The Plant Biology class visited The Nature Conservancy’s restoration project at Port Susan Bay outside of Stanwood, WA.
After eight years of planning and permitting this restoration project is ready to begin. The levees will be removed this summer, and it is projected that sediment from the mouth of the Stilliguamish river, located to the south of this site, will be less restricted and able to move northward.
We will be helping collect data on vegetation monitoring as part of our lab for this course. This information can be used over time as the waterflow changes over time and in comparison with an intact estuary system to the south. Although we had a rainy day it was interesting to see the project site and get a better understanding of the restoration research needs.
We look forward to visiting Port Susan Bay again this spring!