The Edmonds Marsh is one of the few urban, tidally-influenced saltwater estuaries remaining in the Puget Sound area. The marsh once occupied nearly 40 acres, which has been reduced to 22 acres in the present day by due to urban development.
The Edmonds area including the Marsh was historically used as a fishing village by the Coast Salish Native Peoples to sustain their livelihoods including fishing, shellfish gathering, and harvesting of plants to make clothing, mats, and baskets. This tradition continues today under tribal fishing rights along the Edmonds waterfront.
After urbanization, the railroad and man-made barriers blocked the tidewater flow, creating a freshwater-dominated wetland fed by Willow Creek and Shellabarger Creek. In 1988 the saltwater flow was reestablished by opening the tidegate most of the year. The site now contains diverse wildlife habitat supported by both fresh and saltwater vegetation.
The first stop on Audubon Washington's Great Washington State Birding Trail - Cascade Loop, the Edmonds Marsh hosts up to 90 species of birds during the course of the year.
The Edmonds Marsh Interpretive Walkway includes over 300 feet of boardwalk, 1700 feet of asphalt walkway, and four interpretive stations chronicaling the history, habitat and wildlife of this unique salt and fresh water marsh estuary. The walkway is used by birders, the public, and Edmonds Ranger-Naturalists leading educational interpretive programs.