Join us for a partner outing with the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team (DERT). This outing will start with a representative from DERT who will share more about the decision to restore the Deschutes Estuary, what that means for Capitol Lake and the surrounding area, and the timeline for what's next.

Then naturalists and educators from Firecraft Northwest will lead the group on a slow meander around the trails at the Interpretive Park to identify the birds and other urban wildlife track and sign we see. We'll discuss the current habitat and what we're seeing as well as how the shift to an estuary might change which of those wildlife will stay, which will increase in numbers, and which might relocate to other habitats nearby. 

From DERT's website: The Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project will restore 260 acres of estuarine and salt-marsh habitat in South Puget Sound. The estuary is at the mouth of the Deschutes River, on the footsteps of the Washington State Capitol Campus, along the shoreline of downtown Olympia, and within the Usual and Accustomed Fishing Grounds of the Squaxin Island Tribe. The project will remove the 5th Avenue Dam and associated tide gate, which were built in 1951 to make the Deschutes Estuary into a freshwater reflecting pool for the Washington State Capitol Campus.

NOTE - if you search “Interpretive Park” some maps might bring you to Tumwater Falls. Please note the address - we’ll be meeting at the Interpretive Park at the south end of Capitol Lake.

This outing is free, but RSVP is required. Please fill out the form below to sign up.