Spring 2009 Great Peninsula Conservancy Newsletter

8/8/2019 Spring 2009 Great Peninsula Conservancy Newsletter

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Spring 2010 Protecting our lands and waters for generations to come

Great PeninsulaConservancy

The hum o vehicles rom thebusy road ades away as we walkinto the orest. We look up tosee a snag, a standing dead tree,drilled heavily with holes madeby woodpeckers seeking a meal

o insects. An urban oasis, thisprivate property is one o ewundeveloped woodlands on theeastern ringe o Silverdale. InDecember, Great PeninsulaConservancy and a very committedlandowner protected this property,aectionately reerred to as theBucklin Hill Urban Forest.

Looking east rom Silverdale, theorest sits on a at spot near thetop o this prominent ridgeline

that can be seen rom aroundDyes Inlet. Looking west romthe property on a clear day, onecan see the spectacular sceneryo the Olympic Mountains. Theproperty straddles two watersheds Clear Creek and Barker Creek. Anoverstory o Douglas fr, red alder,and pacifc madrone towers overa dense understory o huckleberry,salal, and sword ern.

The Bucklin Hill Urban Forest isowned by Marge Thorne. Mrs.Thorne and her late husband, Chuck,built the house on the propertythey purchased over 50 years agowhen it was part o a 20-acre turkeyarm. Then partially orested, Margehas witnessed the trees growinglarger. Growing up, their two girlsmade camps in the woods andMarge has been concerned aboutit being developed or a number oyears. A longtime supporter o GPC,

Preserved: Bucklin Hill Urban Forest

Inside2010: Yea the Membe ........ 2Geat Pesa Chaege ........ 2

GPC Cseat Pa ............. 3

Matha Jh Ceek ................... 4

Gbet Ceek ........................ 5

GPC 10th Aesay ............... 6

Shee Maagemet Pa ..... 6

GPC Membes Act ........... 7

Caea Eets .................... 8

Mrs. Thorne careully consideredher options and her goals: happyamily, happy neighbors, and herprimary wish - the orest to remainnatural orever. Protected todaywith a permanent conservationeasement, the orest now includes

some Douglas frs that are three eetaround!

Numerous huckleberry bushesprovide seasonal snacks or theThorne amily and native birds alike.The our-acre orest provides an oasisor birds, which take cover in themessy thickets o native understoryand orest canopy. Urban woodlandslike this one give reuge to a varietyo animals that are attracted to therich mix o mature trees, snags, native

understory, patchy open areas, andorest edge.

Protecting the native orest coverhere helps infltration o water intothe soil, while fltering pollutants

beore the water reaches PugetSound. Scientifc research also tellsus that leay neighborhood trees,like those in the Thorne urban orest,clean the air by capturing pollutants.

While some o GPCs eorts ocuson preserving large, intact naturalhabitats, preserving communitygreenspaces in the midst o busyneighborhoods is also one o ourconservation strategies. With Mrs.Thornes additional generous pledge

to GPCs stewardship, deense andmonitoring und, Great PeninsulaConservancy will continue to lookater her conservation legacy orever.And the entire Silverdale community,who enjoy the orested view, clean

air and water, and wildlie reuge at thecrest o Bucklin Hill, will thank Margeand her amily or their generous gitor many years to come.

Marge Thorne smiles in delight at having ulflled herdream o protecting her orest.

PhotoCre

it:MichaelYarick


2/8

Great PeninsulaChallenge

2007-2009 ChallngSince the all o 2007, memberso Great Peninsula Conservancycontributed and pledged$118,000 toward our 2007-2009Great Peninsula Challenge goalo $126,000. While we came in$8,000 under our target, this wasa remarkable achievement orour nearly 500 members.Thank you!

2010 Challng Goal $50,000As we turn our attention to 2010,GPC has launched a new one-year Challenge o $50,000. Thisbump rom about $40,000 a yearto $50,000 is certainly within ourreach. As beore, all contributionsto the Challenge will be matched

and support vital work in GPCsthree initiatives: Streams &Estuaries, Forests, and CommunityGreenspaces. Conserving thegreat places o the Great Peninsulawill only happen with yoursupport. Please help us meet our2010 goal!

Great Peninsula

Conservancyprotecting orever the natural

habitats, rural landscapes,and open spaces o the

Great Peninsula.

