Fisher Slough

11/12/2009

Chinook salmon may be the beneficiaries of the federal economic stimulus program. Work is now underway on a three year, $7 million restoration project in the Skagit River Delta. It's aimed at improving salmon habitat and flood protection for neighboring farms.

The project is being managed by the Nature Conservancy. The group is trying to restore an area in the Skagit River Delta called Fisher Slough. The area was historically a wetland, prone to flooding, at the mouth of the Skagit River. But over the years, a system of dikes and tide gates have turned it into productive farmland as well.

The Nature Conservancy has purchased 60 acres of farmland in and around Fisher Slough. They plan to move back a levee, so the area can be flooded and restored to fresh water tidal marsh.

Kevin Morse is a program director for the Nature Conservancy. He says its important habitat for young Chinook salmon that are coming down out of the river system. That's where they feed and gain strength before heading out to the ocean.

Morse: "Tidal, especially fresh water, tidal habitat in the Skagit system is extremely rare. Approximately 90 percent of the historic freshwater habitat is now gone. And so any progress we can make in restoring that type of habitat is significant and will help maintain the health of this river system."

Morse says the project is also designed to control flooding in the region, and its being done in cooperation with the area's farmers.

The project is being funded by $5 million in federal stimulus money, which came through NOAA. The Nature Conservancy says it will create 50 new jobs.

I'm Deborah Wang, KUOW News.

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