July 2026 Newsletter
Go with the flow - free the Deschutes!
Join the Squaxin Island Tribe and DERT for the
2026 Festival of the St̓əč̓as (Steh-Chass)!
2026 Festival of the St̓əč̓as
Friday, August 14th, 2026 | 12pm - 4pm
Heritage Park
330 5th Ave SW, Olympia, WA 98501
The Festival of the St̓əč̓as is a community event centered around Squaxin culture and connection to the area, public education, estuary restoration, environmental stewardship, and envisioning the future of a restored Deschutes Estuary. We will include a thoughtful educational and outreach area featuring organizations doing meaningful work throughout the Deschutes Watershed and South Sound region, as well as live cultural performances and local vendors.
Please use the QR code or the link to RSVP! While this is a free event and open to the public, knowing how many folks turn out is very helpful to gauge interest for future events.
Festival Outreach and Education Opportunities
We are excited to welcome dozens of local organizations who are doing important work in our community to the festival. Make sure to stop by and check them all out - maybe you'll learn a thing or two!
Festival Volunteer Opportunities
The Festival of the St̓əč̓as is right around the corner, and we're still looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help make this year's event a success! Whether you're welcoming guests, assisting vendors, helping with activities, offering care at our First-Aid tent, or supporting event setup and cleanup, there's a role for everyone.
Volunteering is a wonderful way to connect with your community, support environmental education, and celebrate the Deschutes Estuary alongside local organizations and partners.
Interested in helping? We'd love to have you join us!
Farewell and Thank You
This month, we would like to recognize two extraordinary leaders whose dedication to this work has helped shape the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team into the organization it is today.
Sue Patnude
As one of DERT's co-founders, Sue Patnude has been integral in building this grassroots organization from the ground up. Her advocacy, passion for the Deschutes estuary, and commitment to our community have made a lasting impact on DERT, and inspired countless others to become stewards of our watershed. As Sue steps into retirement to spend more time with her family, she leaves a legacy that will continue to guide our organization for many years to come.
Dave Monthie
After more than 10 years of service, Dave Monthie is also retiring from the DERT Board of Directors to spend more time with his family. During his time with DERT, serving as Board President for the majority of those years, he has provided steady leadership through periods of growth, challenge, and opportunity. While he is retiring from Board service, we're beyond grateful that Dave will continue to lend his knowledge and expertise by helping advance and uplift the Deschutes Watershed Council.
While we will miss Sue and Dave's leadership around the board table, we are cheering them on during this well-earned transition and are deeply grateful for the time, energy, and passion they have invested in this organization.
On behalf of the DERT Board, staff, volunteers, partners, and community, thank you, Sue and Dave, for believing in the vision of the estuary, fostering it, and stewarding lasting change in the Deschutes Watershed and the Puget Sound. We wish you both many joyful adventures, meaningful time with your families, and every happiness in this next chapter!
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 August 9 @ 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.
A Thank You to the
Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project
We're incredibly grateful for our ongoing partnership with the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project and the many organizations working together to move this historic effort forward. Throughout the planning process, the project team has remained committed to keeping the community informed, engaged, and involved through open houses, presentations, and opportunities for public input.
Restoring the estuary is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and we're proud to continue supporting efforts that center collaboration, transparency, and long-term stewardship of the watershed.
If you haven’t had a chance to check out this incredible video produced by the Department of Ecology, we encourage you to do so.
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.
In Case You Missed It:
Indigenous Agroforestry Network 2026 Gathering
Our Community Development Assistant, Ivy Major, attended the 2026 IAN Gathering hosted by the Squaxin Island Tribe at the Little Creek Casino. She spent three days attending panels, discussions, and field visits to learn more about Indigenous stewardship techniques and philosophies from across the continent. DERT is committed to promoting co-management of the land with its original stewards, as their wealth of expert knowledge based on thousands of years of study and practice has been historically disregarded by our colonial governments.
Read all about it in this issue of Dishing the DERT!
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.
