Nisqually Watershed Flying for Fish Habitat Tours 2010

The Flying for Fish Habitat flight program Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission with support from LightHawk has been providing educational aerial tours throughout Puget Sound for over a decade to help officials and community leaders better understand and protect watershed habitat. In 2010 PSMFC provided the Nisqually Tribe flights over the Nisqually watershed from Ohop Creek and the Mashel River to the delta. Carla Stehr

Nisqually Watershed Tour The waters of the Nisqually River begin to flow at the Nisqually Glacier on Mt. Rainier. From the glacier the river continues for 78 miles through forests, dams, agricultural lands, military restricted areas, Tribal lands, and urban developments to its delta at the south end of Puget Sound. Carla Stehr

The Nisqually River enters Puget Sound just northeast of Olympia. It is one of the South Sound’s largest sources of fresh water. Carla Stehr Nisqually Watershed Tour

Flight Path All flights provided by LightHawk’s volunteer pilots.

Nisqually Salmon Alder Lake Dam The Nisqually supports threatened fall Chinook salmon, late-timed chum, pink and coho salmon, coastal cutthroat trout, threatened winter steelhead and bull trout. Chinook Chum Salmon Pink Coho Cutthroat Steelhead Bull Trout Salmon images courtesy of King County. Steelhead image courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce.

Estuary restoration Ohop and Mashel restoration Nisqually Protection and Restoration Projects Nisqually Mainstem Protection

Lower Ohop project Lower Mashel project Eatonville Mashel project

Ohop Creek Restoration Initiative Remeander 5 miles of ditched stream Revegetate over 400 acres of valley floor Nisqually Indian Tribe

Ohop Creek Restoration 2010 Carla Stehr Ohop Creek 2007Re-meandering Project 2010

Mashel River restoration Restoration on the Mashel River includes improving the riparian zone, restoring large woody debris, and reconnecting the river to its floodplain. Fall chinook salmon, winter steelhead, and coho salmon will benefit from the restoration on the Mashel.

Nisqually Tribe Estuary Restoration Low Tide Pam Goddard The Nisqually Tribe has restored 140 acres of estuary habitat on the east side of the Nisqually River. Pam Goddard

Jamie Glasgow Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Estuary Restoration Low tide on the delta illustrates the restriction of tidal flow due to the dike. Pam Goddard

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Restoration 2009 Beginning of Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge outer dike removal June Pam Goddard

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Restoration 2010 Former Brown’s Farm Dike New Dike newly inundated wetlands Jeanette Dorner

Nisqually Watershed Partners

Sources Nisqually Indian Tribe ( Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge ( Nisqually Delta Restoration ( Nisqually Land Trust ( Nisqually River Council ( South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group ( Shared Strategy for Puget Sound – ( LightHawk ( PSMFC (

PSMFC’s Fish Habitat Education Program offers educational aerial and ground watershed tours. For ten years, this project has provided hundreds of participants with a vivid experience of local watersheds as well as a means to connect with people, resources, and information. It strives to translate awareness into action on behalf of fish habitat.

LightHawk provides aerial support for all Flying for Fish Habitat tours. Champions environmental protection through the unique perspective of flight. The view from above speaks for itself, providing breathtaking clarity of understanding.

Partnering with Flying For Fish Habitat Program ► Contact Pam Goddard if you would like to partner with Flying for Fish Habitat NE 54 th Street Seattle, WA Virtual flight tour on web at

Please Share Your Experiences This aerial watershed tour has been a collaborative effort between our groups. Only a few individuals can actually fly. We hope you will join us in sharing your experiences with others. This PowerPoint show is available at Working together we can prioritize tasks and accomplish good things for our fish, our communities, and our economies.