In 1951 the Deschutes River in Olympia was dammed to create the reflecting pool and sediment reservoir we know today as Capitol Lake. This created a myriad of environmental and public health issues, and the culturally and ecologically significant Deschutes Estuary has ceased to exist since. The Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team or DERT advocates for the removal of Olympia’s 5 th Avenue Dam and the full restoration of the Deschutes Estuary. We are a 501(c)3 non- profit incorporated in 2011. We actively educate our community on the benefits of estuary restoration and advocate for funding and necessary studies. We envision a restored urban estuary and functioning ecosystem in the headwaters of Puget Sound.

The debate of whether to restore the Deschutes Estuary or maintain Capitol Lake has lasted for decades. Meanwhile, water quality conditions in the lake and adjacent Budd Inlet have declined rapidly, endangering salmon and violating federal water quality standards. View the science behind why the estuary should be restored. View our publications here.

The State of Washington has now released the final Environmental Impact Statement on the management of the sediment reservoir. Read the EIS.

You can also learn about the Deschutes Watershed Council.