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>> Estuaries is one of the most productive environments on the planet.
It's where the ocean waters meet the terrestrial, and all the nutrients mix.
In the 1950s, the south part of Willapa Bay was diked off with over more than 5 miles of ***.
That effectively cut off all that nutrient cycling.
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The Bay River estuary project will restore over 500 acres of estuary to the south part
of Willapa Bay, and it will restore open water channels, tide flats,
and a salt marsh like what you're seeing around me.
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Alright, the Lewis Unit restoration is currently underway.
160 acres will be restored with the removal of 2 miles of ***, a fish ladder,
and restoring connection to 6 of the natural streams.
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This is an extremely cost-effective project.
We call it title restoration on a shoestring budget.
And what I mean by that is we will be doing most of the work ourselves,
with our own exceptional staff, and using our own equipment.
And the long-term management costs for the area will be dramatically reduced in the future.
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Estuaries are extremely productive nurseries for our native fishes.
Restoring the connection to the sick natural streams will provide spawning habitat
for cutthroat trout, and will also provide rearing and foraging habitat for salmon species,
including chum and coho, and chinook salmon.
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Willapa Bay is one of the 10 most important habitats provided for birds in a pacific flyway.
The restoration will provide increased mudflats for shore birds,
as well as increased salt marsh habitats for water fowl.
>> Okay, restoring estuaries has a benefit to our local community as well,
to improve water quality, plants will trap contaminants, and filter that out of the system.
Why that's important for us down in Willapa is our economy is somewhat dependent
on the shellfish industry, and they need to have good quality water
to have a healthy environment to grow the shellfish.
>> Hiker Mobile is just one of the first steps in the process.
It could take up to 5 years for the freshwater vegetation
to convert into salt marsh vegetation.
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