Restoration of habitat functions in an urban estuary: progress and lessons from Elliott Bay

Elliott Bay and the associated Duwamish River estuary have been the historical center of development for Seattle, Washington over the past 150 years. During this period, the region has emerged as a major metropolitan center and one of the busiest seaports in the eastern Pacific. These economic and social benefits have occurred at the cost of ecological functions; the estuary has incurred a 98% loss of wetland habitat over this period. Over the past decade, a variety of development interests, resource agencies, tribal governments, local jurisdictions, and citizen organizations have worked towards restoring elements of the Elliott Bay system. Through a variety of implementation mechanisms, there are currently at least 12 completed or in-progress habitat restoration projects. Monitoring programs focus on the provision of habitat functions and the attributes which support fish and wildlife use. Indications of success are supported by several observations from pilot projects, including: 1. Increasing abundance and diversity of juvenile salmonid invertebrate prey resources. 2. Correlation between prey species availability and juvenile salmonid stomach contents. 3. Utilization of restored sites by birds for resting, foraging, and breeding. 4. Survival of native plantings (marsh and riparian) and recruitment of plant species. Restoring habitat in this urban setting has proven to be expensive, complicated, and time-consuming. Given the uncertainties involved, issues at stake, and costs incurred (financial, human, land resource) it is essential that these projects be adequately studied and lessons widely disseminated