August-September, 2022
The Nisqually River delta is, maybe obviously, where the Nisqually River empties its fresh water into the salt water of Puget Sound. Puget Sound connects directly with the Pacific Ocean; saltwater is shared constantly between them. But almost all of Puget Sound is protected from ocean waves and weather by peninsulas and islands. Water from the Pacific Ocean flows into hundreds of bays and coves and inlets and estuaries in Puget Sound. Such that the largest of ocean going ships can travel up and down Puget Sound to ports like Seattle, and Tacoma, and Everett. And yet there are also tiny salt water bays and coves and inlets and estuaries throughout Puget Sound, and hundreds of islands. So the Nisqually River flows into the ocean … but it flows into Puget Sound first. Check out Google Earth … or go to Wikipedia and search “Puget Sound” and “Nisqually River delta”.
Where I’m camped along the shore of the Nisqually River is less than four miles (via crow flight) from where the river enters Puget Sound.
This afternoon, I headed out on a drive to see if I could find a view of the Nisqually River delta from a high point on a nearby road.
But first, as I left the campground, the road took me into this deep, dark tunnel. Whoa.
As it turned out, it was a short tunnel, and not dark at all, although I did turn my lights on. The tunnel was built to allow vehicle traffic to go under the railroad. While I was camped here, I never heard any trains, so this must have been just far enough away. It looked to me like an old, old tunnel. After exiting the tunnel, I could see on the far other end of the tunnel where a great deal of new construction had happened relatively recently, shoring up the opening to support that railway above.
So in through the tunnel I went, then down a road, turned onto another road, around another corner or two, all heading to what I thought might be a high point of land with a view out over the Nisqually delta.
On my way, I drove on a few one-lane roads (with pull-outs for passing). The road below went under that same railway. A train was crossing above as I approached the underpass. I stopped the truck for two reasons … to snap the photo below … but also because I was nervous about driving under rail cars that were double stacked and probably VERY heavy. But drive through I did, while the train was rumbling along above me.
And then I turned another corner in my big white truck, and climbed a hill that got me above the railroad tracks and, voilà … a magnificent view of the Nisqually delta (below). There’s a tiny portion of Puget Sound in the distance, and a small bit of Anderson Island there off in the distance on the right in the photo below, and the railroad tracks now below me at the bottom of the photo. And yes that’s Interstate 5 in the photo also, lanes running north and lanes running south, but don’t pay attention to that. Just enjoy the beautiful view.
I’ve zoomed in as much as possible for the next three photos. First photo is centered on that tiny portion of Puget Sound in the distance. You can also see the hazy Olympic Mountains in the far distance. The Nisqually River runs right through the plains in the foreground, meandering left and right, soaking the ground, creating rich habitat for birds and mammals and fish and reptiles and all manner of really good bugs and such.
Looking to the left (below). The small white house near the end of the point of land is the Nisqually Reach Nature Center. I didn’t go there on this trip. But it’s on my list for a visit, especially since it’s so close to my home. Also in the photo below, you can get an idea of the amount of water running through this land. Click on photos to enlarge them.
Then looking to the right (below). That’s a portion of Anderson Island in the distance, with a tiny portion of Puget Sound running in between the Nisqually delta and the island. Enlarge this photo if you can and you’ll see even more detail of the delta.
Then I found yet another road (I didn’t realize how many roads there are in this area), another road that dropped down from that high view point. It dropped all the way down to the level of the delta and ran right smack along side part of the delta where a small portion of the Nisqually River entered the delta plain here, right at water level.
This is fresh water from the Nisqually River, although at high tide, the ocean’s high tide, this water in the Nisqually River delta becomes brackish with salt water mixing in with the fresh water. I wonder if that’s why the grass right along side the water is white and looks sort of wilted. I so wanted to grab my hairbrush and start tidying up!
Tomorrow, I’ll be taking a LONG walk out onto the delta (via pathways and boardwalks and such) and will share photos with you in a blog post to come. But today, I wanted to share the view of the delta from above, and share this tiny area where the water from the Nisqually enters the delta plain … and share that spooky dark tunnel and the train that I drove under. 🙂 Interesting stuff!
