The Puget Sound Partnership’s recently released 2017 State of the Sound Report came with mixed reviews on the progress of Puget Sound recovery. On the positive side, marine sediment quality has improved, acres of shellfish beds have been re-opened for harvest, and the conversion of forest has slowed. Meanwhile, our Southern Resident killer whale population is dwindling, Chinook population abundance has not improved, and the quality of freshwater flowing into the Sound is below the 2020 target.
But a shining spot in the Report was progress in restoring habitat. In particular, the vital sign indicators show that restoration of floodplains, riparian zones and estuarine wetlands have made successful gains.
You can read the State of the Sound Report here.
Puget Sound area land trusts continue to work non-stop to protect and restore Puget Sound. The Shoreline Conservation Collaborative, a partnership of land trusts across the region, is dedicated to accelerating the protection and restoration of the Puget Sound watershed. In just three years, this coalition of 14 land trusts is more than one-third of the way towards its collective goal.
Defenders of Puget Sound Shoreline
The Puget Sound Shoreline Conservation Collaborative was formed in 2014 when all fourteen land trusts working in the region committed to working together to accelerate protection and restoration of Puget Sound. Through partnership, the Collaborative seeks to significantly increase the impact of its members work to conserve and restore shorelines.
Washington’s land trusts already have a proven track record protecting beaches, tidelands, marshes, and maritime forests of Puget Sound through acquisition, conservation easements, and restoration. The Collaborative aims to protect even more invaluable shoreline in a landscape-level effort. In this synergistic partnership, land trusts can accomplish more together than they could alone.
Our Irreplaceable Puget Sound
The 2,500 miles of Puget Sound shoreline are vital to our state’s economy, ecological health, and regional culture. Puget Sound shorelines have been in decline for years due to climate change, increased demand for resources, and contamination. The quality and quantity of wildlife habitat along the shoreline has changed, with 75% of the Sound’s salt marsh habitat destroyed, and one-third of the shoreline altered or engineered from its natural state. As a response to this decline, the Shoreline Conservation Collaborative has come together to protect and restore these threatened bluffs, beaches, tidelands, and estuaries of Puget Sound.
The Collaborative Making Strides
The Collaborative has set an ambitious goal to permanently protect 150 shoreline properties and restore an additional 30 shoreline properties by 2024.
Land trusts have met the challenge head on. In only three years, the Collaborative is nearly 40% towards its collective goal. Collaborative members have already conserved 58 properties totaling over 9,000 acres, including nearly 16 miles of shoreline.
Check out some of the exemplary protection and restoration projects below!
Lyre Conservation Area, North Olympic Land Trust
Land protected: 280 acres
Shoreline protected: 2600 ft
Among the Shoreline Conservation Collaborative’s first successes was the protection this shoreline property important to salmon and wildlife on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The property protects part of the Lyre River estuary, a segment of Nelson Creek and its tributaries, over a ½ mile of shoreline, and tidelands. Just 20 miles west of Port Angeles, it is an ideal spot for non-motorized daytime activities like bird and wildlife viewing, surfing, picnicking, fishing and beach walking. With responsible use, this phenomenal new conservation area will provide habitat protection and recreational access for generations to come.
Spring Beach, Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust
Land protected: 24 acres
Shoreline protected: 677 ft
This beautiful beach on Colvos Passage of Vashon Island has active feeder bluffs and mature Douglas Fir trees, which provides perfect habitat for the threatened seabird species, the marbled murrelet. The sand and gravel from the eroding feeder bluffs will have a positive impact for beaches and contribute to a healthy shoreline. Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust and King County collaborated to purchase the beach property. King County is now the permanent steward of the bluffs, forests, wetlands and natural springs that occupy the 24 acres
Dosewallips and Duckabush River Valleys, The Trust for Public Land
Land protected: 6,284 acres
Riverfront protected: 15,840 ft
In 2015, The Trust for Public Land protected working forests between the Olympic National Forest and Hood Canal, providing greater public access to recreation and ensuring the continued availability of that land for sustainable timber harvesting. A portion of this land has been added to Dosewallips State Park, where State Parks and Washington Trails Association have plans to build a new trail leading into the majestic Olympic National Forest. Portions of the land along the Duckabush River were added to Jefferson Land Trust’s conservation properties providing new opportunities for restoration, environmental education, and new trails.
Bayshore Preserve, Capitol Land Trust
Land protected: 75 acres
Shoreline protected: 4,000 ft
Located three miles northwest of Shelton, the Bayshore Preserve features biologically sensitive and culturally significant estuary, nearshore, and riparian habitat along Oakland Bay, Mason County. A significant goal of this project is restoring a former golf course to native tidal habitat by removing a 1,400 ft dike and carving out new channels along the marine shoreline and Johns Creek. Additionally the area is protected for its cultural importance, as the Bayshore Peninsula was originally the site of one of the Squaxin Island Tribe’s largest longhouses and villages. This beautiful property is open to the public for recreation on its newly improved trails.
Fidalgo Bay Carstens Preserve, Skagit Land Trust
Land protected: 1 acre
Shoreline protected: 1,100 ft
Small but mighty! This beautiful 1-acre property in the upper Sound protects surf smelt spawning ground and provides excellent connectivity to other protected land and tidelands, including two other properties with conservation easements held by the Skagit Land Trust. This stretch of shoreline is an important part of the scenic view from the popular Tommy Thompson trail along Fidalgo Bay.
In this synergistic partnership, WALT member land trusts can accomplish more together than they could alone. Donate to WALT today to support our work to protect Puget Sound through collaboration!
The fourteen groups in the Collaborative represent all 12 of Washington’s Puget Sound counties: Bainbridge Island Land Trust, Capitol Land Trust, Forterra, Great Peninsula Conservancy, Jefferson Land Trust, Lummi Island Heritage Trust, Nisqually Land Trust, North Olympic Land Trust, San Juan Preservation Trust, Skagit Land Trust, The Trust for Public Land, Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust, Whatcom Land Trust and Whidbey Camano Land Trust.