Located on the west side of Nisqually Reach, the Beachcrest Restoration project sought to create new spawning and rearing habitat for salmon. This project restored fish passage and habitat to a pocket estuary fed by a spring. It removed a barrier standpipe and 150’ culvert under a private road. The standpipe and culvert were replaced with a 14’ span concrete box culvert, giving rise to a new 150’ tidal channel. Shoreline armor was replaced with logs and salt marsh. Volunteers contributed their time and energy to plant native vegetation along the shoreline.
Completed in 2010, this project provides key ecological benefits to nearshore-dependent species. First, it increased estuarine rearing and foraging area. It restored fish access to a small local watershed. It provides increased spawning grounds for forage fish such as sand lance and smelt. Finally, restoration activities associated with this project have increased spawning habitat in South Puget Sound for chum, pink, and coastal cutthroat trout and increase rearing capacity of South Puget Sound for ESA listed Chinook, coho, chum, pink, steelhead, and coastal cutthroat.
Partners includedSRFB,USFish and Wildlife, NFWS, NRNC, the Beachcrest Community Association, and the Nisqually Tribe.