Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

The Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve was established to foster research and education about the Salish Sea. Padilla Bay, which is an estuary at the saltwater edge of the large delta of the Skagit River in the Salish Sea, is filled with sediment from the Skagit River making the bottom very shallow, flat, and muddy. It is so shallow that almost the whole bay is intertidal and is flooded at high tide. When the tide goes out the whole bay empties out, exposing miles and miles of mud flats. This condition allows unusually large eelgrass meadows to grow, providing habitat for wildlife, such as salmon, crab, perch, and herring, as well as millions of worms, shrimp, clams, and other invertebrates that are food for great blue herons, eagles, otters, and seals.

Species of Concern: salmon, crab, herring, eelgrass

Restrictions

1. Prohibited Activities in Marsh/Tideland:
- Expansion of existing channels or the creation of new navigation channels unless specifically authorized by statutes.
- New public works projects and projects that require dredging, filling, or dumping of dredged spoils.
- Significant alterations of flow patterns, including circulation patterns.
- Any activity that will lead to significant degradation of water quality and/or biologic productivity.
- Commercial aquaculture activities or commercial harvest of shellfish.
- Wheeled vehicles on the tidelands without specific permission.
- Removal of vegetation on Reserve property along Bayview-Edison Road that screens waterfowl areas.
2. Prohibited Activities in Rocky Islands/Bedlands:
- Power-driven vehicles are not allowed on the islands, except for emergency and approved maintenance purposes.
- The removal of vegetation, except for permitted scientific or management purposes, is prohibited.

Allowed

1. The following public uses are allowed:- Public hunting, fishing, and non-commercial harvest of shellfish, subject to federal and state laws and regulations, public safety, and Tribal Treaty rights.
- Swimming at beaches managed by Washington State Parks.
2. Allowable Activities in Marsh/Tideland:
- Recreational clamming and crabbing as per Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) rules and regulations.
3. Allowable Activities in Rocky Islands/Bedlands:
- Non-damaging, low intensity use is allowed.
- Recreational fishing and shellfishing on public-owned beaches, tidelands and adjacent bedlands is allowed, subject to applicable federal and state regulations and applicable Tribal Treaty rights.