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The Nisqually Reach / Estuary / Delta / River / Watershed area is rich with research opportunities, and the Nature Center occasionally supports or carries out research projects focused on the delta and estuary. We have also co-sponsored Nisqually research symposia to high-light research projects from throughout the basin.
 
Additionally, the Nisqually Indian Tribe sponsors an abundance of salmon population and habitat research in the river and throughout the watershed. The US Fish and Wildlife Service sponsors and conducts research on the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge plant and animal communities. The US Geological Survey conducts seismic, water resources, and groundwater research throughout the basin. The National Park Service conducts and sponsors geological and ecological research within Mount Rainier National Park.
 
Research Internship Opportunities
The Nature Center is interested in supporting high school and undergraduate college students in designing and carrying out individual or team research projects which seek to answer questions on basic science and resource management issues in cooperation with their academic institution.
 
Ongoing and past research programs have included the following:

Nisqually Delta Habitat Restoration Monitoring
The Nisqually Indian Tribe is carrying out a sequence of habitat restoration projects on Tribal lands on the Pierce County side of the delta, and the Nature Center is cooperating with the Tribe in conducting some of the monitoring programs. A high salt marsh vegetation tidal elevation base line study was completed in 2002. Bird use monitoring of an intertidal wetlands restoration dike-breach site was begun in 2002 and is on-going. Click on the link above, and scroll down on that page to see some of the data.
 
Nisqually Basin Research Symposia
In 1991, 1992, and 1995, the Nature Center co-sponsored a sequence of workshops and symposia on Nisqually Basin research opportunities and results. In 2006, the Nature Center co-sponsored a "citizen science" conference which highlighted work carried out by citizen volunteers, and the "translation" of professional research for a non-professional audience.

Nisqually Reach Aquatic Reserve
In 2011, the Washington Department of Natural Resources designated more than 14,000 acres of state- owned lands as the Nisqually Reach Aquatic Reserve. NRNC spearheaded the effort to establish this Aquatic Reserve in south Puget Sound to increase awareness of the unique estuarine environment we want to protect and preserve. For more information about the citizen science research projects under way in the Aquatic Reserve, click here.

Nisqually Reach Nature Center. 4949 D'Milluhr Drive NE. Olympia WA 98516-2311. (360) 459-0387.
NRNC@NisquallyEstuary.org