3721 Kitsap Way, Suite 5Bremerton, WA 98312

360-373-35001-866-373-3504

www.greatpeninsula.org

2010: The Year of the Member

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Great Peninsula Conservancy NewsletterManaging Editor Kate Kuhlman

Printed on recycled paper by Blue Sky Printing, Poulsbo, WA

StaffSandra Staples-Bortner, Executive Director

Kate Kuhlman, Operations DirectorMichael Yadrick, Conservation Director

Board of DirectorsJohn Lantz, President, Gig Harbor, 2010

James D. DePew, Vice President, Gig Harbor, 2011Kathleen Peters, Secretary, Bainbridge Island, 2011

John H. Nelson, Treasurer, Kingston, 2010

Thomas Antos, Gig Harbor, 2012 Mark L. Bubenik, Gig Harbor, 2012John Dickson, Gig Harbor, 2010 John Keates, Shelton, 2012Sidnie Shaffer, Bremerton, 2011 Ken VanBuskirk, Belfair, 2011

2009 was another pivotal year orGreat Peninsula Conservancy. In2008 we placed our emphasis onrevitalizing our operating systems,membership outreach, andconservation partnerships. Whilein 2009 our conservation program

really took o with the hiring o aConservation Director, launching othe Forests Initiative, and revision oour Conservation Plan. Im looking to2010 to be the year our undraisingand membership expand to meet theneeds o our growing organization.To borrow (very) loosely rom theChinese calendar, Ill call it The Yearo the Member.

Great Peninsula Conservancysmembers and donors are truly thelieblood o our work. In 2009, GPCmembers and donors contributed52% o our operating budget. In2008, it was 69%. The dierence isprimarily due to increased success in2009 in obtaining grants rom privateoundations and government agencies.While we will continue to seek grantsto support our Conservation Initiatives,support rom members will always becritical to our mission.

GPC members are a committed groupo people who share a common visionor conserving the great places othe Great Peninsula or our children,grandchildren, and uture generations.We share a passion or the land that isevidenced in many ways, one o whichis our willingness to contribute ourhard-earned dollars to support Great

Peninsula Conservancy. I know thereare many more people like you in ourcommunities. Our goal or 2010, The

Year o the Member, is to strengthenour fnancial base by increasing thenumber o GPC members and donors.

Today, a dedicated group o 500people make up GPCs membersand donors. You have made GPC anorganization o which we all can beproud. Now, we need to reach outand encourage more people to joinin our important work. The sta andboard will be working toward thatend in 2010. I invite you to be parto the eort. Please consider sharingGreat Peninsula Conservancysstories with your amily, riends,and colleagues. A colorul paletteo conservation lands is awaitingGPCs protection. With more peoplewielding paintbrushes, we canextend our brush strokes over a muchbroader sweep o the landscape.

This year is Great PeninsulaConservancys 10th anniversary.Please join me in making thisanniversary year The Year o theMember.

SaaStapes-BteExecutive Director

PhotoCredit:SivadStudios

Immature bald eagle overKlingel Wildlie Reuge.

PhotoCreit:

ByronKane


3/8

Great Peninsula Conservancy is beginning the new yearwith a new Conservation Plan. We are evaluating ourselves,thinking about how we do conservation, and looking atprojects or the uture. O course, we cannot do it aloneand we value your outlook on how to keep our watersclean, help fsh and wildlie to thrive, make sure naturalareas are within reach o communities, and support workinglands that give us a variety o ood and orest products.

Why is the document important? The Drat ConservationPlan presents a type o road map that will help us to ulfllour mission protecting orever the natural habitats, rurallandscapes, and open spaces o the Great Peninsula.Without a map, we wont know where we are goingand we wont know when we get there! GPCs previousConservation Plan excellently outlined properties thatwe wished to preserve. Eorts led to many successul

conservation projects, including greater protection alongthe Clear Creek Trail, purchase o properties in the ChicoCreek Watershed, and acquisition o Sehmel HomesteadPark in Gig Harbor.

