Why are you doing this?
Chinook salmon are considered a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. We are obligated by federal law to increase Chinook salmon numbers in the Puget Sound, and this project specifically increases the number of juvenile salmon on their way to the ocean, helping us make great strides in required salmon recovery plans.

Show All Answers

1. What is the Smith Island Restoration Project? Can you tell me more?
2. Who's doing this?
3. Why are you doing this?
4. How will this benefit salmon?
5. How will I benefit from the project?
6. When will you start?
7. So what exactly does it mean to breach a dike? Is it dangerous?
8. What happens to river levels once the old dike is breached and the new dike is built?
9. Should adjacent property owners be worried? Do they know what’s happening?
10. What about flooding? Won’t this increase the chance for flooding on their property?
11. I heard this has always been farmland. How can you call it a “restoration” project? Aren’t you just destroying farmland?
12. How can you say you’re protecting farmland if you’re flooding it all?
13. Who owns the land?
14. What's the cost?
15. That's a lot of money. Is it really worth it?
16. I hear it will only save eight adult fish. That doesn’t seem worth it.
17. Can’t you do this somewhere else? The impacts seem too large.
18. I’ve heard the soil is contaminated with arsenic. Won’t this project release dangerous contaminants into the water? Won’t that kill the fish or endanger my health?
19. What about the Puget Sound Energy pipeline? Is there the chance of explosion or a damaged pipe?
20. OK, you’re going to flood a lot of land. As plants and trees decay, won’t that smell?
21. But what about heat, won’t the water be too hot for fish?
22. How can I learn more about the project?