current habitat projects
current habitat projects
HCSEG conducts habitat restoration projects along the entire Hood Canal watershed. In partnership with other groups, tribes, and organizations, we are able to make significant change to vital steelhead and salmon habitat.
Big Quilcene river: the lower 1 mile
This large-scale restoration project is currently under construction on the Lower Big Quilcene River. Once completed, the project will provide over 1 mile of new habitat rich river channels for local salmon populations. The project is also constructing a new 1,140 bridge on Linger Longer Road that will help to address the significant flood hazards this transportation corridor experiences.
Duckabush estuary restoration
The Duckabush Estuary Restoration Project is an effort to improve the Duckabush estuary ecosystem, creating more viable habitat for salmon, shellfish, waterfowl and more. This project may also benefit the local community by reducing severe flooding events that occur at the mouth of the Duckabush river.
theler wetlands restoration
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG) are planning to restore 7 acres of estuarine wetland habitat and reconnect a disrupted trail network at the Mary E. Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve.
MOON VALLEY
The Moon Valley Project is a large scale, transformative habitat restoration project that will re-establish the plentiful salmon habitat conditions in the Big Quilcene River that once existed in this mile long valley.
Little Quilcene River
Brush Plant Road Reach Restoration – The 1/3 mile reach of the Little Quilcene River between Center Road and Highway 101 had been channelized for agriculture and residential development, resulting in one long riffle that provided neither stable spawning…
Riparian Enhancement & Knotweed Control
Our organization has been working with local land owners to conduct surveys and treatment within the Hood Canal watershed for the noxious weed known as knotweed (Polygonum spp.). These plants are non-native, aggressive…
Seabeck creek restoration
Seabeck Creek is one of four Hood Canal Intensively Monitored Watersheds (IMW). The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife IMW program is designed as a Before-After Control-Impact (BACI) study in order to determine whether and how habitat restoration activities influence abundance of salmon and steelhead.
sweetwater creek waterwheel park
Sweetwater Creek Waterwheel Park is a renovation and expansion of a park project on Sweetwater Creek next to Belfair Elementary School and across highway 3 from the Mary E. Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve Center. This park will include the only freshwater ADA fishing access in Mason County.
Big Beef Creek & Estuary
The goal of the Big Beef Estuary Acquisition project is to protect 303 acres of estuary, freshwater wetland and riparian habitat critical to coho salmon, ESA listed Hood Canal Summer Chum Salmon and ESA listed Puget Sound steelhead.
Union River Estuary Restoration
In partnership with Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation Office and United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group/Pacific Northwest Salmon Center is working to restore 31 acres of previously filled estuary…