Local groups adding estuary segment to this year’s Procession of the Species
The Procession of the Species on April 26 will feature more creatures than in previous years.
The Puget Sound Estuarium and Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team (DERT) are putting together an estuary section in an effort to symbolize the restored connection of the Deschutes River to Puget Sound. The procession traditionally has had four sections dividing species by the elements of earth, air, fire and water.
DERT board member Casey Allen said the group is looking for participants who would like to volunteer and folks who might like to help with some volunteer coordination and theme coordination.
The Armory’s Community Art Studio is open to the public throughout the month of April so people who want to be a part of the Procession can create their costumers and props. It’s open Tuesdays through Fridays from 3 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.
Every Saturday there will be a production crew meet-up and studio debrief between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.
DERT and the Estuarium are also looking for participants to represent different estuary organisms.
You could be anything from blue-green algae or a salt marsh plant, to a salmon or heron. There are a number of resources for identifying estuary life, including guides at places such as Capitol Lake and Percival Landing. The Puget Sound Estuarium also has a list of birds and plant species found in estuaries.
Common birds of the Salish Sea include the Great Blue Heron, the green heron, buffleheads, sandpipers, pigeons, loons, crows, gulls, cormorants and the Bald Eagle.
Common marine plants include different types of kelp and seaweed. There’s sea brush, sea lettuce, wireweed and eelgrass.
The Department of Enterprise Services has a list of fish species, mammals and other marine life in the Environmental Impact Statement for the restoration project.
Some fish species include several types of salmon and trout, including the chinook salmon, steelhead and bull trout. There’s also coho, chum and sockeye salmon.
There are also many native freshwater fish documented in the area, including rainbow trout and resident cutthroat trout. Some other marine fish documented in the area include the Pacific sand lance, the surf smelt and pile perch.
A number of mammals have been documented in the area of the future estuary. They include nutria, muskrats, beavers, northern river otters, minks and raccoons.
There are marine mammals as well, including orca, harbor seals and California sea lions.
Several bat species have also been found roosting around the future-restored estuary zone. Shellfish include freshwater mussels and crabs, numerous clams, the Olympia oyster, marine mussels, shrimp, abalone and more.
Allen said the groups are discussing ways to symbolize breaking through the 5th Avenue dam, which will happen when they are ready to connect the waters of the Deschutes River and the restored estuary with the waters of the Puget Sound. It could be as simple as a large piece of fabric with the dam drawn on it that is able to be busted through, or it could be as complex as a small float.
“Our species will periodically break through the dam and fly, swim, or float their way through and around,” he said. “You could have a costume, you could carry a windsock that represents your species, or anything in between.”
Here’s the basic information about the Procession of the Species, and the Luminary Procession, which take place during Arts Walk weekend in Olympia, according to the Procession’s website:
On Friday, April 25, the Luminary Procession will take place downtown at 9 p.m. This much smaller procession features lighted lanterns, dancing, drumming and music.
On Saturday, April 26, Procession of the Species begins at 4:30 p.m., although downtown will be clogged with participants lining up from early afternoon on.
You can pick up an Arts Walk/Procession Route Map at downtown Olympia businesses.
Spectators are welcome to join in with the Procession at any point along the route, but are subject to the same considerations and policies as participants. The rules are:
No written words/symbols
No pets/live animals
No motorized vehicles/boom boxes (electric wheelchairs are an exception and welcome).
This story was originally published April 9, 2025 at 12:06 PM.
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