Au Sable-Pacific Rim is 175 acres located on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound near the mid-point between Vancouver, British Columbia and Seattle, Washington. The Olympic Mountain Range lies to the west and a great marine estuary to the east. Au Sable - Pacific Rim is on a former state game farm and includes a rare remnant glacial outwash prairie. Nearby, tide pools display a remarkable array of sea life at low tide and coastal cliffs rise along the eastern boundary of the Pacific Ocean. Orca whales and harbor seals, flocks of feeding shore birds, abundant marine invertebrates and diverse sea plants, and scores of Bald Eagles are among the myriad of creatures that can be observed on site. Environmental resources in the region are remarkably abundant and diverse. From forest to the sea, from desert to rain forest, from sea level to mountain heights there is overwhelmingly wondrous life. Of particular significance in the region are Olympic National Park, the Ebey's Landing Historical Preserve, North Cascades National Park, and numerous marine laboratories within Puget Sound. The climate at Au Sable-Pacific Rim is one of only 18 inches annual rainfall, comfortable temperatures, and pleasant ocean breezes. Summer days are comfortable, biting insects are minimal, and conditions are excellent for conducting work in the field. January is cold but not bitter, with minimal snow and brisk winds off the Sound.


Restoration Goals: The first goal is to do a thorough inventory of the site, including the present biota and the biological and cultural history of the area. A high priority is to improve the quality and extent of the remnant outwash prairie. The buffer to the forest edge on the north will also need restorative management. In addition to the landscape, the resident buildings will need considerable maintenance and development to 'plant' a campus amenable for environmental study and research that blends into the natural landscape.