Tribes pitch idea for salmon sanctuaries to port districts

Published 10:00 am Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Though the saltgrass, silverweed, water parsley and buttercups are blooming, the marsh at Possession Beach Park is basically dry in high summer.

But if an unexpected proposal from the Swinomish and Lummi tribes pans out, it may soon be a saltwater sanctuary for thousands of salmon fingerlings preparing for their epic journey to the open sea.

Last week, research ecologist Aundrea McBride from the Skagit River System Cooperative explained to commissioners for the Port of Coupeville and Port of South Whidbey that several local Indian tribes had won a mitigation settlement with the Port of Everett over fishing rights.

The Swinomish and Lummi tribes have joined to fund a study to identify what they term “nearshore” habitat restoration sites for salmon in the early stages of their life cycle.

“We’ve found that tiny salmon take up residence in small estuaries along Whidbey and Camano Islands; there are no predators and they grow stronger and faster,” McBride told commissioners. “By creating protected saltwater estuaries we hope to dramatically increase the number of salmon that successfully return to their spawning grounds in the Snohomish, Skagit and Stillaguamish rivers.”

Initially, researchers identified 96 historic sites. But now, they are focusing on several that have a real chance of providing shelter for salmon “little guys,” including seven acres at Possession Park owned by the Port of South Whidbey and the 23-acre wetlands area next to North Bluff Road at Greenbank Farm.

“We want to take these two projects to the design stage and need your commitment of interest in the study and help dealing with local stakeholders and landowners,” McBride added. “Based on the response, the tribes will take the study to the state and apply for grant money.”

Why come to the port districts?

Simply put, port districts have three primary concerns:

• Providing facilities — boat launches, docks and parks for public recreation;

• Aiding in the economic development of the communities they serve;

• And doing everything feasible to protect the shoreline environment.

On the surface, it would seem the estuary proposal would meet all three objectives.

“We’d be well served to have such an improvement at Possession,” said Lynae Slinden, South Whidbey port commission president.

“I’m really excited by the idea of combining environmental protection while helping to protect the future of salmon in the waters around the island. That’s what a port district should do,” she said.

Possession Park

Historically, Possession was a long spit that opened to the north via a long tidal channel.

Though smaller than Greenbank, its proximity to mainland river mouths make it ideal. Initial plans call for the channel to be restored to allow saltwater to flow in at high tide, thereby providing access for salmon.

“We don’t feel there’d be any significant negative impact on our facility there,” noted port manager Ed Field. “I’m thinking a simple overlook could be built so people could watch the process.”

The marsh actually extends farther north onto private property.

Meetings are planned to assess landowner’s feelings about the project, but the project could work without them.

Commissioners unanimously approved a motion to support the project.

Greenbank Farm

The situation along Holmes Harbor is more complicated.

Originally, the site was a large lagoon, opening to the north and protected by a broad spit.

Today, it is a closed wetlands with a tide gate and bulkhead-protected spit. Houses line the spit but suffer flooding every couple of years when a high tide combines with a storm such as the one residents experienced last February.

More than 50 percent of the lagoon — and the backyards of 11 homes — are below sea level.

The Skagit River Cooperative has proposed a feasibility study to see if it’s possible to:

• Protect homes on the spit from future flooding;

• Maintain the local boat club’s launch ramp;

• Restore roughly 23 acres of lagoon habitat to tidal inundation for salmon;

• And restore the beach face of the spit for fish forage spawning and wave energy dispersion.

The current holding pond at the farm would be maintained for fire suppression and drought irrigation.

Since the project would affect private property (though not homes), the Skagit cooperative asked Coupeville port commissioners for their support.

A motion was approved, but with a caveat from commissioner Bruce Bryson.

“The concept is great, but grants often require matching funds,” he said. “We need to be cautious about a firm commitment down the road.”

McBride emphasized the project is its very early stages, but will benefit a variety of interests in the years to come. Those include recreational and commercial fishermen — especially the tribes sponsoring the study — plus homeowners threatened by flooding, environmental activists and the general public.

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or e-mail jvanderford@southwhidbeyrecord.com.