Willapa Bay

Willapa Bay is a bay located on the southwest Pacific coast of Washington state in the United States. Like the usual bay, Willapa Bay is a large inlet of salt water otherwise similar to freshwater lakes in shape and size. The Long Beach Peninsula separates Willapa Bay from the greater expanse of the Pacific Ocean.

Willapa Bay is fairly shallow and is an estuary of the Willapa River. The bay itself is bordered only by several smaller towns and unincorporated communities such as Raymond, South Bend, and Tokeland. The bay is entirely located within Pacific County, Washington and is home to a local oyster and seafood processing industry.

Willapa Bay is known for its amazing biodiversity and much of it has been set aside as part of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. The bay's ecology is threatened by the rapid spreading of atlantic cordgrass (Spartina Alterniflora), a non-native species of grass introduced to help preserve wetlands and marsh areas.