S’Klallam Working Waterfront Initiative

The Salish Sea continues to sustain the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, just as it has for generations upon generations. The Tribe’s traditional lifeways and food sovereignty are tied intrinsically to the Salish Sea, including the shellfish it supports. Building on earlier Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) investments that helped establish the Little Boston Oyster Farm and formalize the Tribe’s shellfish Enhancement Program, the S’Klallam Working Waterfront Initiative invests in the marine infrastructure needed to sustain and grow the program, including a custom, Tribe-owned shellfish work barge and gravel for reservation beach enhancement. The barge replaces labor-intensive manual hauling, moving oyster seed directly from the Floating Upweller System (FLUPSY) to the farm, transporting gear and restoration materials, and delivering gravel precisely to targeted beaches within narrow tidal windows. The gravel stabilizes beach substrate to improve shellfish survival and protect harvest beaches used for subsistence, ceremonial, and enhancement work. By putting specialized, Tribe-owned infrastructure within reach, the project reduces operational risk from tides, weather, and shoreline conditions. The S’Klallam Working Waterfront Initiative also removes barriers to success and food access while furthering the Tribe’s resource stewardship through traditional food production.