Larsen toured Swinomish Reservation marsh restoration

Fishing and farming don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

The Smokehouse Ditch Estuarine Marsh project on Swinomish Reservation, where restoration of critical salmon habitat is planned next to agricultural land the Tribe leases to local farmers, proves that.

Near the SR 20 bridge north of La Conner, the site is one of several local estuarine areas – Similk Beach is another – considered for restoration.

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D- Everett, visited Sept. 27, where he met with Swinomish and Skagit River System Cooperative leaders for an update on their salmon enhancement efforts.

Larsen wrote a letter of support for SRSC’s application for a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grant to fund work designed to restore salmon habitat and address climate change.

“Restoring these estuaries,” Larsen said, “is critical to the survival of migrating juvenile salmon and the recovery of local endangered species, such as the Southern Resident Killer Whale. The project will also reduce flood risks and improve resiliency to climate change on Swinomish Reservation and along the lower Skagit River.”

At Smokehouse Ditch, the plan is to restore about 120 acres of salmon habitat by setting back a 1930s era dike along Swinomish Channel. That will re-establish salt marsh vegetation and tidal processes to a portion of just over 900 acres of tribal land.

The project would also increase protection of the Swinomish Economic Development Zone on the property’s north side while continuing to allow farming on the remaining acreage.

“Nobody wants agriculture to go away,” Swinomish Tribal Senate Chairman Steve Edwards, who was joined by Tribal Senator Eric Day, stressed to Larsen. “We have leased this out to farmers. We want them to do well, obviously. We just need a small amount (of land) back. There’s got to be a balance.”

Devin Smith, SRSC director of habitat restoration, reinforced the point, saying, “We want these lands to function as they do now when we’re done with the restoration.”

Swinomish Wildlife Program Manager Kino Villaluz said estuary restoration is a key factor in the salmon enhancement equation.

“We’re committed to taking the best actions possible for salmon recovery,” he said. “Land is the most valuable thing we have. So, we’re committing our land to salmon restoration.”

Edwards shared with Larsen memories from his youth of having fished for salmon in rowboats on Swinomish Channel.

“Our fishermen used to fish in the channel and they could catch Chinook,” he said. “That’s who we are. It’s part of our culture.”

Swinomish and SRSC are at present completing technical studies at Smokehouse Ditch. Those include wetlands delineation, geotechnical assessment, hydraulic modeling and ongoing surface and groundwater monitoring.

Various sources have provided funding for the project, said Joseph Tutino, Larsen’s director of communications.

The Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board supported initial tidal gates replacements and riparian plantings. The SFRB, Estuary Salmon Restoration Program and Seattle City Light are providing funds for the design phase. NOAA is supporting design work with funding through the Pacific Salmon Treaty.

SRSC is hopeful of securing future construction support from federal and state fund programs once designs are complete.

The Similk Beach restoration project involves a tidal marsh that would provide just under 20 acres of estuary habitat for rearing juvenile Chinook, chum and pink salmon plus steelhead/rainbow trout and forage fish species. Funding support for that project has been provided by SRFB and the Pacific Salmon Treaty program.

At Similk, the intent is to reconnect an historic pocket estuary with the bay, improving habitat and altering Satterlee Road to take the roadway out of conflict with natural processes.

The project will raise the road and construct a bridge over the primary tidal channel.

“I think I’m going to stay here awhile,” Larsen said, in spite of a tight schedule that afternoon. He lingered for a time, enjoying the tranquil setting on a sunny, warm autumn afternoon.

Eventually he departed, but left open the option of returning.