Edmonds Marsh Estuary Grant
The restoration planning effort for the Edmonds Marsh Estuary just received a big boost. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded the City of Edmonds $135,000 for studies and planning regarding soil contamination, flood risk, and the future of the marsh estuary.
The grant was awarded under the 2023 National Coastal Resilience Fund to “restore, increase and strengthen natural infrastructure, to protect coastal communities while also enhancing habitats for fish and wildlife.” A proposal drafted by citizen volunteers from the Edmonds Marsh Estuary Advocates was edited and submitted by the Edmonds Public Works and Utilities Department. One of only 109 successful applications throughout the United States, the full project proposal can be viewed here.
The Edmonds Marsh Estuary restoration project closely matches the Fund goals: it will add rare estuary habitat to Puget Sound and decrease flood risks to the city of Edmonds. The grant will address questions about flood elevation associated with restoration alternatives, a solution to the flooding, the potential impacts and risks from remaining contaminated soils, and will help define a process for community marsh restoration planning.
The depth of community support for the Edmonds proposal was crucial. The Tulalip Tribes, Mid-Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group, League of Women Voters of Snohomish County, Sound Salmon Solutions, Port of Edmonds, Sno-Isle Sierra Club, Edmonds Marsh Estuary Advocates, Pilchuck Audubon Society, and Interfaith Climate Action all submitted letters expressing the importance of the project.
A qualified environmental consulting firm will provide flood modeling, contaminated soil impact, and community planning expertise. A request to approve the start of the hiring process will reach the Edmonds City Council soon. Pending council agreement, the selection could occur as soon as late March.
The total project cost will be $226,000. With a grant of $135,000, local matching funds including community labor ($22,000) and citizen cash donations ($35,000) are important. The city of Edmonds will add $34,000 of labor, primarily through grant administration by the Publics Works Department.
The Edmonds Marsh Estuary was once over 100 acres of marshland important to the Coast Salish People as a rich source of fish, shellfish, and useful plants. Over time the marsh has been filled and reduced to less than a quarter of its former size. Railroad tracks along the waterfront interfere with tidal activity. The city of Edmonds owns approximately 23 acres of the remaining marsh, and another 21-acre adjoining parcel is owned by Unocal. Contamination on the Unocal property is currently in remediation. When the Washington Department of Ecology certifies that the cleanup is complete, the Unocal site can be excavated to provide additional flood storage and a channel through Edmonds’ Marina Beach Park can be excavated to reconnect the Marsh and the streams in its watershed to Puget Sound, restoring saltwater estuary function and valuable habitat for juvenile fish and other wildlife.
The grant is an important step towards a long held dream: a restored, healthy Edmonds marsh.