DESCRIPTION
The Lower Snow Creek Protection and Outreach will focus on the section of Snow Creek located immediately downstream of the Snow Creek Uncas bridge. One landowner has already contacted Jefferson Land Trust to discuss protection and restoration options for their 13-acre Snow Creek property located off of West Uncas Road just downstream of the Snow Creek Uncas bridge. The property consists of 5 tax parcels and approximately 1450 ft of riparian habitat and Snow Creek mainstem runs along the eastern edge of the property (in and out of the property boundary). About 15 years ago North Olympic Salmon Coalition planted a riparian buffer (perhaps 40ft wide total) and has been maintaining it about 3x/year. Except for the plantings most of the riparian buffer is older deciduous trees except for a few exceptional, large Stika spruce along this stretch of Snow Creek. Seven other private property owners have land in this reach of the creek and will be contacted to determine interest in land protection tools, including conservation easements or fee simple acquisition of missing links in this reach, as well as willingness to partake in Snow Creek restoration and/or remenadering.
Jefferson Land Trust (JLT) is applying for the acquisition of 6.75 acres in Jefferson County in the Snow Creek watershed. The nearly 7-acre Munn property is located in unincorporated Port Townsend south of Discovery Bay at Snow Creek rivermile 1.3-1.6. In addition to the Munn acquisition goal, JLT is planning to conduct outreach to eight adjacent landowners who own property along Snow Creek just west of U.S. Hwy 101. The goal of outreach and planning to these eight neighboring landowners is to identify their interest and willingness to participate in permanent protection of their properties and restoration of their section of Snow Creek. Two watershed assessments have already been conducted (Snow Creek Watershed Assessment, 2019; Lower Snow-Salmon Assessment, 2024) which provide fantastic data and analysis on ideal restoration outcomes for this stretch of the Snow Creek watershed. With Salmon Recovery Funding Board funds, Jefferson Land Trust's goal is to work with regional Chumsortium partners to identify the most beneficial acquisition and restoration plan in this small stretch, in relation to the entire watershed's existing and planned restoration efforts. Relationships developed by JLT with these landowners will allow Chumsotium partners to determine the most likely restoration outcomes for Snow Creek downstream. JLT also aims to permanently protect the 6.75-acre portion of the Munn property whose landowners are strong supporters of enhancing their salmon habitat.
