Nisqually Wildlife Refuge
Near Olympia, Washington
The Nisqually Wildlife Refuge is a diked estuary where the Nisqually River, originating on the slopes of Mount Rainier, flows into Puget Sound. The streams and ponds support large numbers of resident and migratory waterfowl. As I walked the trail on top of the dike, I was impressed with the streaking cirrus clouds and the sense of openness they created. I purposefully aimed the camera upward to capture more of the clouds as a single mallard glided across the foreground. The refuge managers are removing some of the historical dikes to allow the natural tidal action to return to more parts of the estuary, thereby restoring the natural functioning of the system. Photo © copyright by Stephen Penland.