We have written before (overview, update) about the Maylor Point project partially funded by the Habitat Strategic Initiative. This project removed man-made structures and materials from the shoreline, returning the area to a natural beach with habitat for small fish that are critically important in the Puget Sound foodweb.

Today, we heard exciting news from Lori Clark at the Island Local Integrating Organization that just a few months later, there is evidence that forage fish are using the restored habitat!

I am so excited to share good news about the Maylor Point restoration project! Only 6 months post-(de)construction, the Navy’s monitoring program found forage fish eggs across the entire 1500 feet length of restored shoreline! This project was a collaborative effort between the Northwest Straits Foundation, the US Navy, the Island County Marine Resources Committee. The project was identified through an assessment of opportunities to restore feeder bluff processes and functions in Island and Jefferson counties funded by the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program. The citizens and technical committees of the Island County Local Integrating Organization, Lead Entity for Salmon Recovery and Island County Marine Resources Committee worked together to get the restoration project funded through the Habitat Strategic Initiative team with EPA National Estuary Program funds and US Fish & Wildlife program funds.

Lori Clark, Island Local Integrating Organization

Context: The Habitat Strategic Initiative focuses on many types of habitat, including shorelines. Beach habitat is especially important for small fish that bigger fish eat, which is why we call them forage fish. Man-made structures like shoreline armor on the beach, combined with sea level rise, reduce the habitat for these small fish, which in turn means less food for salmon, and less salmon as food for Southern Resident Orcas. Protecting and restoring beach habitat helps all of these species survive.

Did you know: The grants that the Strategic Initiatives give out, called Puget Sound Geographic Funds (also referred to as National Estuary Program funds) are sometimes used to fund a small piece of a much larger project, supplementing other funding sources to get important projects completed in Puget Sound.