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Achieving a Win-Win Restoring Ecosystem Services. Kurt Nelson Tulalip Tribes of Washington December 10, 2008. Introduction. Background – Tulalip Tribes Qw’loolt Estuary Restoration Project Coho Creek Restoration Project Snohomish Basin Biogas Partnership Summary. Background.
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Achieving a Win-Win Restoring Ecosystem Services Kurt Nelson Tulalip Tribes of Washington December 10, 2008
Introduction Background – Tulalip Tribes Qw’loolt Estuary Restoration Project Coho Creek Restoration Project Snohomish Basin Biogas Partnership Summary
Background Federally Recognized Successors to the Snohomish Snoqualmie Skykomish Other bands Treaty of Point Elliot Tribes retained fishing and hunting rights Co-manage fish and wildlife resources with the State of Washington
Project Goal Qw’loolt Estuary Restoration Project A partnership between tribal, city, state, and federal agencies whose purpose is the restoration of this critical tidal wetland in the Snohomish River Estuary
CITY OF MARYSVILLE TULALIP RESERVATION qw’loolt site LANDFILL EBEY SLOUGH SNOHOMISH RIVER
Project Goal Project Goal Re-establish historic tidal influences and other natural processes to the qw’loolt site in order to restore a functioning estuary marsh system that benefits salmon and other natural resources.
Ecosystem Benefits Project Goal • Restores 400 acres of estuary wetland and channel habitat critical for salmon rearing and staging • Improve fish passage to 16 miles of stream habitat “The quality and quantity of rearing habitat in the nearshore, estuary, and mainstem rivers is the primary factor limiting Chinook salmon and bull trout recovery. ” 2005 Snohomish Basin Salmon Recovery Plan
Project Goal Primary Restoration Actions
Goals Restore and enhance stream and wetland ecological functions (e.g. nutrient and hydrologic dynamics) Increase salmon production Integrate stream and wetland enhancements with prospective development planning Reuse and integrate waste water from a microbial bioreactor treatment plant into the restoration plans
Snohomish Basin Biogas Partnership Formed April 2, 2003 Lower Skykomish River Habitat Conservation Group Northwest Chinook Recovery Tulalip Tribes Skykomish/Snoqualmie Agricultural Alliance City of Monroe
Purpose Address water quality problems in Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers Reduce bacteria and nutrient loading Assist local dairies by reducing waste management costs Agriculture is a preferred land use in floodplains as compared to other more destructive types of land use (e.g. residential) Build or improve the relationship between Tribes and the Agricultural Community
Food Waste: > 80 Ton/Day Flush Dairies: 1,572,000 GPD Scrape Dairies: 26,775 GPD Dairies in Vicinity of Biogas Facility Red Hook Ten-Mile Radius Biogas Facility
Project Description Cow manure is collected and piped or trucked to the facility Manure is pumped into the anaerobic digester Methane gas is captured and piped to a generator The generator burns the gas creating electricity Bio-solids are composted and sold to local buyer Effluent is treated and returned to dairy for irrigation
Products Methane and/or electricity Bio-solids for compost and/or fertilizers Treated effluent for farm irrigation
In Summary • Ecosystems Services are being restored and used by The Tulalip Tribes • It is an integral part of habitat restoration • Resource conservation through reuse • Creating source of renewable energy • Improve water quality • In directing development plans on the Reservation • In partnerships with the local farm community, local municipalities, and state and federal agencies