With our Drat Plan in hand, we are now ready to gathereedback on our action strategies, criteria or project selection,and identiy uture projects or the next six years (2010-2015).We are pursuing our priorities by, o course, ocusing onconservation o lands and waters that are reected in ourthree Conservation Initiatives: Streams & Estuaries, Forests,and Community Greenspaces. Landowners are our primarypartners in conservation, and we educate people on options

or voluntary conservation and stewardship o their property.We also nurture our conservation partnerships with publicagencies, tribes, community groups, and other conservationgroups. By ollowing this multi-pronged approach, Great PeninsulaConservancy continues to expand itscapacity to conserve priority landsand waters across our region.

The Drat Conservation Plan was thesubject o a lively Open House atGPCs ofce on February 3. Folkshad an opportunity to speak ace-

to-ace with GPC sta and Boardmembers, learn about the DratPlan, and express their views on justabout anything having to do withconservation on the Great Peninsula.These comments will help shape thefnal revision o the Drat Plan beoreGPCs Board o Directors ormallyadopts it later this spring.

Working through the planningprocess will strengthen

GPC Conservation PlanA Road Map to Our Future

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partnerships and renew connections with members,community groups, and project partners. We also hopeto discover new riends along the way. Finalization othe Conservation Plan will help GPC showcase our workand compete or important sources o grant unds. Mostimportantly, the Plan will provide clear direction andguidance or GPCs Board and sta to ensure we spendour limited fnancial and human resources wisely.

What is next? Your input is vital. I you have not done soalready, please review and provide feedback on theDraft Plan. It is available on the GPC website at www.greatpeninsula.org. Ater reading the Drat Plan, youare encouraged to let us know what you think o it bycompleting a short online survey. I you wish, you alsohave the choice o mailing, emailing, or calling with yourcomments. We are eager to hear rom you as we create a

road map or the next six years o conservation action!

Conservation Director Michael Yadrick and long-time GPC supporter, Alice Harris, discussGPC Drat Conservation Plan at the February 3 Open House.

Consration Stratgis: Focus conservation on priority lands: Streams and

Estuaries Focus conservation on priority lands: Forests Focus conservation on priority lands: Community

Greenspaces Develop conservation partnerships with individuals,

public agencies, tribes, community groups, andother conservation organizations

Conduct outreach to landowners on options for landconservation

Build GPCs capacity to be responsive toconservation opportunities


4/8

Natural shorelines, ree-owing creeksand wetland habitats characterizeGreat Peninsula Conservancys Streamsand Estuaries Initiative. GPCs MarthaJohn Creek Conservation Project is one

o our newer endeavors in North KitsapCounty. Conserving Martha JohnCreeks pocket estuary and orestedwatershed will, in a small way, help toprotect the jewel o Hood Canal Port Gamble Bay.

Travelling north and south alongHansville Road, you move along theeastern extent o the watershed thatultimately drains into the southeastcorner o Port Gamble Bay via MarthaJohn Creek. From its headwaters nearMiller Lake to its outlet in Cedar Cove,Martha John Creek winds its waysthrough a mostly orested landscape.Though small in size, Martha JohnCreek and Cedar Cove are in goodecological condition and we wantto keep them that way! Wherereshwater mixes with saltwater, thetidal creek and marshy lagoon givereuge to coho and chum salmon aswell as sea-run cutthroat trout.

The Martha John Creek Watershedspotlights some o the best thingsabout living around Port GambleBay open water with a beautiulorested backdrop, abundant wildlie,and plentiul shellfsh beds. Thewatershed has not always beenhealthy, though. State health ofcials

closed commercial shellfshharvest in Cedar Cove or threeyears in the late 1990s due tohigh ecal coliorm levels. Now,

the salmon population

Martha John Creek Conservation

in Martha John Creek has beendeclining over the last ew years.These natural resources are central tothe culture o GPCs primary partnerin the project, the Port Gamble

SKlallam Tribe.

Protection o upstream habitat iscritical to protecting water quality inthe cove. In 2001, Great PeninsulaConservancy made a start byprotecting seven acres o wetlandsnear the junction o 288th Street andGamble Bay Road. The open waterhere is part o a complex o wetlandsthat is connected to undevelopedMiller Lake. The wetland supports adense growth o sedges, hardstembulrush, and cattails that provide

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PhotoCreit:Michael

Yarick

PhotoCreit:PortGambleSKlallamT

ribe

Cedar Cove at the mouth o Martha John Creek.

