Totaling , this area is the largest, highest quality estuarine system remaining in

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...

Oregon Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idaho. T ...

. It includes diverse habitats, ranging from tideflats and sloughs,

saltmarsh A salt marsh or saltmarsh, also known as a coastal salt marsh or a tidal marsh, is a coastal ecosystem in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and open saltwater or brackish water that is regularly flooded by the tides. It is dominated ...

and freshwater

wetland A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded or saturated by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally (for weeks or months). Flooding results in oxygen-free (anoxic) processes prevailing, especially in the soils. The p ...

s, to forested uplands. Identified as critically important

waterfowl Anseriformes is an order of birds also known as waterfowl that comprises about 180 living species of birds in three families: Anhimidae (three species of screamers), Anseranatidae (the magpie goose), and Anatidae, the largest family, which i ...

and

shorebird 245px, A flock of Dunlins and Red knots">Red_knot.html" ;"title="Dunlins and Red knot">Dunlins and Red knots Waders or shorebirds are birds of the order Charadriiformes commonly found wikt:wade#Etymology 1, wading along shorelines and mudflat ...

habitat, it also includes a nesting site for bald eagle and significant habitat for elk, bear, beaver, river otter and other mammals. One population of a Washington state monitor plant species, Henderson's checker- mallow, occurs within the tidal portion of the estuary system.

External links

Elk River Natural Resources Conservation Area
- Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources
Elk River Estuary
- National Audubon Society {{coord missing, Washington Protected areas of Grays Harbor County, Washington Estuaries of Washington (state) Washington Natural Areas Program Bodies of water of Grays Harbor County, Washington