The proximate goal of the Wiley Slough restoration project is to restore natural processes, conditions, functions, and biological responses to the project area (approximately 175 acres), specifically, by removing dikes to restore riverine and tidal flooding to the project area.  Restoration of natural estuarine process will result in the restoration of estuarine habitat for a wide variety of fish, wildlife, and other organisms.  This is the ultimate goal of the restoration project.  Taxa of particular management interest are Chinook salmon (Federally listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act), other salmonids, and wintering waterfowl.  Process-based restoration will provide maximal benefits to a wide variety of estuarine fish and wildlife while incurring little long-term maintenance or costs.  

Primary Project Objectives

Specific project objectives for the restored area are as follows:

1. Restoration of tidal and riverine flooding (natural process) to the marsh surface to allow unrestricted movement of water, sediments, nutrients, detritus and organisms across the marsh surface (natural function).
2. Restoration of channel habitat for juvenile salmonids inside (16.3 acres) and outside (20.5 acres) of the dike to be removed (natural condition).
3. Restoration of native marsh vegetation (natural condition/biological response) to the site to support detrital food chains (natural function/process) for juvenile salmonids (biological response) as well as provide food plants for wintering waterfowl (biological response).

All three of these objectives will significantly contribute to improvements in the quantity and quality of estuarine habitat on site and near the site (e.g., downstream portions of Wiley Slough sedimented in due to loss of upstream tidal prism) for a wide variety of native fish and wildlife, including juvenile salmonids and waterfowl.

Secondary Objectives

While the primary goals and objectives are concerned with habitat restoration to benefit critical estuarine fish and wildlife, additional objectives related to human use can be compatible with the primary goals and objectives of the project, such as:

1. Provide waterfowl hunting opportunities.

2. Improve the existing boat launch to reduce current maintenance needs.
3. Facilitate public access to the site for watchable wildlife opportunities.
4. Provide for agricultural drainage and flood protection.
5. Retain the Skagit Wildlife Management Area headquarters in its current location.

These goals are secondary to the primary, habitat-related goals.