EVERETT – Members of a delegation from China toured Jetty Island on Tuesday to see how sands dredged from the Snohomish River were used to create a big island that benefits the environment and provides a popular recreation spot.
The group visited the Port of Everett project and also talked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which helped turn the old island into a salt marsh in 1989. The island was originally a rip-rap jetty created in the 1800s to provide a protected harbor, according to the port.
The island was created over time using sand dredged from the river to maintain its navigation channel to a suitable depth.
“Through our partnerships with the corps and city of Everett, we have managed to create the poster child for how environmental stewardship and public access could co-exist,” Port Commissioner Connie Niva said. “The fact that visitors from China would request to go to Jetty Island during their visit to the United States is an incredible honor for the port.”
The island’s marsh environment benefits juvenile salmon, waterfowl, bald eagles and other wildlife.
Because its sandy beaches are such a rarity in Puget Sound, the island is also a popular summer recreation site.
The port and the city team up for Jetty Island Days, ferrying visitors to the island to swim and picnic. The area is also a popular spot for kiteboarding.
Last year, there were more than 30,000 visits to the island, said Lisa Mandt, port spokeswoman.
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