The purpose of this Feasibility Assessment is to determine if landscape and land use conditions at Possession Park could support the restoration of a small historic pocket estuary to saltwater and tidal influence while concurrently maintaining the existing land use. This feasibility assessment was initiated to direct Port of Everett mitigation funds toward nearshore restoration that would benefit ESA-listed Chinook salmon (Oncorynchus tshawytscha) of mixed origin. Possession Park is located at the southern end of Whidbey Basin on south Whidbey Island (Figure 1). Possession Park was chosen as a potential restoration site because it:
Is located within an area of assumed mixed juvenile Chinook salmon stock
Is on a juvenile salmon migration corridor;
Is near the Snohomish River which has source populations of ESA-listed Chinook salmon;
Has intact, though isolated, tidal channel marsh habitat; and
Has landowners willing to explore the idea of habitat restoration (Port of South Whidbey).
Efforts are underway throughout Puget Sound to develop and implement actions in the nearshore that will benefit nearshore ecosystems and support salmon recovery efforts. Skagit Bay research since 2002 shows that wild fry migrant juvenile Chinook salmon extensively use non-natal pocket estuaries (Beamer et al. 2003). Non-natal pocket estuaries are small estuaries within the landscape that are not associated with salmon-bearing watersheds. Chinook salmon utilize pocket estuaries during the early period of nearshore rearing (Beamer et al 2003 & 2006). This use of pocket estuaries allows them to grow faster and avoid predation by other fish (Beamer et al. 2003 & 2005). Pocket estuaries are also important for maintaining the diversity of Chinook salmon life history strategies and
McBride, A. and Beamer, E., 2010. Feasibility Assessment for Salt Marsh Restoration at Possession Park, Whidbey Basin. Skagit River System Cooperative, La Conner, WA. pp. 27.
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Restoration Planning Documents