Published: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Milestone reached in restoring Nisqually estuary
NISQUALLY — An important milestone has been reached in restoring the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge between Tacoma and Olympia.
The agency says 762 acres of the salt marsh at the mouth of the Nisqually River have been restored over the past two years. Combined with earlier work by the Nisqually Tribe, that means more than 900 acres of the Nisqually estuary have been restored. Refuge manager Jean Takekawa says that has increased the salt marsh habitat in south Puget Sound by 50 percent.
The estuary was diked for farmland in the early 1900s. Wildlife experts say removing the dikes will improve habitat for fish and wildlife.
A celebration of the estuary work is planned at the refuge for Nov. 12.
The agency says 762 acres of the salt marsh at the mouth of the Nisqually River have been restored over the past two years. Combined with earlier work by the Nisqually Tribe, that means more than 900 acres of the Nisqually estuary have been restored. Refuge manager Jean Takekawa says that has increased the salt marsh habitat in south Puget Sound by 50 percent.
The estuary was diked for farmland in the early 1900s. Wildlife experts say removing the dikes will improve habitat for fish and wildlife.
A celebration of the estuary work is planned at the refuge for Nov. 12.
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