This was so cool. I’ve never seen a delta ever. But I’ve imagine deltas like from the Mississippi that go on for miles and miles. But I really like this small delta from the Nisqually River that I can see and get my head around. It’s fantastically full of water out on the plain of the delta. I didn’t realize it would be like that, thought it would be lots of small rivers and solid ground in between, not so much huh! Can’t wait to see the photos from your walk out there.
Me too Kinny. I’ve read about the Mississippi delta and the Amazon delta and other huge rivers, but it was amazing to experience just this one small delta here at home that meant so much to life. And yes, the ground was WET! It might look dry but it was wet. You’d sink up to your arm pits (or worse) if you walked out there without a pathway or a boardwalk. More to come. 🙂
Me too, I’ve never seen a river delta. This was a great introduction and “over” view. 🙂 Looking forward to your walk on the delta itself.
Coming soon Joe. Thanks for coming along. 🙂
I loved the hairbrush comment. 🙂 I laughed out loud. I love this blog.
Ha! thanks Marge. 🙂 What fun.
Great views of the delta, and explanations. I thought about raking those grasses, but a hairbrush is a way better idea. 🙂
Ok, a rake is a good idea too. But let’s go hairbrush that wild grass brush!
Cool tunnel and train stuff. Yow, yes not sure I would have driven under that train either. Glad you lived to tell the tale. The delta is fascinating!
The ground shaked and the railroad track above me shaked! But I drove right under that train. Kind of cool. 🙂 Thanks Greg.
Great delta and geography info. Beautiful photos. Fun tunnel drama. Wow, Puget Sound is gorgeous!! Guess I should get over the mountains and take a look.
Yep, Paul, get over here. If you want more info or thoughts about where to go and what to see on the west coast of Washington State, let me know. I love Yakima and will get over there again soon.
I always thought Puget Sound was fresh water. Not so!!! It was just this blog post of yours that made me pay attention, go look at maps, learn, listen. And see how huge Puget Sound is, so protected from the Pacific Ocean and yet part of the Pacific Ocean. And that the islands north of Puget Sound … the San Juan Islands north of there … are also protected … and the Canadian Gulf Islands. You’ve said you’ve been boating in these waters for decades on your two boats, now I can see why. It’s huge, and it’s gorgeous.
I also liked that idea of using a hairbrush on those grasses on the Nisqually delta. And I also would NOT have driven underneath a railroad train! 🙂 You are super.
Yep, Puget Sound is salt water, 100%. I’m impressed that you did all that research, Nebraska. And I really like that you learn, me too. There’s so much to learn about this planet and life and the people on it.
Yes, I drove under a train that weighed TONS, and I lived. 🙂
Wonderful photos of the container cars. Maximum weight of each loaded car double stacked in Britain and in Europe is 45 tonnes. I believe the maximum weight in America is greater.
Henry, thank you. You worked the railways in Britain if I remember correctly, and you would know those details. Any time I see a railroad car here in the USA, I’ll take a photo and share it here. My best to you. 🙂
That tunnel was scary. The train was fun. The delta view was magnificent. And the grasses sure did need tidying. 🙂
Thanks Cindy. Grab your hairbrush and get out here! 🙂
I’ve worked in federal offices that monitor such things. USA double stack container restrictions vary a great deal depending on the rail line (tracks) being used, the car (flatbed rail car) construction, the size of the container, etc, but I’d say by comparison that the maximum is the USA is often around 50 tons, which is just about the same as British 45 tonnes. Nice info Henry. 🙂
Thank you Pat. I read your message here this morning. Good work.
Wow, thank you Pat. Really appreciate your input here, and appreciate your lifelong work.
I just researched white drooping grass and found that salty water inhibits photosynthesis and growth. So where the salt water comes into the delta when the tide is high results in pale grass that doesn’t grow very well. Sorry, Ann, a hairbrush won’t help. 🙂
Gosh, yet another thing I didn’t know. The effect of salt water on grass. Ok, I’m putting my hairbrush away, Emily. 🙂 thank you.