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Wilson - Trask Wetlands Protection & Restoration

Aerial view of the confluence of the Wilson, Tillamook, and Trask Rivers (Don Best photo)

More than 85 percent of the Tillamook Bay area's historic floodplain and lowland wetlands have been lost as a result of human settlement and development. Loss of these habitats has resulted in significant impacts on salmon, migratory birds, and other fish and wildlife. The Trask-Wilson project was developed in response to declining water quality, diminished habitats, and increased flooding in and around the upper Tillamook Bay.

Partners and Funding

The effort was initiated in 1999, when the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) partnered with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Wetlands Joint Venture, and Ducks Unlimited on the development of a project aimed at the protection and restoration of coastal wetland habitats within a 4,300-acre area where four major rivers enter Tillamook Bay. The project partners identified a number of willing property sellers, and submitted a grant proposal to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for acquisition funds under the Coastal Wetland Planning, Protection and Restoration Act. The USFWS awarded the project $750,000 in acquisition funds, which were subsequently matched with $250,000 from OWEB. OWEB funds were dedicated to the restoration of the acquired estuarine wetlands.

The Tillamook Bay National Estuary Project (TBNEP), now known as the TEP, was recognized as the best local organization to administer the grant funds and manage implementation of the project and was awarded the two grants, totaling $1,025,000. The Trust for Public Lands (TPL) was then brought in to conduct the complex research and negotiation required to secure purchase options on the highest priority wetland areas. TPL was successful in negotiating purchase options on three contiguous parcels with outstanding restoration potential: Farris (142 acres), Furhman (81 acres), and Wilson (154 acres) properties.

The Wilson and Fuhrman properties are adjacent to the Farris parcel and were purchased with USFWS acquisition funds in February and June of 2002, respectively. The Farris property was purchsed using $596,000 granted by NOAA under the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) pursuant to P.L. 108-7 for fiscal year 2003. In total, these properties provided an opporutnity to restore over 375 acres of inter-tidal habitat.

Project Goals

The purpose of the Wilson-Trask wetlands projects is to restore roughly 375 acres of wetlands in the upper estuary of Tillamook Bay, between the Wilson and Trask rivers. Project goals are to:

improve habitat for native fish and wildlife,
improve water quality and reduce sedimentation,
reduce flood hazards, and
enhance the overall ecological health of Tillamook Bay.

The Wetlands Management Plan

Click photo to enlarge

Prior to acquisition, the Tillamook County Board of Commissioners requested that project partners work with the community to develop a Management Plan that could be supported by the broad range of interests involved in this project. In order to accomplish broad-based community support, the TBNEP facilitated a planning process through which community stakeholders could not only participate in, but in fact drive, the plan development process. The planning process took roughly a year and culminated with a recommendation to the Commissioners to purchase the three parcels and manage them under the Tillamook Bay Wetlands Management Plan. The Board of Commissioners adopted this plan in early 2002, taking full title to the properties.

The Management Plan provides for the protection and restoration of a natural functioning salt marsh ecosystem on all or most of 377 contiguous acres (the three properties) within the river delta at the southern end of Tillamook Bay. These areas will be primarily restored to intertidal habitats consisting of high salt marsh and brackish marsh, as well as forested wetlands. Existing remnant floodplain forests will be permanently protected and managed to maintain their natural values. Targeted breaching and alteration of existing dikes is expected to restore floodplain function and habitat connectivity, increase habitat complexity, and improve dissolved oxygen, temperature, and bacteria water quality parameters. Construction of new levee structures will protect adjacent land uses from tidal inundation.

Element five of the Management Plan puts forth a public access and evaluation plan for the properties. This section of the Plan establishes that all of the acquired properties will be open to the public (foot traffic only) and opportunities will be provided for interpretation of natural and historic resources. The vital role of wetlands, riparian vegetation, and floodplain function will be emphasized through signange and kiosks.

Project Development

The project area encompassing the Wilson, Farris, and Fuhrman parcels is a complex floodplain (and floodway) area during flooding events. Ensuring the conveyance of floodwaters from upstream areas, through the project area, and out to Tillamook Bay is a major safety and welfare concern within the local community. Mitigating against flood hazards to upstream areas, including the City of Tillamook's North Highway 101 business district, is a critical issue in the development of restoration design alternatives for the project area.

In 2000, Tillamook County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers partnered on development of The Tillamook Bay and Estuary Feasibility Study which resulted in the creation of a HEC-RAS hydrologic model. This model ensures that any ecosystem enhancement projects undertaken within the study area do not increase the magnitude or duration of flood events. Based on output generated by this model and community input, the Feasibility Study distilled 59 measures (project alternatives) down to two projects. Both of these projects were situated on the 375 acre wetland restoration area. They now constitute the core of the restoration design alternative to be implemented across the properties.

TEP, Tillamook County, and community partners are now working with Congressional leaders to acquire funding for implementation of the wetland restoration projects designed under the Corps Feasibility Study. Full implementation of design alternatives is estimated at five million dollars.