Martha John Creek bears the name oa beloved and honored member o thePort Gamble SKlallam Tribe. MarthaJohn, o SKlallam and Lummi decent,was a revered elder or her knowledgeo traditional storytelling, crats, andthree native languages. When thePort Gamble SKlallam built the Houseo Knowledge in 2004, the symbol oMartha Johns clan, the owl, was carved

into the center o one o the doors.According to one o the carvers,this was done to celebrate thoseindividuals who took care to keep theSKlallam culture alive.

Martha John was born in 1891 and,or the frst years o her lie, split timebetween Guemes Island and PortGamble. Eventually staying in thePort Gamble area with her ather,she described her upbringing asunconventional since as a girl shewas allowed to run around outside

all the time. By third grade, MarthaJohn was working in homes aroundPort Gamble and saving money tospend on outings to Seattle. Thissel sufciency, aided by an undyinginterest in all things she could learnand observe, would become the keyeature o Martha Johns personality sohighly regarded by later generations.

When a University o Washingtonlanguage researcher wanted tolearn about Suquamish, SKlallam,and Chinook Jargon, Martha Johnwas the one to teach them. Alongwith languages, Martha John alsorecounted legends and stories, andtaught crats and fshing techniques.Living well into her late 80s, herindependent spirit and sel subsistenceways, combined with careulobservations early on in her lie, madeher a most important and valuablemember o the SKlallam People.

Who was Martha John? by Siv Carlson

Martha John, a revered SKlallam elder.

reshwater habitat or young fshand other wildlie. The Port GambleSKlallam Tribe owns 400 acresadjoining Martha John Creek. Theyare managing this land with protectiono the stream as a high priority.

Outreach to neighbors will be akey element in the project as GreatPeninsula Conservancy and the PortGamble SKlallam Tribe move orwardwith development o a conservationplan or Martha John Creek andCedar Cove. GPC is beginning tomeet individually with neighbors andwill soon host a community gatheringto invite their input on conservationand stewardship o Martha JohnCreek. Anyone wishing to participatein this community eort is urged to

contact Great Peninsula Conservancy


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Great PeninsulaConservancy isortunate to havehad the assistance oKitsap ConservationDistrict in assessingoptions or restoringGilberton Creek. Thissmall East Kitsapstream was heavilydamaged by a roadwashout in December2007 caused by anundersized culvertand heavy rains.The damage is inull view: reducedwater quality, damage to habitats, andreduced scenic values. Conservation

District Engineer Rich Geiger hasrecommended an approach to restorethe estuary and nearshore environmentat the least cost and with least impacton the stream and estuary habitat.

The road washout severely scouredGilbertons stream channel, leavingbehind large gravel in the uppercreek and deep mud in the pocketestuary. Slabs o asphalt, large chunksrom the old concrete culvert, andlengths o guardrail litter the stream

oor, some buried up to two and ahal eet deep! Now two years later,

Gilbrton Crk aftr thIllah Road Wash Out 1/2 mile of creek impacted

rom Illahee Road to shoreline Heavy scouring of ~120 ft. of

stream below road embankment Stream bank scoured leaving 7

t. cuts in places 590 dump truck loads of ll

washed downstream 6.5 dump truck loads of

asphalt (~134 tons) depositedin stream and pocket estuary

Slabs of asphalt buried to adepth o 2.5 t. in some locations

Asphalt left at a height of 4.5t. on the banks o the stream

Guard rail left 6.5 ft. up a tree Large trees uprooted and

washed downstream to litterthe cove and beach

Gilberton Creek Restoration Update

vegetation is re-establishing itsel onthe valley oor, which helps stabilize

the stream channel. However graveland mud will continue to movethrough the system or several years.The new 10-oot culvert under IllaheeRoad seems up to the task o lettingGilberton Creeks normally low-waterow unimpeded. While this is good,it makes it unlikely that winter rainsor tidal action will be sufcient toush out the deep mud that hasaccumulated in the cove.

Salmon are not known to spawn in

Gilberton Creek. However, its pocketestuary does provide importanthabitat or salmon, other fsh, anda variety o birds. Our restorationeorts will be ocused on the pocketestuary known as Grahn Kove.

