Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) secured provisions to support fish passage, the Port of Tacoma, and restoration of Duckabush Estuary in the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022. WRDA authorizes crucial investments in America’s ports, inland waterways, flood management systems, ecosystems, and other water resources infrastructure.
“I am proud to secure multiple wins for the South Sound’s water infrastructure,” said Strickland. “From improving shipping navigation at the Port of Tacoma to ensuring the rehabilitation of the Duckabush estuary, this vital funding will help restore our environment and enhance our regional economy.”
Strickland’s amendment changed the project cost-share requirements around the Duckabush estuary so the federal government can contribute more to the restoration, allowing Washington state to move forward with the full scope of the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project. Watch Strickland’s remarks on this amendment here.
The Howard Hanson Dam fish passage facility, for which Strickland has advocated for nearly a decade, would open up over 60 miles of pristine habitat on the Green River to steelhead, Chinook, coho and other salmon species. Described as a “game-changer” by scientists at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the project will also help Washington’s endangered population of Southern Resident Killer Whales, which feed on the salmon. In addition, the project will enhance the dam’s flood control and drinking water storage capabilities.