Salmon was caught via a variety of techniques and the people were able to hunt a diverse array of wildlife, including various species of waterfowl, game, and sea mammals.

The grass and woodlands in the area were used to gather seasonal fruits such as berries, grow crops such as camas, and provide timber for the construction of weirs and canoes.

[4] In the 1830s, a fort was built near the Nisqually basin and fur trading began in earnest, leading to the loss of beaver dams and the natural wetlands.

Reports from the studies showed that the port would be a catastrophic detriment to the already decimated valley and proposals, quickly adopted, were outlined to repair the Nisqually basin.

Further studies called for the land to be protected under a federal wildlife refuge, though proposals allowed for continued farming of the valley and upstream logging but with more stringent rules.

Further court cases solidified the Nisqually tribal fishing rights and that the state "had a legal obligation to protect salmon habitat".

[4] The wildlife refuge is home to the Nisqually River Delta, which has the unique status as Washington's largest relatively undisturbed estuary.

The confluence of the freshwater Nisqually River and the saltwater south Puget Sound has created a variety of unique environments, each rich in nutrients and natural resources for the local wildlife.

[10] In 1904 the Brown Farm Dike, five miles long, was created to protect farmland from tidal surge, resulting in a loss of important habitat for young fish, birds and marine mammals such as harbor seals.

[4] Sea life features 24 species of fish located in one of three habitats: riverine, estuarine, or the Nisqually Reach nearshore.

Large populations of fall Chinook salmon, starry flounder and shiner perch offer a sampling of the fish that are abundantly available.