Project team says dredged material meets state standards and will be reused to build marsh; downstream maintenance planned

In response to multiple audience questions, project staff said sediment sampling conducted during the environmental impact statement showed the lake bottom material meets state standards for beneficial reuse and will largely be repurposed on site to construct tidal marshes and shoreline habitat.

"The testing results that were done during the EIS are really extremely favorable. They do meet state standards, state, sediment quality standards for reuse," Tessa said, adding that the current design assumes dredged sediments from the North and Middle basins will be placed to build riparian and marsh elevations rather than hauled to upland landfills. Project engineers noted that when the dam itself is removed there will be additional material (soil and riprap) that may be moved within the estuary footprint rather than off‑site where possible.

The team also addressed downstream navigation and long‑term sediment management. Based on modeling in the EIS, they expect periodic dredging of navigational areas in West Bay—largely to support marinas and the Port of Olympia—at roughly a six‑year frequency and said partners are negotiating an interlocal agreement (ILA) to fund maintenance dredging through 2050.

Audience members pressed whether the restored estuary would smell. Project staff replied that contemporary sewage is treated before discharge to West Bay and that local waterfront activity already tolerates tidal smells; the team said they do not expect noticeably worse odors post‑restoration.