The recommended approach is toremove the worst debris rom thestream channel and cove, dig out theestuary, and prevent new sedimentrom reflling theestuary. The

frst step in therestoration willbe to removethe accessibleroad debrisrom the streamvalley, estuary,and surroundingbeaches. Largetree trunksand rootwads littering

the tideats are anavigation hazard orboats and also shouldbe removed. Theremay be an opportunityto use some o thiswood as habitateatures in the restoredestuary.

The estuary can berestored by digging outenough mud rom thecove so that it againholds water at lowtide and tidal ushingaction is restored.

Since we expect upstream sedimentsrom the road washout to continue

to make their way downstream,a sediment trap will be built justupstream o the cove. The purposeo the trap basically a large pitdug into the stream channel is tocapture this sediment beore it canrefll the lagoon. The sediment trapwould need to be dug out annuallyduring the dry season. Over time, theupstream creek bed will stabilize, andthe trap will no longer be needed.

Recommendations in hand, Great

Peninsula Conservancy is nowconsulting with aected landowners,Kitsap County, Suquamish Tribe, andWashington Department o Fish andWildlie to determine the easibilityo this restoration proposal. Streamrestoration is part science and partart, so these additional viewpointswill help shape a strong restorationplan. We can then move ahead withthe real undertaking o restoration.

Illahee Road asphalt paving, here showing the white center-line stripe, washed intoGilberton Creek.

PhotoCreit:BetsyCarlson

Illahee Road guardrail and large woody debris in Gilberton Creek.


6/8

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GPC 10th Anniversary

Milestones in thirty years oflocal land conservation

Indianola Land Trust founded in1980 as 2nd oldest land trust inWashington State

First fee title property donated toHood Canal Land Trust in 1985 Klingel Wildlie Reuge

First conservation easementdonated to Hood Canal LandTrust in 1986 Johnson SouthSound Reuge

First fee title property donatedto Indianola Land Trust in 1989 Puget Street

First conservation easement andee title property donated toKitsap Land Trust in 1991 HoodCanal - Loall - Bolin

First conservation easementdonated to Indianola Land Trustin 1992 Indianola Greenway -West/Stech

First conservation easementdonated to Peninsula HeritageLand Trust in 1993 HendersonBay - Home - Lind

First fee title property donated

to Peninsula Heritage Land Trustin 1995 Henderson Bay - HomeCemetery

Great Peninsula Conservancyormed by merger in May 2000

First Executive Director hired inDecember 2000 Staff grows to three in 2009 Over 2,000 acres protected

in Kitsap, west Pierce, andnorth Mason Counties

All o Washingtons countiesare currently in the processo updating their shorelinemanagement plans. While mosto us do not become terriblyexcited about the details o landuse planning, this update has thepossibility o dramatically alteringthe way we use and even thinkabout our shorelines. The original

state legislation, enacted in 1971,was ollowed by the various countyplans, which have remainedbasically the same or the last 38years.

The update has some very specifcgoals. First, it will attempt tobalance the goals o the ShorelineManagement Act: encouragewater dependent uses, protectshoreline natural resources, and

Shorlin Managmnt Plan Riwpromote public access. Second,there is a mandate or no-net-loss o ecological unctions, andfnally there must be provisions orshoreline restoration.

The jurisdictions (counties andcities) must start with an exhaustiveanalysis o the existing shorelines,both marine and reshwater. This

will be ollowed by an extensivepublic review process. PierceCounty has been in the processor almost two years. Kitsap andMason counties are just beginning.

I you are interested in the healtho shorelines, you can take part byconnecting to the Kitsap or Piercecounty websites, or send a letterto the Mason County PlanningDepartment c/o Barbara Adkins.

Thirty years ago thefrst o our local landtrusts ormed to helptheir communities andneighbors preservenatural areas andwoodlands, protect

ragile shorelines,restore degradedstreams and wetlands,and take care o thesespecial places orever.

For their pioneeringprotection eorts to be

successul, the ounding land trustsrecognized the need or a viableorganization that could shoulder

stewardship responsibilities or theirlands ar into the uture. To providethat assurance, Great PeninsulaConservancy was established tenyears ago with the merger o ourlocal conservancies: Hood Canal,Kitsap, Indianola, and Peninsula

Heritage land trusts. Thanks tothe oresight o our ounders andto those that have carried theirvision orward, Great PeninsulaConservancy is going strong tenyears later. GPC is still providing landconservation resources to individuals,communities, and our conservationpartners throughout the regionprotecting orever the lands andwaters o the Great Peninsula.

