Floyd|Snider is contracted to the Department of Enterprise Services to lead design and permitting for the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project, along with KPFF Consulting Engineers and key teaming partners. This landmark project will restore 260 acres of the historic Deschutes Estuary at the foot of the Washington State Capitol Campus, within downtown Olympia, and at the base of the Puget Sound. The project will address chronic water quality violations, restore valuable estuarine habitat, increase climate resiliency in Olympia, and restore public access to the waterbody. Importantly, it will also restore part of the ancestral landscape of the Squaxin Island Tribe. 

The Floyd|Snider Team includes key teaming partner KPFF Engineers, along with Environmental Science Associates, Moffatt & Nichol, McMillen, ECONorthwest, LMN Architects, Clarity Engineering, and Ross Strategic. Tessa Gardner-Brown of Floyd|Snider is the Project Manager and Scott Stainer of KPFF is the Deputy Project Manager. 

The Deschutes Estuary is, and has historically been, used by local tribes for subsistence and ceremonial purposes. Capitol Lake was formed in 1951 following construction of a dam, which restricted flow between the Deschutes River and Puget Sound, and transformed the expansive estuary into a freshwater lake. The sole purpose of the dam was to create a reflecting pool of water for the Washington State Capitol Campus. For decades, Capitol Lake was used for recreation by the local community. Today, the 260-acre Capitol Lake basin is closed to active public use. It is impacted by environmental issues including the presence of invasive species, violations of water quality standards, and inadequate sediment management.  

In fall 2022, the Floyd|Snider Team and DES issued a Final EIS identifying estuary restoration, as the Preferred Alternative for long-term management of this waterbody. Under the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project, a new 5th Avenue Bridge will be built with vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle lanes, and the existing 5th Avenue Bridge and Dam will be removed to restore tidal exchange. Approximately 85 acres of marsh habitat will be established along the shoreline, which will improve ecological conditions in the project area, though tidal flats will be the predominant habitat type. The project will also construct approximately 1 mile of boardwalks along the shoreline and restore boating and fishing to the waterbody. The art and stories of the Squaxin Island Tribe will be woven throughout these new features, through collaboration with local artist Andrea Wilbur-Sigo. 

As part of the EIS process, Floyd|Snider also led negotiations with local governments and other key stakeholders to develop and execute a Memorandum of Understanding to provide shared funding for increased sediment management in West Bay through 2050. Concurrent to design and permitting, Floyd|Snider and ECONorthwest will continue work with the local governments to transition the MOU to a binding interlocal agreement to fund maintenance dredging so that the vibrant Olympia waterfront, with boating, can coexist with the Deschutes Estuary, as it once did. 

The community, who has been watching this project for decades—from elementary classrooms to non-profit boardrooms—will also see their input and tax dollars meaningfully contribute to the design and future environmental restoration of this landscape. 

Learn more about the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project here.