Sequim Bay Estuary

After a century of sitting at the hub of the area’s timber industry, the Sequim Bay Estuary in northwest Washington State suffered from sediment pollution and habitat degradation. After receiving a Brownfields Cleanup Grant from the EPA and partnering with state, local, and private stakeholders, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe began restoring the estuary’s natural features as part of its plan to clean up the entire Sequim Bay. The project removed 99 creosote pilings that were used to store timber waiting to be shipped out to sea as well as contaminated soil and solid waste, restoring an 82-acre area to its natural ecosystem. Since the cleanup’s completion in 2005, the area is experiencing increased economic benefits from tourism and fishing.⁷

Photo courtesy of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.