Summary: On October 31, 2022, the Washington Department of Enterprise Services (DES) released its Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on Capitol Lake/Deschutes Estuary, identifying the removal of the Fifth Avenue Dam and restoration of the Deschutes River and Estuary as the state’s “preferred alternative” to address numerous environmental problems with the existing lake and estuarine systems. The Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team (DERT), the Squaxin Tribe, and other local elected officials, organizations, and community members have been advocating for this result for more than 20 years.

In releasing the FEIS, DES quoted Kris Peters, the Chair of the Squaxin Tribe, who said:

“The Deschutes Estuary has long-standing cultural and spiritual significance to the Squaxin Island Tribe. Restoration of the Deschutes Estuary is a meaningful step toward the larger effort to improve the health of the Deschutes Watershed for native species.”

His words were echoed by others, including Governor Inslee.

Together, we have cause to celebrate this milestone.

Read the full press release here. 

Please consider donating to DERT today. You are part of the vision and hard work that guarantees the Deschutes River WILL meet Puget Sound without a barrier. Together, we will continue to advocate for the removal of the 5th Avenue Dam to restore our urban estuary.

NEWS IN THE WATERSHED

Do you have watershed news to share?

Send it to Jae, our Outreach Coordinator, at harris-townsend@deschutesestuary.org

The dam will be removed: Help us continue to give a voice to the Deschutes Watershed.

Give Local 2022, our community's celebration of local generosity, is going on now. We're excited to be part of the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound's Give Local this year because it's a time when everyone can unite around our shared generosity and sense of togetherness.

We're a part of Give Local alongside many organizations that care for the landscape and the people of the South Sound.

Anyone can participate in the gift of giving back to our community!

Now through November 18 at 11:59pm, you can find DERT and other notable local nonprofits working to uplift our community on spsgives.org.

When you visit our Give Local profile page HERE and donate between November 7-18, your gift will be amplified by the Give Local Bonus Fund. Not only that, our Community Foundation and generous sponsors are covering credit card fees and other fees, so every dollar goes even further to support a free and healthy Deschutes. We invite you to be part of Give Local with us; join us in the gift of giving by making a difference in the water quality of South Puget Sound with a contribution to DERT.

You can also help us spread the word about the fundraiser across your social media, like or share our Give Local posts, or talk with friends and family!

Your support, generosity, and kindness are greatly appreciated during Give Local.

This Friday: celebrate this historical EIS with DERT and your fellow estuary-enthusiasts!

Come on down to New Traditions Cafe at 300 5th Avenue SW in Olympia WA.

There will be drinks, speakers, and delicious food to try from the renowned Chef Amy.

Festivities begin at 6pm- see you soon!

Every fall, the Chinook salmon return to the mouth of the Deschutes River. Before they can finish their journey, they have one more obstacle to overcome: the fish ladder at the 5th Avenue Dam.

"Seals love fish ladders like these because they’re chokepoints for migrating salmon — engineered to allow salmon to move over them, but still an obstacle to migration, in this case one of the final obstacles salmon face on their long journey back to the mouth of the Deschutes River. The salmon can make for an all-you-can-eat buffet for seals in the right place at the right time."

We can expect to see an increase in success for salmon once the 5th Avenue Dam is removed. More salmon will survive to spawn in the Deschutes without the barrier blocking the way, and their offspring will have a flourishing estuary to ease the transition from freshwater to saltwater habitat.

Learn how organizations like Oceans Initiative and WDFW are working together to develop technology to safely deter seals at the 5th Avenue Dam until the dam can be removed in 2035.

CONGRATULATIONS TO DAVE PEELER, BOARD MEMBER

Congratulations are in order for DERT board member, Dave Peeler, for winning the 2022 AWRA Outstanding Achievement Award.

Thanks for all your hard work, Dave!

THANK TO OUR COMMUNITY & BOARD MEMBERS

Thank you to our board members, Karen and Katrina, for organizing DERT's annual auction this year!

And a BIG thank you to our community members who came out and supported our organization by offering donations or bids. We couldn't do this work without you!

Say YEStuary with these fantastic designs--

T-shirts are available for a $20 donation and hats (black or red) are available for a $15 donation. Sweatshirts are also available for $35. 

1. Donate here 
2. Email our Outreach Coordinator, Jae, with your size or hat color. They will verify your donation and arrange pick up. Email Jae at harris-townsend@deschutesestuary.org
3. March on down to pick up your merch!

OR

Swing by our EIS celebration tomorrow and pick one up!

Do our emails get lost in your promotion tab? Here is a quick trick to make sure our newsletter goes directly into your primary inbox*. Simply click on the email in your promotions tab, and drag it up and over to your primary tab. Voila! From now on, every DERT email will go directly to your primary tab!

For more information CLICK HERE

*This tip is for those who use Gmail, but it may be applicable to other platforms.

Pollution Reporting Resources

As a community dedicated to protecting the Deschutes watershed and South Puget Sound, we must all keep an eye out for potential pollution incidents when we are out and about. This page contains a list of who to call to report a pollution source - click the organization name to be directed to their site.

DERT's South Sound Healthy Watershed Program operates thanks to our sponsoring foundations and donors like you. Did you know that donors are now able to set up automatic recurring monthly donations in any amount? Follow the link to the right to get set up. Thank you for working with us towards a free Deschutes!