- Chehalis River Surge Plain Natural Area Preserve (dnr.wa.gov)
This large wetland area is spread out at the lower end of the Chehalis River, just upstream from where it empties into Grays Harbor. Sitka spruce and western redcedar thrive in the wet soils where fresh and salt water mingle on this 4,494-acre site. This preserve contains the largest and best quality tidal surge plain wetland in the state, including sloughs that shelter young salmon and other fish. The surge plain also supports osprey, bald eagles, and state-listed sensitive Olympic mudminnows. Vegetation communities represented in the Chehalis River Surge Plain preserve are Sitka spruce/red-osier dogwood/skunk cabbage vegetation, lady fern coastal herbaceous vegetation, softstem bulrush herbaceous vegetation, red-osier dogwood-willow species shrubland, Lyngby’s sedge herbaceous vegetation, and cattail surge plain herbaceous vegetation.