On Aug. 19 the final berm was cut under the bridge on East Pioneer Way, Seaplane Base, to open the Crescent Harbor Salt Marsh to full tidal flow and juvenile salmon access for the first time in almost 100 years.

Rear Adm. James Symonds, commander, Navy Region Northwest, joined Capt. Gerral David, NAS Whidbey Island commanding officer to kick off the final excavation.

The wetland habitat restoration project began in 1994 when the Navy modified a tide gate built in the early 1900s to create more agricultural land for the farming community. Efforts to restore the marsh to its original condition began in earnest when the Puget Sound Chinook salmon was listed as a threatened species in 1999.

Working with the Navy, Island County identified the 300 acres of Crescent Harbor Salt Marsh as one of its highest ranking restoration opportunities and worked with the University of Washington’s Wetland Ecosystem Team and hydrologic consultants Philip Williams and Associates, Ltd., to prepare the feasibility study and basic project design.

In 2001 Construction Battalion “Seabees” removed a spoil berm on either side of the existing main inlet channel to facilitate water movement and installed a Mabey-Johnson bridge in 2005 over the primary outflow culvert on Pioneer Way allowing for continued vehicle access.

In 2007, the Navy entered into discussion with the Skagit River System Cooperative, the restoration and research arm of the Swinomish and Sauk-Suiattle Tribes partnered to find funding, complete the final designs and facilitate constructions of the project. The SRSC acquired Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program and Salmon Recovery Funding Board grant funding in 2007 and proceeded with final design with the engineering assistance from the Whidbey Island Conservation District.

Northwest Construction, the company hired by the SRSC, began the preliminary construction work in the fall of 2008, before winter weather set in, then began work again in early summer 2009 on the berm cuts, tidal channels and culvert replacement.

Island County Beach Watchers have also played an active role by sharing data from annual coastal surveys for pre- and post- construction environmental analysis.

“The benefit of projects like this (Crescent Harbor Marsh Restoration) cannot be overstated,” said David. “Not only does it directly benefit the environment and wildlife in Puget Sound, it clearly demonstrates the compatibility of the Navy’s mission with the natural resources that we share.”