Mission Beach is located near the mouth of the Snohomish River on the Tulalip Reservation. This restoration project will connect 2 tenth of a mile of active feeder bluffs to the beach creating a contiguous mile and a half of natural beach area. The project is adjacent to one mile of undeveloped headlands natural beach and 216 acres of eelgrass beds, the largest complex in in Possession Sound. Proximity to the Snohomish estuary provides an important transition zone for ESA listed species including Chinook and Steelhead salmon.

Starting in the 1940's the Tulalip Tribes leased land along the shoreline to summer vacation homes to help generate funds for the tribe. Over the course of these 70 years, homes, bulkheads and retaining walls have been constructed to try to ward off frequent landslides and tidal inundation in the area. In 2004 the Tribes decided not to renew those leases due to the physical hazards and public safety of having houses at the foot of active feeder bluffs. TulalipTribes has identified this area as having a large potential for beach restoration along with providing increased access to rare beach areas on the reservation. The Mission Beach site currently has 1100 feet of bulkhead, retaining walls, and 25 homes on the upper beach. The current bulkheads and retaining walls on the site prevents sediment from reaching the beach area, interrupts long shore drift, and disrupts the natural processes at the site.

Nearshore restoration is a priority in the Snohomish Basin Salmon Conservation Plan, and is currently identified as a lagging benchmark in the Snohomish 3 Year Work Plan. The overall goal of the plan is to achieve at least 1 mile of beach and nearshore area. This project would contribute 1/5th of a mile of restored beach toward that goal. This project is consistent with the Snohomish 3 Year Work Plan and will be added in 2013.

The ultimate goal of this work is to identify and implement the best restoration alternative for the Mission Beach site. We propose a phased approach to project implementation. We are currently applying for funding for phase 1. Phase 1 is to conduct a technical and community engagement process that guides the design of beach restoration along Mission Beach and maximizes community uses along with fish and wildlife habitat, and ecosystem function benefits. Phase 2 of the project will include final design and permitting. Construction considered under a third phase or combined into final design and construction depending on the findings of the feasibility study.