This is an evolving resource page accompanying the Herald’s Ghost Stream series.

Water typing maps — created by the state Department of Natural Resources and relied on by most local governments for safeguarding stream habitat — are widely inaccurate and incomplete. A creek mapped in the wrong place or missed entirely may not receive the development buffers and protections it should under state law. By the same token, a non-existent stream erroneously marked as “fish bearing” can be a headache for property owners.

• The Department of Natural resources discusses water typing maps on its forest practices website. Find mapped streams in your area on DNR’s mapping page (first disable your browser’s popup blocker).
• The Wild Fish Conservancy makes its stream maps and data available online. See an example from Mason County here. Maps from the group’s work in North Kitsap will be available in coming months.