Wallacut River Marsh Reconnection, WA
The Wallacut River flows into Washington State’s Baker Bay near the mouth of the Columbia River. The area provides important salmon and steelhead habitat in the lower Columbia River Estuary. Inter-Fluve supported Columbia Land Trust in restoring the marshplain of the Wallacut River. The site provides essential rearing habitat for ESA-listed salmonids. Restoration efforts include tidegate removal, levee removal, tidal side channels construction, vegetation and wood installation for habitat cover. Site analyses included 2D hydraulic modeling and assessment of risk to adjacent private landowners and infrastructure. Construction disturbed minimal land to allow existing spruce swamp to be maintained, and to minimize impacts to marbled murrelet.
Tidal channels were constructed using methods that minimized impacts to existing vegetation.
We designed and constructed channels to blend into existing high-value forested wetland vegetation with minimal disturbance.
We utilized 2D hydraulic modeling and bank stability modeling to evaluate erosion and flooding risk to private lands.
Aerial view of the project with the Pacific Ocean in the background.