Gary Cunningham, frst GPC Board President, addressesmembership at Merger Day Celebration in June 2000.

Founding Land Trust members gather at Clear Creek Saqad Interpretive Center to celebratecreation o Great Peninsula Conservancy in June 2000.

PhotoCreit:Mary

EllenMcCaffree


7/8

Memorial Gifts(November 2009 January 2010)

In mmory of Dick ArmstrongBill & Linda Bruce

In mmory of Dr. & Mrs. H. A. BarnrBruce & Tina Barner

In mmory of Donna Coopr PposBill & Berrit Price

In mmory of Rick FacklrRobert Elliott

In mmory of Dan & Shirly InnCam & Esther HaslamLaura Inveen

In mmory of Frd RischAnn Reisch

In mmory of Cory TopnssRichard & Carolyn Topness

In mmory of Larry WiltrmoodAnn Reisch

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Hansville Greenway volunteers recently completed this new bridge atHawks Hole on the Hansville Greenway; unding or this project wasprovided by a generous git rom an anonymous donor.

PhotoCreit:S

inieShaffer

PhotoCreit:KateKuhlman

Linda Benedict (second rom let) and John Dickson (third rom let)receive recognition o their legacy gits to GPC and a Legacy Societyrock at Fall Donor Reception.

GPC Members in Action

Sinclair Inlt Birding Trip RportOn January 21, 12 GPC members joined Executive Director SandraStaples-Bortner on a birdwatching trip along the south side o SinclairInlet. Stopping at several places rom Port Orchard to Gorst, this eagergroup spotted 17 species o water birds, including large numbers oBarrows goldeneye, white-winged scoter, buehead, and Americanwigeon. Sinclair Inlet is a heavily used wintering area or many specieso ducks. We also were ortune to see all three species o merganser:red-breasted, common, and the much smaller hooded. In the shallows,we saw pintail, mallard, and the strikingly beautiul green-winged teal.The search or shorebirds turned up black turnstone and sanderling.Many o the trip participants were novice birders who delighted in

learning the dierent species and seeing them through the high powero a spotting scope. Participants remarked that our leisurely 9:30 a.m.start time and the mild weather contributed to the un o the trip.

Clear Creek Trail recently provided an outdoor classroom or PeterCallahans (let) Olympic College Environmental Sciences class. Studentsidentifed wetland soil types, wetland vegetation and discussed presentand past uses o the felds and wetlands in the Clear Creek valley northo Silverdale.

57 of 57 Conservation Easementprojects monitored

41 of 42 Fee Title projectsmonitored

6 Baseline Reports completedcovering 19 properties

Hooded MerganserGreen-winged Teal

PhotoCreit:TerryMace

2009 Stwardship by th Numbrs


8/8

3721 Kitsap Way, Suite 5Bremerton, WA 98312

Great PeninsulaConservancy

non-ProfiT orGuS PoSTAGE

SilvErdAlE, wAPErMiT no. 73

Riw GPCs Consration Plan& Tak a Short Sury

Share your ideas.Help shape the future of the Great Peninsula.

Its easy! Just visit www.greatpeninsula.org and ollowthe links at the bottom o our home page. Comments

accepted through February 28.

Calendar of EventsVisit our website, www.greatpeninsula.org, for the most current information. To volunteer or sign up

or an event call or email Kate at 360-373-3500, 1-866-373-3504, or [email protected].

SAve THe DATeS!

Sehmel Homestead Park OpeningGig Harbor in April

Watch www.penmetparks.org or details.

GPC Annual Celebration and Auction - July 24.

Something new will be added to our AnnualCelebration this summer a undraising auction! Doyou have a beach cottage, ski condo, or vacationgetaway you would consider donating to GPC ora weekend or week? Perhaps you are an artist andcould donate an original painting or sculpture? Ormaybe you are an avid sailor or sea kayaker andwould like to host a couple o lucky members on aPuget Sound excursion? Be creative and contact GPC([email protected]) with your ideas soon.Thank you!

Rturn Sric Rqustd

A week at a cottage in this picturesque French Village will beauctioned at GPCs Annual Celebration on July 24.

PhotoCreit:KatherinedeBruyn

Documents

Spring 2009 Great Peninsula Conservancy Newsletter