County hosts meetings on nearshore salmon assessment
Published 5:00 pm Thursday, July 26, 2007
North End residents are invited to open house meetings to learn more about the East Kitsap Nearshore Salmon Habitat Assessment, scheduled at 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Aug. 7 in the Poulsbo library, 700 NE Lincoln Street, and Aug. 22 in the Kingston Community Center, 11212 Highway 104.
From the Kitsap-Pierce county line to Foulweather Bluff in Hansville, teams of scientists are walking along the 156 miles of saltwater beaches of east Kitsap County through October, collecting data on nearshore salmon habitat. These beaches will be given individual scores based on the biological and physical landscape types observed, and projected into a model that allows them to further identify and prioritize restoration and conservation opportunities.
The assessment is headed by Kitsap County’s Natural Resources Division with support from the Suquamish Tribe, the University of Washington Sea Grant Program and Battelle Marine Sciences Laboratory.
Along with updated information on the progress of the assessment work, the open houses offer opportunities to learn about marine shoreline environment, providing landowners with resources on the functions, values and nature of their shoreline and with stewardship activities for preserving and restoring private and public marine shorelines and estuaries.
Paid for by a grant by the Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board with additional staff and resources from the Suquamish Tribe, the project consists of up to three scientists per team equipped with portable Global Positioning System units and digital cameras to record natural and man-made beach characteristics. Conducted by both boat and beach walking, the information gathered will provide the best available science on the health of the shoreline. This work will be done at a fairly brisk walking pace since time and optimum low tides are limited.
Informational letters and brochures are being mailed to waterfront property owners prior to the scheduled arrival of the assessment teams visiting their area.
Additional information can be found www.kitsapgov.com/dcd/nr/nearshore/default.htm, or contact Jeff Adams of Washington Sea Grant, (360) 337-4619, jaws@u.washington.edu or Val Koehler, Kitsap County Natural Resources Division stream team coordinator, at (360) 337-4601, vkoehler@co.kitsap.wa.us.
