Nisqually River Delta restoration revives 762 acres of marshland for Chinook salmon

In 2009, authorities in Washington state removed century-old sea dikes along the Nisqually River Delta, triggering a major ecological restoration. The project reclaimed 762 acres of marshland that had long been cut off from natural tidal flows. Young Chinook salmon quickly adapted to the newly formed tidal channels, using them for feeding and growth. The restoration successfully re-established 21 miles of ancestral tidal connections with Puget Sound. Experts now regard the project as a model for coastal resilience and habitat recovery along the West Coast.