The work to conserve and restore public access along the Elwha River delta shoreline just got a big boost.

On Feb. 2, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the Washington State Department of Ecology and Coastal Watershed Institute will receive $1 million from the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant program.

This will fund a significant portion of the Beach Lake Acquisition and Restoration project.

Located along the central Strait of Juan de Fuca, the project’s aim is to protect and restore coastal wetlands adjacent to the Elwha River delta and provide new public access along the evolving Elwha nearshore. The project is supported by several local partners, including the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, North Olympic Land Trust, North Peninsula Building Association, Built Green of Clallam County, Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society, Lighthawk, Ecotrust, Surfrider Foundation and North Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity for Salmon.