October 6, 2026 - Thurston County Board of County Commissioners Work Session

The October 6, 2026 Thurston County Board of County Commissioners work session featured an update from the Washington Department of Ecology on the Deschutes Estuary restoration project. The project is in design, with 90% design targeted for early 2027 and completion of the current design phase expected by June 2027; construction is tentatively anticipated to begin in 2028 and take six to seven years, depending on phasing and funding. Planned work includes dredging and reusing sediment onsite, replacing the Fifth Avenue and Marathon Park bridges and associated utilities, removing the dam, and improving habitat and flood resilience. Ecology reported approximately $100 million in construction cost savings through value engineering and said it had submitted a capital budget request to the governor’s office. Partners are considering construction funding and phasing, local workforce and workforce-development opportunities, and a joint resolution supporting the project. No construction contract award or procurement vote occurred.