Achieving a WinWin Restoring Ecosystem Services

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Achieving a Win-Win Restoring Ecosystem Services

• Kurt Nelson
• Tulalip Tribes of Washington
• December 10, 2008

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Introduction

• Background Tulalip Tribes
• Qwloolt Estuary Restoration Project
• Coho Creek Restoration Project
• Snohomish Basin Biogas Partnership
• Summary

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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

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Historical Context
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Present Day Context
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Location of Various Tribal Projects
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Project Goal
Qwloolt 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
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CITY OF MARYSVILLE
TULALIP RESERVATION
qwloolt site
LANDFILL
EBEY SLOUGH
SNOHOMISH RIVER
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Project Goal
Project Goal
Re-establish historic tidal influences and other
natural processes to the qwloolt site in order
to restore a functioning estuary marsh system
that benefits salmon and other natural resources.
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Project Goal
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
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Project Goal
Primary Restoration Actions
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Coho Creek Restoration Project
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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

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Coho Creek Restoration Project Location and
Alignment
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Proposed Development Plan
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Pre and Post Project Conditions
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Restoration Includes Physical and Hydrologic
Modifications
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Snohomish Basin Biogas Project
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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

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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

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Dairies in Vicinity of Biogas Facility
Red Hook
Ten-Mile Radius
Biogas Facility
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Biogas Project Site
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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

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Products

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

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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