The restoration efforts for Spencer Island in Snohomish County are marching forward, as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) prepares to update the community this December. As per a recent announcement, a significant restoration initiative is underway, aiming to rejuvenate a swath of the river delta that saw substantial changes with early 20th-century agricultural development.

Set to share the latest design proposals and discuss recreational impacts, WDFW has teamed up with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and Snohomish County Parks for a public workshop. Slated for December 5, from 6-7:30 p.m., the meeting will take place at the Everett Transit Station's Weyerhaeuser Room on the fourth floor, located at 3201 Smith Avenue in Everett. Here, community members can raise questions and give their input on the restoration plans. While working on the project development, the initiative will bolster salmon habitat, diversify local wildlife, and amend the area's hydrological dynamics. according to WDFW.

The upcoming workshop is not the first instance where public engagement was sought. A prior meeting and public comment period held in 2023 served to initially introduce and garner feedback on preliminary design options. Another chance for public commentary is expected in January 2025, which will form a crucial component of the mandated National Environmental Policy Act review.

Those residing in the Snohomish River estuary or individuals interested in the ecological wellbeing of the region can access materials from the December meeting on the WDFW website once they become available. Anyone who can't attend the meeting has the option to email [email protected] with their inquires. The WDFW's mission continues to focus on the conservation and enhancement of fish, wildlife, and their habitats, while ensuring sustainable recreational and commercial opportunities are available, for the restoration project at Spencer Island the agency stated.