Harrington Lagoon

Harrington Lagoon covers about 12 acres and is one of the smaller estuaries on the island.  It is located on the east shore of central Whidbey Island, east of Smith Prairie, southeast of Coupeville and north of Race lagoon. It has an open water lagoon, mudflats and a small amount of fringing saltmarsh. 

Harrington Lagoon is connected to Saratoga Passage by a narrow channel that is blocked by a developing beach berm at lower tides.

Source of fresh water

There are no streams that enter the lagoon.  Fresh water is primarily from surface runoff from surrounding properties.

Plants

Distichlis spicata, Gaultheria shallon, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Rosa nutkana, Salicomia virginica, and Triglochin maritimum.

Man made obstructions to the estuary

There is a substantial buffer consisting of roads on both the north and south sand spit and an arterial road along the western edge of the lagoon. There is armoring on the southeast of the shoreline.

Description of the historic estuary

Historically this was an open lagoon with an outlet on the northern end. Much of it has been filled in for residential development and the outlet moved to a central location.

Resources

Island County Estuarine Restoration Program

Prepared by Sheldon & Associates, Inc., June 2001

Puget Sound Creosote Awareness project

www.pscap.net/index_m.htm