Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

To protect the Nisqually River Delta, a biologically rich and diverse area at the southern end of Puget Sound, which supports a variety of habitats. Here, the freshwater of the Nisqually River combines with the saltwater of Puget Sound to form an estuary rich in nutrients and detritus. These nutrients support a web of sea life - the benefits of which extend throughout Puget Sound and beyond. While most major estuaries in Washington have been filled, dredged, or developed, Nisqually River's has been set aside entirely for wildlife, protecting the delta and its diversity of fish and wildlife habitats.

Species of Concern: Multiple, Migratory birds, Wood duck, Western sandpiper, Least sandpiper, Dunlin, Caspian tern, peregrine falcon, Great horned owl, Cliff swallow, Cedar waxwing, Marsh wren, Salmonids, Forage fish

Restrictions

1. No person shall take any animal or plant on any national wildlife refuge, except as authorized. Disturbing, injuring, spearing, poisoning, destroying, collecting or attempting to disturb, injure, spear, poison, destroy or collect any plant or animal on any national wildlife refuge is prohibited except by special permit.
2. Collecting and removing archaeological or historic objects is prohibited, as well as removing any natural material such as plants, mushrooms, berries, and antler sheds.
3. The littering, disposing, or dumping in any manner of garbage, refuse sewage, sludge, earth, rocks, or other debris on any national wildlife refuge except at points or locations designated by the refuge manager, or the draining or dumping of oil, acids, pesticide wastes, poisons, or any other types of chemical wastes in, or otherwise polluting any waters, water holes, streams or other areas within any national wildlife refuge is prohibited.
4. Bank fishing within the refuge along the Nisqually River and McAllister Creek is prohibited.
5. Shellfishing (clams, oysters, mussels) on the tideflats is prohibited.
6. Tidal flat and marsh access from refuge trails is prohibited.
7. The launching, landing, or operating of any aircraft which includes unmanned aircraft (drones) from or on lands and waters administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is prohibited.
Personal watercraft are limited to a 5 mph speed. The Sanctuary area ( between Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk and Nisqually River) is closed to all boating. The Research Natural Area is closed to all boats from October 1 through March 31. Please follow and obey refuge signs.

Allowed

Fishing and shellfishing are allowed on designated areas of the refuge subject to the conditions set out in the Restrictions. Access to hunting and fishing areas are by boat only.