ESA managed the design, engineering, certification, and permitting of the Blue Heron Slough Project, the Northwest’s first conservation bank for chinook salmon.

Why does this project matter?

This project will mitigate the Port of Everett’s long-term build-out plan, and make 60 percent of the wetland and species credits created available for sale to third parties. NOAA Certified Conservation Banks, this is the first Chinook Salmon certified bank in the nation. The project includes a 364-acre estuary restoration site that increases this limiting habitat for salmon in the Snohomish River and Puget sound.  It has been certified by NOAA Fisheries for 10,200 Chinook salmon credits under the Endangered Species Act and under review for 240 wetland mitigation credits under the Clean Water Act.

What is ESA doing to help?

Construction was completed in September 2022. The ESA team, led by project manager and the project’s engineer Sky Miller, assisted with completion of engineered stamped drawings, specifications, contractor selection, construction staking, construction observation, completed project survey and As-Built drawings. The project involved 600,000 cubic yards of excavation and fill. Terra-Geo provided floodwall options, geotechnical engineering, surface water management, plans and specifications consistent with USACE design criteria for dikes and berms for an approximately one-mile levee that ties to an existing levee system.

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