The Restoration of Sweet Grass (Shoenoplectus pungens) in the Nisqually Delta: An Ethnobiological Restoration Effort

In 2009, the Brown Farm Dike was removed in the Nisqually Delta. With the reconnection of 308 hectares of reclaimed farmland to the natural tidal flow of the Puget Sound, this project became the largest estuary restoration project in the Pacific Northwest to date. The Nisqually Indian Tribe is an important partner in the restoration effort focusing on the restoration of 52 hectares.

The restoration of Shoenoplectus pungens in the Nisqually Delta is highly desired by the Nisqually Indian Tribe to reestablish traditional gathering grounds for this material. S. pungens is a culturally significant plant used in basketry that is common in wetlands across the United States. This study aims to evaluate the restoration potential for this plant within the estuary as well as establish protocol for its propagation. Vegetative and site analysis of the estuary will also be done identifying local plant communities and the conditions for further site restoration.