Odegard Wetland Restoration, San Juan County

This project will enhance approximately 30 acres of drained palustrine emergent wetlands on privately owned land on San Juan Island. Project activities include installation of a water control structure in a drainage ditch in order to return natural hydrology to the wetland and provide for adaptive management practices. Water levels within the restored wetland will be maintained through the summer months, providing brood habitat for locally breeding mallards. The enhanced wetland conditions will also provide ideal migration and wintering habitat for pintails and scaup. DU will complete a topographic survey, and then design and implement the project. Work will include creating meandering wetland swales, installing a water control structure and planting native trees and shrubs. The San Juan Islands are an important area for migrating and wintering waterfowl and shorebirds. Freshwater wetland habitat on the islands provide migration, wintering and breeding habitat to wading birds, shorebirds and waterfowl as well as other wetland dependent species.