Comment period opens for Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project

A new environmental assessment of plans to restore the Deschutes River estuary is available for public review and input through Nov. 9.

The Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project will remove the 5th Avenue Dam, restore 260 acres of estuary and salt marsh across two miles, and build a new 5th Avenue Bridge with vehicle lanes, separated bike and pedestrian paths, and public viewing opportunities. The project will also add water-access areas to reintroduce recreation to a waterbody closed since 2009 due to the presence of invasive species.

Design and permitting began in October 2023, and the project team will complete 90% design at the end of the year, with input from partners including the Squaxin Island Tribe, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the cities of Olympia and Tumwater, and regional agencies.

Construction is expected to begin in 2028, pending permits and funding, and will take approximately six to seven years to complete.

The Washington state Department of Ecology and the Washington state Department of Enterprise Services are developing a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Draft SEIS) focused on design elements that have been updated or added to the project since the original planning-level design was completed in 2022. 

These elements include:

• Replacement of the utility and pedestrian bridge at Marathon Park
• A new berm and elevated trail at Heritage Park
• A new berm at Tumwater Historic Brewery
• Protection of the BNSF railroad bridge
• Refined design for river channel dredging and habitat areas, the 5th Avenue Bridge and roadway, and recreational elements

Bobbak Talebi, Ecology’s southwest region director, highlighted the importance of community involvement in the planning process.

“The Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project has been shaped by the many years of investment and participation from design partners and the community,” Talebi said. “The supplemental review ensures the decision-makers, agencies, tribes and the public have current environmental information as estuary restoration moves forward. This Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement is another important opportunity to help us refine the final phases of design and permitting.”

Ecology developed this assessment with the Department of Enterprise Services under the state Environmental Policy Act to analyze additional potential environmental impacts resulting from updated project design. 

The Draft SEIS does not include analysis of the actions, alternatives, and impacts that were previously analyzed in the 2022 Environmental Impact Statement.

The Draft SEIS is available on ecology’s website.

Ecology and the Department of Enterprise Services are accepting public comments on the Draft SEIS through 11:59 a.m. on Nov. 9. 

Ecology and the Department of Enterprise Services will host two public meetings with presentations, and an opportunity to comment on the Draft SEIS during the hearing portion of the meetings.

Those meetings are: 

• Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 5:30 p.m. in person at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St NW, Olympia, WA 98501.
• Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 5:30 p.m., virtually at https://tinyurl.com/3kmnsb2m. 

Comments can also be submitted online at https://tinyurl.com/5yhbce27 or by mail at: 

SEPA Draft SEIS for the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project

Washington Department of Ecology

c/o Bobbak Talebi, Southwest Region Office

P.O. Box 47775

Olympia, WA 98504-7775

Comments received on the Draft SEIS during the comment period will be compiled and reviewed. 

Ecology and the Department of Enterprise Services will consider substantive comments in preparation of the Final SEIS, expected next year.

 The Final SEIS may be used by agencies to inform permit decisions for the project.