Fidalgo Bay Aquatic Reserve

Restoring Shoreline Habitats

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Large portions of the shoreline along the bay are modified by riprap, concrete bulkheads, and creosote pilings‹what shoreline restoration experts call ³armoring.² Armoring protects March¹s Point Road from erosion; but erosion can also be a good thing. The natural process of erosion enables sediments to deposit along a beach and provide the right kind of habitat for forage fish. Armoring interferes with erosion and eventually causes finer sand and gravel to be transported away by tides and currents. 

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To replace lost sediments, rebuild the beach slope, and improve habitat for forage fish spawning, a multi-partner restoration effort began work in October 2010. Crews hauled in 11,000 cubic yards of sand and gravel that were spread over 3,000 feet of shoreline on the west side of March Point. We will continue to monitor the shoreline to make sure the restoration work is accomplishing our goals of creating suitable habitat for forage fish. 

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March Point is the site of an important restoration project that took place in 2010. The goal of the project: restore the beach to support habitat for spawning forage fish. 

Forage fish - such as surf smelt and Pacific sand lance - are a critical food source for marine birds, salmon, and other large marine predators. These small fish require just the appropriate kind of conditions to spawn and survive, particularly the right kind of sand and gravel at specific tidal elevations on the beach.

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This illustration shows where select forage fish species spawn in relation to tidal heights. Notice sand lance and surf smelt use the upper-intertidal zone, where most shoreline armoring is placed.  Herring spawn mostly in sub-tidal vegetation.

 

Information on this Trail Tales website was prepared under funding from the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Public Participation Grant Program. While the information was reviewed for grant consistency and accuracy of project references, this does not necessarily constitute endorsement by the Department.

Learn more about Ecology’s Anacortes Baywide Cleanup

Photo credits: Anacortes History Museum, Washington state Dept. of Ecology, Samish Indian Nation and others, as noted. Illustrations by Linda Feltner.

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Did You Know?

 In Puget Sound, more than one-third of its 2,500 miles of shoreline are armored, largely to protect public and private property, ports, marinas, roads and railways.

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Additional Materials

pdfFidalgo Bay Aquativ Reserve Folio

pdfFidalgo Bay Factsheet

pdfFidalgo Bay - Protecting Aquatic Lands

pdfFidalgo Bay Parcel Map

pdfFidalgo Bay Species List

pdfWashington Species of Concern List

Washington Department of Natural Resources

Acquatic ReservesAcquatic Reserves

pdfAquatic Reserves brochure

pdfThe Fidalgo Bay Aquatic Reserve

pdfFidalgo Bay Management Plan

Who are the project sponsors?

Skagit River System Cooperative coordinated the project with help from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. Shell Puget Sound Refinery, Tesoro Refining & Marketing, and the Munks Family provided logistical support.

The project cost $358,000 and was funded by the Texaco Oil Spills Natural Resource Trustees. Funds came from a settlement with Texaco for oil spills that occurred in Fidalgo Bay in the 1990s.