Tumwater committee advances Deschutes Estuary resolution 

The Tumwater Public Works Committee backed a resolution reinforcing the city's support for the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project.  

The project involves the removal of 5th Avenue Dam in Olympia, as well as the restoration of 260 acres of estuarine and salt-marsh habitat in South Puget Sound.

Deemed the best approach for the lake’s long-term management according to a 2022 environmental impact statement, the restoration would improve water quality, create wildlife habitat and improve public access, said Tumwater Water Resources and Sustainability Department Director Dan Smith.

He made his remarks at a committee meeting on Oct. 8., at which time the group unanimously voted to forward the resolution to Tumwater City Council.

Smith said the resolution demonstrates the city’s support for Washington State Department of Ecology, which took over the project from Washington State Department of Enterprise Services in 2025.

Partner agencies are working to complete design and permitting by mid-2027 with construction starting when funding becomes available. 

“The state is actively pursuing a number of different avenues from both local, state, and federal sources,” Smith said. “We're fairly confident that we're going to see some funding come in that can allow this to start probably mid- to late-28.” 

The resolution incurs no new fiscal obligations and only maintains the city's existing commitments. The city would contribute around $7.67 million through 2050 for the project as part of a 2024 interlocal agreement with Olympia, Thurston County, the Port of Olympia, Squaxin Island Tribe, and LOTT Clean Water Alliance. 

The money would fund periodic sediment dredging at Budd Inlet, where water from the future estuary is going to flow once the dam is removed. 

Smith said the city has started to collect funds through stormwater rates to meet its financial commitments. 

As part of the interlocal agreement, Tumwater would also coordinate with the state for design and construction of boardwalks at the south basin of Capitol Lake. The city would take ownership and control of the boardwalks once completed.  

The committee decided to place the resolution on the city council’s consent agenda on Oct. 20. It means the resolution, along with other decisions packaged into the consent agenda, would be considered in one vote without further discussion. unless pulled from the agenda.