OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES) is inviting the public to a hybrid meeting on Aug. 19 to discuss the conceptual design of the Deschutes Estuary restoration in the heart of downtown Olympia, including a new 5th Avenue Bridge, recreational amenities, and potential water access points.

During conceptual design, the project team identifies key project elements, design features, and locations. DES and project consultants will consider input received at this meeting as the design work progresses. DES plans to complete the next stage of the project, called 30% design, by the end of 2024. At that point, the project team will define all major design elements, and use that information to update project scope, schedule, and budget.

Attend the meeting

When: Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Where:

• In person
  • Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. SE, Olympia, WA. 
  • Find visitor parking on the Capitol Campus.
• Virtual
  • Zoom information is available on the project website at www.DeschutesEstuaryProject.org.

About the project

As part of project construction, DES will remove the 5th Avenue Dam to reintroduce tidal flows to the Deschutes waterway, restoring 260 acres to a native estuary habitat as saltwater from Budd Inlet will mix with freshwater from the Deschutes River. Restoring the habitat to an estuary will help migratory fish within the Deschutes River watershed and South Puget Sound that depend on estuarine habitat for juvenile rearing, foraging, and the process of migrating to the sea, including Chinook salmon.

The project will enhance existing recreation with new boardwalks. DES will replace a fishing pier and incorporate water access points into the design.

For long term funding and governance after construction, DES is negotiating an interlocal agreement with parties including the City of Olympia, City of Tumwater, Port of Olympia, Thurston County, Squaxin Island Tribe, State of Washington, and LOTT Clean Water Alliance. The interlocal agreement includes shared funding for dredging of sediment in navigational parts of West Bay to keep a vibrant and working Olympia waterfront.

DES began design work in October 2023 for the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project, following a detailed environmental impact study and initial design funding from the Washington State Legislature through the Climate Commitment Act. DES completed conceptual design in early August.

To inform conceptual design, DES met with the Squaxin Island Tribe and project stakeholders, including the City of Olympia, City of Tumwater, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and a Community Sounding Board made up of volunteers from local interest groups and communities.

Learn more on the project website: www.DeschutesEstuaryProject.org, and subscribe to future project updates.

DES is partnering with FLOYD | SNIDER of Seattle, Washington for this work.

The Department of Enterprise Services (DES) stewards the Washington State Capitol Campus, an internationally accredited arboretum. The 403‐acre campus includes five parks, 18 monuments and works of art, and the 260-acre Capitol Lake, which is being restored to an estuary. Each year, we welcome more than 400 public and private events and hundreds of thousands of visitors to our historic Capitol Campus. See a list of upcoming events. Learn more about the Department of Enterprise Services.

Conceptual renderings