Satsop and Wynoochee restoration projects start soon

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is sponsoring five river restoration projects as part of the Aquatic Species Restoration Plan.

These projects are taking place on the Skookumchuck, Wynoochee, Satsop, and Newaukum rivers, and on Stillman Creek, a tributary to the South Fork Chehalis River.

Funding is provided by the Washington State Legislature through the Department of Ecology’s Office of Chehalis Basin.

The Satsop and Wynoochee River Restoration Projects will start construction in Summer 2021 and are expected to be completed in 2022.

These projects are part of the new science-based Aquatic Species Restoration Plan. The plan was designed to rebuild and protect a productive ecosystem that is resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Allowing the flows of the river to connect with side channels and wetlands helps to keep cool water in the rivers when fish need it most, enhance salmon spawning grounds up and down the river, and support overall ecosystem resiliency.