Lower Duwamish River

Articles:

A boat navigates the Lower Duwamish River with industrial development on both sides of the river's banks.

NOAA and Trustees seeking comment on Lower Duwamish Natural Resources Injury Assessment Plan

NOAA and the other Elliot Bay Trustees conducting the Lower Duwamish Natural Resources Damage Assessment, have announced a 30-day comment period for the Lower Duwamish Natural Resources Injury Assessment Plan (PDF, 79 pg).

Volunteers conduct restoration along the Duwamish River in Washington.

New Report: What we have learned about habitat restoration in an urban waterway

Restoration is essential to recover endangered species, support commercial and recreationally important fisheries, and restore injured natural resources. Urban watersheds are one of the most challenging places to conduct habitat restoration as the work is complicated and expensive.

Through our recent habitat restoration efforts in the heavily-urbanized Lower Duwamish River in Washington, we have identified lessons and solutions that may help future urban estuary restoration.

Case Pages:

Cutting through south Seattle, the Duwamish is an industrial river.

Lower Duwamish River

Hazardous Waste Site | Washington State | Mid-20th Century

What Happened?

The Duwamish River was once a wide, meandering river with large areas of mudflats and marshes. By the 1940s, channelization and filling had transformed the 9-mile estuary into a 5-mile industrial waterway. This process destroyed 97 percent of the original habitat.