Mashel River

The Land Trust owns two properties on the Mashel River, the principal salmon-producing tributary of the Nisqually River. The Mashel provides spawning grounds for threatened Chinook and steelhead as well as for coho and pink salmon.

Our Boxcar Canyon property includes 45 acres and both banks of the Mashel near Eatonville.  The crown jewel of this property is the stunning rock-walled gorge from which it takes its name.  Pierce County Conservation Futures purchased Boxcar Canyon from its long-time owners, who wanted to see its salmon-producing capacity restored, and then donated the property to the Land Trust.  We are now working with the South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group and the Nisqually Tribe to restore in-stream and shoreline habitat on the property.

Further down the Mashel, adjacent to the new Nisqually-Mashel State Park, the Land Trust owns a 64-acre property that includes over one mile of river shoreline and has excellent riparian and upland habitat. The Nisqually Tribve is restoring in-stream habitat on the property.