Tulalip, Swinomish Preserve Forest and Salmon Habitat With Two Significant Initiatives

Two significant environmental initiatives were implemented in the last month. The first was on August 28 at Tulalip, when bulldozers removed about 1,500 linear feet of levee in the Snohomish River’s Qwuloolt Estuary, reopening 350 acres of wetlands to threatened salmon and other species. It’s part of what is reportedly the largest restoration project so far in the Snohomish River watershed. The second initiative was implemented thirty-two miles north, on the Swinomish Reservation, where the Swinomish Tribe and Ecotrust will use a $528,000 three-year grant to develop a forest conservation plan. The plan is being developed with public input and could include carbon sequestration credits, conservation easements and forestland acquisition.