgear.org.
Many funders and supporters have contributed to the Foundation’s derelict gear program, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal and Recovery Programs, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation/NOAA Marine Debris Program grant partnership, the Puget Sound Conservation Fund, Salmon Recovery Funding Board, ConocoPhillips Spirit of Conservation Migratory Bird Fund, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Washington Department of Ecology Coastal Protection Fund, Lucky Seven Foundation, Horizons Foundation, and the Tulalip Tribes Charitable Fund.
Deepwater Derelict Fishing Net and Rockfish Impact Survey
The Foundation is currently identifying deep water rockfish habitat and locating possible derelict fishing gear in deepwater habitats in Puget Sound. This work, funded by NOAA Protected Species Program through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will take place in water deeper than 100 feet and down to 350 feet deep. Survey operations will focus on the west side of San Juan Island and the south side of Lopez Island. The project will use sidescan sonar for surveying as well as towed cameras and possibly remotely operated vehicles.
The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative, authorized by Congress, is nationally recognized as an innovative approach to bring sound science and an ecosystem perspective together with citizen energy and entrepreneurship.