Achieving a Win-Win Restoring Ecosystem Services

Kurt NelsonTulalip Tribes of Washington

December 10, 2008

IntroductionBackground – Tulalip TribesQw’loolt Estuary Restoration ProjectCoho Creek Restoration ProjectSnohomish Basin Biogas PartnershipSummary

BackgroundFederally RecognizedSuccessors to the

SnohomishSnoqualmieSkykomishOther bands

Treaty of Point Elliot Tribes retained fishing

and hunting rightsCo-manage fish and

wildlife resources with the State of Washington

Historical Context

Present Day Context

Location of Various Tribal Projects

Qw’loolt Estuary Restoration Project

A partnership between tribal, city, state, and federal agencies whose purpose is the restoration of this critical tidal wetland in the Snohomish River Estuary

LANDFILL

TULALIP RESERVATION

qw’looltsite

EBEY SLOUGH

CITY OF MARYSVILLE

SNOHOMISH RIVER

Project Goal

Re-establish historic tidal influences and other natural processes to the qw’loolt site in order to restore a functioning estuary marsh system that benefits salmon and other natural resources.

Ecosystem Benefits

• Restores 400 acres of estuary wetland and channel habitat critical for salmon rearing and staging

• Improve fish passage to 16 miles of stream habitat “The quality and quantity of rearing habitat in the

nearshore, estuary, and mainstem rivers is the primary factor limiting Chinook salmon and bull trout recovery. ” 2005 Snohomish Basin Salmon Recovery Plan

Project Goal

Primary Restoration Actions

Goals

Restore and enhance stream and wetland ecological functions (e.g. nutrient and hydrologic dynamics)

Increase salmon productionIntegrate stream and wetland enhancements

with prospective development planningReuse and integrate waste water from a

microbial bioreactor treatment plant into the restoration plans

Coho Creek Restoration Project Location and Alignment

Proposed Development Plan

Pre and Post Project Conditions

Restoration Includes Physical and Hydrologic Modifications

Snohomish Basin Biogas Project

Snohomish Basin Biogas Partnership

Formed April 2, 2003Lower Skykomish River Habitat Conservation

GroupNorthwest Chinook RecoveryTulalip TribesSkykomish/Snoqualmie Agricultural AllianceCity of Monroe

PurposeAddress water quality problems in

Skykomish and Snoqualmie riversReduce bacteria and nutrient loading

Assist local dairies by reducing waste management costsAgriculture is a preferred land use in

floodplains as compared to other more destructive types of land use (e.g. residential)

Build or improve the relationship between Tribes and the Agricultural Community

Food Waste: > 80 Ton/Day

Flush Dairies: 1,572,000 GPD

Scrape Dairies: 26,775 GPD

Ten-Mile Radius

Biogas Facility

Red Hook

Dairies in Vicinity of Biogas Facility

Biogas Project Site

Project DescriptionCow manure is collected and piped or trucked

to the facilityManure is pumped into the anaerobic digesterMethane gas is captured and piped to a

generatorThe generator burns the gas creating

electricityBio-solids are composted and sold to local

buyerEffluent is treated and returned to dairy for

irrigation

ProductsMethane and/or electricityBio-solids for compost and/or fertilizersTreated effluent for farm irrigation

In SummaryEcosystems Services are being restored and used by

The Tulalip TribesIt is an integral part of habitat restorationResource conservation through reuseCreating source of renewable energyImprove water qualityIn directing development plans on the ReservationIn partnerships with the local farm community, local

municipalities, and state and federal agencies