Starting this month, workers will begin a $9.7 million effort to restore the salt marsh at Stouts Creek. Three groups joined forces on this task: Lacey Township officials, state transportation planners, and federal wildlife experts. This fix aims to shield rare birds, stop water from spilling into streets, and build up natural storm walls. Workers will clear mud and sand from eight key spots: two parts of Laurel Harbor, Worden's Oyster Pond, twin sections of Clamming Creek, White's Channel, Cedar Creek and its branch, plus Stouts Creek with two extra paths. Past work near here brought back local plants, gave animals new homes, and made floods less scary for nearby towns.