Stillaguamish Tribe Restores 230-Acre Tidal Marsh, Builds New Levee
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The Stillaguamish Tribe has restored a 230-acre tidal marsh near Stanwood, Washington, by removing an old levee and constructing a taller replacement. This is part of a long-term habitat restoration effort, while the region faces ongoing flood risks highlighted by recent severe storms.
Facts First
- The Stillaguamish Tribe removed two miles of levee to create a 230-acre tidal marsh named zis a ba 2.
- The tribe built a new levee four feet taller than the old one before removing the original structure.
- The restoration is part of a broader effort; the tribe has purchased 2,000 acres for habitat over 15 years.
- Recent severe storms caused historic flooding, prompting a federal disaster declaration for Washington and Oregon.
- Local officials are seeking permits to repair a damaged half-mile stretch of the Tom Moore Slough levee this summer.
What Happened
In October 2025, the Stillaguamish Tribe removed two miles of an earthen levee at the mouth of the Stillaguamish River, allowing tidewater to flow onto former farmland and create a 230-acre tidal marsh named zis a ba 2. Before removing the old levee, the tribe built a new levee that is four feet taller. Restoration crews dug channels into the farmland to accelerate marsh rebuilding and discovered ancient middens—fire-charred clam shell piles dating up to 1,500 years ago. This marsh is the second of three large marshes the tribe is restoring in the area.
Why this Matters to You
This restoration project may improve habitat for threatened species like Chinook salmon, which had such low returns in 2025 that the tribe was permitted to catch only 26. The new, taller levee could provide better flood protection for the area. A 2022 county study stated that if the nearby Tom Moore Slough levee fails, 1,100 people could be displaced. Recent severe storms in December 2025 caused widespread flooding and evacuations, described by the governor as the costliest natural disaster in Washington's history.
What's Next
The Stillaguamish Tribe is likely to continue its habitat restoration work, which includes a third large marsh. City and tribal officials are seeking emergency permits to repair a damaged half-mile stretch of the Tom Moore Slough levee in the summer of 2026. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved a major-disaster declaration to assist with recovery from the December floods but denied a request for funding for future flood prevention projects.