August 2026 Newsletter
Go with the flow - free the Deschutes!
Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Festival of the Steh-chass and spend the afternoon with us! We are proud to have brought together over 400 attendees and 30 educational booths for a day of learning, cultural appreciation, and connection.
This would not have been possible without the support of; our sponsors: the Squaxin Island Tribe, Inspire Olympia, and the PARC Foundation; our staff; and all of the volunteers who were part of every aspect of the day.
Didn't make it? You can still check out our festival guide to learn a bit about the educators and program. Click here to download!
A Night on the Estuary:
Celebrating 15 Years of DERT!
The Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team (DERT) is excited to host our Annual Fundraiser and Auction!
Join us as we celebrate 15 years of advocacy for the removal of the 5th Ave Dam and all of the successes along the way. Enjoy an evening of live music and good food - and don't forget to bring your competitive spirit! We will have both a live and silent auction, plus several raffle baskets up for grabs!
Where:
Octapas Heritage Room
604 Water St. SW, Olympia, WA 98501
When:
Saturday, October 24, 2026
6:00 - 9:00 PM
Dress Code:
Get fancy with us and make this a night to remember - please arrive in semi-formal attire. No need to break out the tuxedos and ball gowns, but we would love to see suit jackets and cocktail dresses! Commemorate the night and your sweet digs at our Polaroid photo booth.
Food and Drink:
This year we will be featuring a specialty bar menu designed by local bartender Richard Williams. All proceeds will go to DERT! Make sure to purchase a ticket level that includes drink tickets if you want them! Additional drink tickets and non-alcoholic beverages will be available at the event.
We strive to be dietary restriction inclusive. There will be several vegan, gluten-free, and/or vegetarian options. However, vegan + gluten free options are limited. Please contact us directly if this will affect you.
The Auctioneers:
We are excited to welcome Rep. Beth Doglio and Rep. Lisa Parshley as our live auctioneers this year! You won't want to miss LD 22's dream team in action.
Ticket Levels:
$75 - General Admission (Dinner Included)
$90- Dinner and Drinks! This level includes two drink tickets.
$125 - Deschutes Diva VIP! Early entry, drink tickets, and a DERT swag bag!
$875 - VIP Table! Reserve a table for eight for you and your friends, front and center to all the action! Includes early entry, two drink tickets per person, and swag bags for each guest. Plus, you're getting 8 VIP tickets for the price of 7! Only 3 available.
Questions, concerns, or dietary restrictions? Email jesika@deschutesestuary.org.
Sea Stroll: A History of our Estuary
Join the Puget Sound Estuarium and Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team (DERT) as we loop around the downtown core to track the historic changes to Olympia’s shoreline. Learn about geologic events that created the estuary, Native tribes that stewarded these lands, and why an estuary was important for making it into the city we see today. Plus we'll dive into the restoration plan for Capitol Lake and the vital role of estuaries in our ecosystem's health. It's a journey through time and nature you won't want to miss!
When: Sunday September 13 @ 10am
Where: Puget Sound Estuarium - 309 State Ave NE, Olympia, WA 98501
Registration Policies and Event Info:
Preregistration is required as there is limited space available.
Adults (Ages 13 and older) - $18
Children (Ages 12 and younger) - Free
Community Access Ticket - Free
Our mission is to make sure everyone feels welcome here. Made possible by our supporters so cost is never a barrier.
Upcoming Fieldwork
Starting Monday, August 24, 2026, the project team for the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project will begin collecting sediment samples by boat in Capitol Lake to support project design. A sampling vessel will be on the water, and sampling will occur directly from the boat. Sampling should be complete by August 31. All work is weather dependent, and this timeline may shift accordingly.
The collected samples will be analyzed for chemical quality to help inform project design.
During fieldwork, the pedestrian path around Deschutes Parkway and Capitol Lake will remain open. Following completion of the work, the sampling vessel and other equipment that touches the water will be decontaminated in compliance with procedures required by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Capitol Lake Drawdown
As part of efforts to restore the Deschutes Estuary, water levels in Capitol Lake were drawn down in late July 2026.
The water gate on the 5th Ave dam was opened, allowing the water to flow from the lake into Budd Inlet. The low water levels allowed the Deschutes Estuary Project team to survey the shoreline and existing structures.
DERT's Vice-President, Sean McCrohan, took a stroll along the pedestrian paths to snap a few photos and enjoy the exposed mudflats! You can see a few of our favorites here - with an internet celebrity visitor in the mix.
Ecology Publication: Assessing 6PPD and 6PPDQ from Waste Tires
The Department of Ecology has published the report Assessing 6PPD and 6PPDQ from Waste Tires, pursuant to the proviso outlined in the 2023-25 Supplemental Operating Budget (ESSB 5950, Section 302).
The supplemental budget directed Ecology to conduct a study that included a review of the management of and market for waste tires in Washington, as well as a description of the origins and destinations of waste tires. Additionally, the study must offer alternatives to using tire derived rubber in waste tire markets. Ecology contracted with an independent consultant to develop this report.
The report found most used tires in Washington are landfilled (40%), burned for energy (26%), or recycled (26%). The life-cycle analysis concluded that landfilling resulted in minimal environmental impacts compared to burning or recycling.
Financial contributions from our community support our staff and advocacy partners’ tireless work driving public support through community education and engagement to ensure that everyone, throughout the Deschutes Watershed, can eventually take pride in a healthy estuary in our state’s capitol.
Your help is critical to our success– thank you for your dedication to the restoration of the Deschutes Estuary.
