Oyster Bay, Washington facts for kids

Oyster Bay is a special part of Puget Sound in Washington state. It's like a smaller arm of the sea that branches off from a larger area called Totten Inlet. Think of it as a quiet corner where the ocean meets the land.

This bay is a very important place for nature. A stream called Kennedy Creek flows into Oyster Bay, especially near the U.S. Highway 101 bridge.

Oyster Bay at low tide, looking northwest from the Thurston County side. You can see an oyster farm and a building where oysters are processed. Kennedy Creek Natural Area Preserve is on the far left. The clouds are near the Olympic Mountains.

Discovering Oyster Bay

Oyster Bay is a beautiful and busy natural area. It's known for its calm waters and the amazing wildlife that lives there. This bay is a great example of how different parts of nature work together.

Where is Oyster Bay Located?

Oyster Bay is found in the southern part of Puget Sound, which is a large body of water in Washington state. It's connected to a bigger inlet called Totten Inlet. This connection allows water and marine life to move between the two areas.

A stream named Kennedy Creek flows right into Oyster Bay. This creek brings fresh water from the land into the bay. It's an important spot, especially where the U.S. Highway 101 crosses over it.

Home to Amazing Salmon

Oyster Bay is incredibly important for chum salmon. These fish are a type of salmon that live in the ocean but return to fresh water to lay their eggs. Oyster Bay has one of the biggest groups of chum salmon in Washington state.

Each year, more than 40,000 adult salmon come back to Oyster Bay to reproduce. This huge number shows how healthy and vital this area is for these fish. Scientists believe that without human changes, even more salmon would return here.

The Special Olympia Oyster

Oyster Bay is also famous for its oysters. It's one of only four special places in all of Puget Sound where the Olympia oyster grows naturally. The Olympia oyster is a native oyster, meaning it's originally from this area.

These oyster reserves are protected areas. They help make sure that the Olympia oysters have a safe place to grow and reproduce. This helps keep the oyster population healthy for the future.