County commissioners endorse Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project

A sweeping environmental project received the backing of the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners, as regional partners continue to seek state and federal funding needed to initiate construction and implementation.

The board approved a resolution that spells out support for the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project, which aims to restore 260 acres of estuarine and salt marsh habitat in South Puget Sound. 

The board unanimously backed the resolution, which was on the consent agenda of a business meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20. A consent agenda packages items for one combined vote.

The resolution refers to the project as “a transformative, once-in-generations opportunity to restore the Deschutes Estuary, improve the health of Budd Inlet and the Deschutes River watershed, and address long-standing water quality, habitat, sediment, and public access challenges” that are associated with Capital Lake Basin.

The resolution also acknowledges management of the project under Washington State Department of Ecology, which took over the role from Washington State Department of Enterprise Services in 2025. Total project costs have been estimated to exceed $400 million.

Funding and governance of the project are detailed in an interlocal agreement between the City of Olympia, City of Tumwater, LOTT Clean Water Alliance, Port of Olympia, Squaxin Island Tribe and Thurston County. 

The Tumwater Public Works Committee recently backed a similar resolution for the restoration project, which would also result in the removal and replacement of the 5th Avenue Bridge, as well as removal of the dam. The project is in the design and permitting process.

A Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on the restoration project is available for review or download here. The public can weigh in on the project until 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 9. An online comment form is available here.