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The Washington State Legislature recently transferred leadership of the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project from the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) to the Department of Ecology (Ecology). Ecology is excited to continue advancing the progress made by DES, contractors, and stakeholders on this important project. Together with DES, the Governor’s Office, the Legislature, and many other tribal, state, and local partners, Ecology is committed to maintaining the strong collaborative approach that has benefited the project up to this stage.
Since stepping into this role on July 1, 2025, Ecology has prioritized the project and has put together its internal planning team. The project is being led by Ecology’s Southwest Region Director, Bobbak Talebi, along with three other Ecology staff members who collectively bring decades of experience managing complex, impactful projects.
Who makes up Ecology’s team?
Bobbak Talebi is the Southwest Region Director and has been with the agency since 2012. He has two decades of experience in land use, environmental policy and planning, and natural resources management. In addition to working at the local, state, and federal levels of government, Bobbak brings expertise in managing programs and projects that strengthen community resilience to changing climate conditions. One of Bobbak’s important roles as the Region Director is to facilitate collaboration across each Ecology program, coordinating the delivery of agency services to partners and communities.
Henry Bell is a senior coastal planner with the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance program. He coordinates an interagency coastal resilience community assistance team and serves in a leadership role for Washington’s Coastal Zone Management Program. Henry’s work involves leading and supporting project partnerships that improve community resilience to coastal hazards and climate change.
Fran Sant is a senior planner with the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance program. She has been with Ecology since 2010 working on complex projects and providing technical assistance, training, and overseeing rulemaking for the Washington State Environmental Policy Act.
Shauna Hanisch-Kirkbride manages Ecology’s Vancouver Field Office. She joined Ecology in 2023, prior to which she was the managing director of Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group. Shauna brings an extensive background in complex aquatic issues that include cormorant management, salmon habitat restoration, and integrated floodplain management in watersheds impacted by the Mount St. Helens eruption.
What steps is Ecology taking right now?
Since late June, the Ecology team has been meeting weekly with core DES staff (Brian Pickering, Shaina Thompson, Kim Sockle) to understand the project, share information, and work through administrative and contracting details. The lead contractor, Floyd|Snider, briefed Ecology leadership about the project on August 5, 2025, and Ecology is participating in weekly coordination and planning meetings with DES and Floyd|Snider.
The Ecology team is also holding introductory meetings with design partners and stakeholders, including the Squaxin Island Tribe, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, LOTT Clean Water Alliance, the City of Olympia, the City of Tumwater, Thurston County, and DERT. We are continuing to make progress on the current priority, which is to complete the 60% design for estuary restoration.
To reach the Ecology team, please email them at deschutesestuary@ecy.wa.gov.
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