Until the late 1800s, the shores along Steamboat Slough had an estuarine habitat where the fresh water mixed with the saltwater of Puget Sound and provided excellent habitat for salmon and other marine life. In the 1950s and ’60s fill was put on this site to build the northbound lanes of SR 529, then I-5. This buried the original habitat. Now WSDOT is restoring the land to its natural state, providing an additional 12 acres of habitat for salmon and other wildlife. This restoration project will mitigate another WSDOT project that requires about 2.5 acres of marshland to build a new off-ramp from northbound I-5 to northbound SR 529, and from southbound SR 529 to southbound I-5.
Tags: “SR 529” mitigation I-5 salmon habitat estuary Marysville ^TP
When fill dirt was placed on wetlands in the 1950s to support northbound lanes of SR 529 and eventually I-5, it was inevitable that seeds carried by nature would bring trees to the site. Prior to being filled, the area was an estuary where Steamboat Slough and tidal water from Puget Sound mixed. At its natural low level the 12-acre site could support grasses and reeds, but not trees don’t grow in the saltwater environment. Removing the threes is the first step to restoring the estuary.
Tags: “SR 529” mitigation I-5 salmon habitat estuary Marysville ^TP
The 12-acre SR 529 mitigation site was covered with trees that grew after fill dirt was added to the area to raise the land to build northbound SR 529 and I-5. The first step was to take down those trees. Once the trees are cleared, crews remove fill, dig channels to allow tidal water to flow into the area, add plants like in the nearby estuary and breach the dike.
Tags: “SR 529” mitigation I-5 salmon habitat estuary Marysville ^TP
In 2019 WSDOT began returning about 12 acres of land to a natural estuary between I-5 and SR 529 in the Marysville area along Steamboat Slough. This will mitigate the need to use about 2.5 acres of land to add ramps from northbound I-5 to northbound SR 529 and from southbound SR 529 to southbound I-5.
Tags: “SR 529” mitigation I-5 salmon habitat estuary Marysville ^TP
The SR 529 mitigation site is important for salmon as well as other native wildlife. Although more than 100 trees were taken down, many will remain on the 12-acre site. The logs and root balls are good habitat for fish as well as birds and other wildlife. Crews will place these among the native plants that are being added to restore the area it its native state as an estuary.
Tags: “SR 529” mitigation I-5 salmon habitat estuary Marysville ^TP