BRINNON — Before the summer visitors came the loggers. Before the loggers came the homesteaders.
Before the homesteaders were the Native Americans, and before them all, the salmon.
Members of the Jefferson Land Trust got a trip back into the history Sunday as they toured part of the Dosewallips River flood plain that is being returned to its original residents.
“This area above Brinnon and below Lazy C was identified as the most functioning part of the flood plain in the systems,” said Richard Bricksmith of the Hood Canal Coordinating Council.
“The side channels store water and sediments that are good for salmon.”
Using a state grant and federal funds, Jefferson County purchased 65 acres of the Dosewallips flood plain in March to protect salmon migration, spawning and rearing habitat.
Jefferson Land Trust handled the outreach to landowners, negotiating the purchase of what is called the “power line reach” adjacent to the river.
Sellers were Gary Barney and Jacob Johnson, who have primitive cabins on the property, and the Swift family, which sold 43 acres that were once part of the Lazy C development.