Kilchis River Estuary Restoration (Phase II - Porter Tract)
Approximately 90 percent of historic tidal marsh and swamp habitats have been altered and impaired due to diking, drainage, and other tidal disconnections in the Tillamook Bay. The result has been massive declines in native fish, including salmonidsApproximately 90 percent of historic tidal marsh and swamp habitats have been altered and impaired due to diking, drainage, and other tidal disconnections in the Tillamook Bay. The result has been massive declines in native fish, including salmonids
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) seeks to continue restoration of tidal wetland habitats along Tillamook Bay with restoration of the Porter Tract, a 60-acre parcel adjacent to the Kilchis Estuary Preserve which was restored in 2015. W2r staff, some of whom were involved with the prior restoration, provided feasibility assessment, modeling oversite, and design services on the Porter Tract project.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) seeks to continue restoration of tidal wetland habitats along Tillamook Bay with restoration of the Porter Tract, a 60-acre parcel adjacent to the Kilchis Estuary Preserve which was restored in 2015. W2r staff, some of whom were involved with the prior restoration, provided feasibility assessment, modeling oversite, and design services on the Porter Tract project.
Restoration elements of the Porter Tract parcel include removing water control structures, filling linear ditches, removing dikes, excavating new tidal channels, enhancing (widening and deepening) existing channels, reusing excavation material on site in low mounds, and constructing two new pedestrian bridges (to provide access to maintain vegetation and plantings). A key component of project success was determining impacts of the restoration on flooding and salinity levels for adjacent properties, including active agricultural land.
