Achieving a Win-Win Restoring Ecosystem Services Kurt Nelson Tulalip Tribes of Washington December 10, 2008

Introduction Background – Tulalip Tribes Qw’loolt Estuary Restoration Project Coho Creek Restoration Project Snohomish Basin Biogas Partnership Summary

Background Federally Recognized Successors to the Snohomish Snoqualmie Skykomish Other bands Treaty of Point Elliot Tribes retained fishing and hunting rights Co-manage fish and wildlife resources with the State of Washington

Historical Context

Present Day Context

Location of Various Tribal Projects

Qw’loolt Estuary Restoration Project A partnership between tribal, city, state, and federal agencies whose purpose is the restoration of this critical tidal wetland in the Snohomish River Estuary

LANDFILL TULALIP RESERVATION qw’loolt site EBEY SLOUGH CITY OF MARYSVILLE SNOHOMISH RIVER

Project Goal Re-establish historic tidal influences and other natural processes to the qw’loolt site in order to restore a functioning estuary marsh system that benefits salmon and other natural resources.

Ecosystem Benefits Restores 400 acres of estuary wetland and channel habitat critical for salmon rearing and staging Improve fish passage to 16 miles of stream habitat “The quality and quantity of rearing habitat in the nearshore, estuary, and mainstem rivers is the primary factor limiting Chinook salmon and bull trout recovery. ” 2005 Snohomish Basin Salmon Recovery Plan

Project Goal Primary Restoration Actions

Goals Restore and enhance stream and wetland ecological functions (e.g. nutrient and hydrologic dynamics) Increase salmon production Integrate stream and wetland enhancements with prospective development planning Reuse and integrate waste water from a microbial bioreactor treatment plant into the restoration plans

Coho Creek Restoration Project Location and Alignment

Proposed Development Plan

Pre and Post Project Conditions

Restoration Includes Physical and Hydrologic Modifications

Snohomish Basin Biogas Project

Snohomish Basin Biogas Partnership Formed April 2, 2003 Lower Skykomish River Habitat Conservation Group Northwest Chinook Recovery Tulalip Tribes Skykomish/Snoqualmie Agricultural Alliance City of Monroe

Purpose Address water quality problems in Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers Reduce bacteria and nutrient loading Assist local dairies by reducing waste management costs Agriculture is a preferred land use in floodplains as compared to other more destructive types of land use (e.g. residential) Build or improve the relationship between Tribes and the Agricultural Community

Food Waste: > 80 Ton/Day Flush Dairies: 1,572,000 GPD Scrape Dairies: 26,775 GPD Ten-Mile Radius Biogas Facility Red Hook Dairies in Vicinity of Biogas Facility

Biogas Project Site

Project Description Cow manure is collected and piped or trucked to the facility Manure is pumped into the anaerobic digester Methane gas is captured and piped to a generator The generator burns the gas creating electricity Bio-solids are composted and sold to local buyer Effluent is treated and returned to dairy for irrigation

Products Methane and/or electricity Bio-solids for compost and/or fertilizers Treated effluent for farm irrigation

In Summary Ecosystems Services are being restored and used by The Tulalip Tribes It is an integral part of habitat restoration Resource conservation through reuse Creating source of renewable energy Improve water quality In directing development plans on the Reservation In partnerships with the local farm community, local municipalities, and state and federal agencies