Fishing and farming don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

The Smokehouse Ditch Estuarine Marsh project on Swinomish Reservation, where restoration of critical salmon habitat is planned next to agricultural land the Tribe leases to local farmers, proves that.

Near the SR 20 bridge north of La Conner, the site is one of several local estuarine areas – Similk Beach is another – considered for restoration.

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D- Everett, visited Sept. 27, where he met with Swinomish and Skagit River System Cooperative leaders for an update on their salmon enhancement efforts.

Larsen...