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2010 Autumn | Natural Science & Restoration, Sustainability

A Change of Heart for the Nisqually River Delta” Summary

Student(s):

Deena Belcher

Program or Department(s):

  • Program on the Environment
  • University of Washington

Site supervisor(s):

Eric Grossman

Partner(s):

  • US Geological Survey

Faculty advisor(s):

Sarah Elwood, Geography, University of Washington

A dike was removed in 2009 in the Nisqually River Delta in Washington State, to help seawater return to the area for salmon habitat. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has been monitoring this restoration project since dike removal. I aided it by using a geographic information system (GIS) computer program to digitize and analyze maps of changes to river channel width within the delta. The maps showed that all of the channels in the estuary except for one, widened by an average of 86.43 meters. Built-up sediment is washing away, providing habitat for eelgrass, which juvenile salmon use.