The Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has signed a key restoration report allowing Congress to consider the Skokomish River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Project for future authorization.
The “Chief’s Report” for the Skokomish Restoration Project was signed December 14, 2015 by Lt. Gen. Thomas Bostick, USACE Commander and Chief of Engineers.
The recommendations presented in the Chief’s Report represent a multi-year planning effort involving the Corps’ Seattle District, Mason County, the Skokomish Indian Tribe and other local, state and federal agency representatives.
The recommended plan includes a levee removal, placement of large woody debris, wetland restoration at two sites, and a side channel reconnection. Once constructed, the project will restore about 280 acres of habitat for fish and wildlife species in the Skokomish River Basin.
The Skokomish River is the largest and most diverse tributary to Hood Canal, a 70-mile long natural fjord-like arm of Puget Sound that supports vital natural resources. The recommended plan is a critical element of an integrated restoration effort in the entire Skokomish River Basin and complements restoration efforts being completed by others throughout the watershed.
Final design and construction of the project is contingent on Congress providing authority and funding.