Imagine Deschutesestuary recovering

I imagine.

I imagine a recovering Deschutes River estuary (in early 2017) once the dam below the Fifth Avenue bridge is breached. We’ll all then witness a Deschutes River basin transforming from current stagnancy to a food rich tidal rhythmed surprise.

At mid and high tide, we’ll still be able to enjoy the Capitol building reflected across the basin’s new estuarian waters.

We will again notice aerial displays from diverse shore birds returning to waters long abandoned by many migratory species.

We will all breathe better once we know salmon and ocean running cutthroat are also now breathing better as they pass through an unobstructed Deschutes River basin on their life’s journey.

We’ll then observe an uptick in local business as nature loving out-of towners are drawn to "destination Olympia" to share our own river-to-sea beauty.

It’s not only my imagination at work. It’s my confidence that South Sounders and Washington state legislators, refreshed by estuary benefits in the Nisqually delta, the Elwha, and elsewhere, will choose to do the right thing here in town.

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 8:19 AM with the headline "Imagine Deschutesestuary recovering."