Edmonds Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary – Preservation and Restoration

Objective

Preserving and enhancing this unique, natural, tidal wetland, located within our urban city limits, including the adjacent Unocal property, for salmon recovery, for wildlife preservation, and for the enjoyment of future generations.

Approach

• Advocate for preservation and restoration of the ecological functions of the tidal wetland including freshwater circulation, saltwater connection, vegetation management, and buffers for wildlife.
• Advocate for the formal establishment and recognition of an “Edmonds Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary” to include:
  • The old Unocal property ‘lower yard’
  • Marina Beach Park
  • Willow Creek Hatchery area
  • Shellabarger Marsh (east side of Highway 104)
  • The City of Edmonds Marsh property
  • The Port of Edmonds Marsh property and its buffer
• Advocate for land use designation of the ‘Edmonds Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary’ for wildlife preservation and public viewing. 
• Advocate for restoration of an open channel connection between the Edmonds Marsh and Puget Sound that will allow adult chum and coho salmon to again spawn in Willow Creek and Shellabarger Creek, and to provide juvenile salmon (including ESA-listed Chinook salmon juveniles) access to the Marsh estuary.
• Advocate for a complete environmental cleanup to remove the remaining contaminants in the groundwater and adjacent sediments of the old Unocal site. This cleanup is essential for the creation of a deep tidal channel across the Unocal property to avoid contamination by the existing pollutants.

Current Efforts

• Participating in the Edmonds Marsh Volunteer Restoration Project.
• Interacting with Dept. of Ecology on the cleanup of the old Unocal site
• Providing input  to Edmonds City Council on designating the ‘Edmonds Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary’