Habitat Restoration Completed on Lower Duwamish River

Contractors have finished a 2.8-acre environmental cleanup and habitat restoration project in Seattle.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Environmental

Restored riverbank in Seattle featuring new marsh grass and riparian vegetation along the calm water of the Lower Duwamish River. — Contractors have completed a 2.8-acre habitat restoration project on the Lower Duwamish River in Seattle, removing contaminated soil to revive marshland. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Crews successfully finished a major restoration project along the Lower Duwamish River, reclaiming 2.8 acres of land for marsh and subtidal habitat. The work was funded by a $23 million pollution settlement reached with General Recycling of Washington.

Why it matters

The project directly addresses long-standing ecological damage caused by hazardous-substance releases. By removing contaminated soil and hardened structures, the effort helps reverse habitat loss that historically reached 97% by the 1940s.

The effort involved removing 7,215 cubic yards of contaminated soil and 96 creosote-treated pilings. Engineers also cleared 390 linear feet of hardened shoreline to create 2.2 acres of marsh and 0.6 acres of subtidal habitat.

The players

General Recycling of Washington

This organization is a private entity that funded the restoration project through a $23 million pollution settlement.

The details

Construction teams reshaped the riverbank to support new on and off-channel marshlands. Fish have already been observed utilizing the newly established intertidal areas, which are expected to support further colonization by small organisms.

1940s: 97% of the original river habitat had disappeared.
July 2024: A $23 million pollution settlement was reached.
2026: The restoration project was officially completed.
Next 10 years: General Recycling will perform active maintenance and monitoring.
Next 30 years: Trustees will assume long-term stewardship responsibility.

Deeper Dive

This project follows the pattern of remediation set by the Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund Site remediation efforts.

The restoration of the riverbank improves the local ecosystem and water quality for the surrounding Seattle community. Increased marsh habitat is expected to support better fish populations and healthier intertidal zones in the coming years.

The takeaway

The successful restoration of the riverbank shows how industrial settlements can facilitate significant ecological recovery. Residents can monitor the site over the next decade as local flora and fauna gradually reclaim the rehabilitated marsh and mudflat areas.