DESCRIPTION
Island County used this grant to coordinate data analysis for prioritizing shorelands for protection and for developing implementation plans. The work targeted priority nearshore processes and salmon habitats of small watersheds on Strawberry Point, Whidbey Island. The implementation plans include updating stewardship plans, increasing participation in conservation programs, prioritzing acquisitions, and identifying landowners willing to enter into conservation easement agreements. Strawberry Point is an important area for juvenile salmon, forage fish, sand lance, surf smelt, and eelgrass. The project included multiple partners and resulted in the following:
Herrera Environmental Consultants produced Assessment and Recommendations for Habitat Protection, Strawberry Point, Island County (2009).
Whidbey Camano Land Trust produced Strawberry Point Nearshore Protection Priorities Report, a prioritized list of parcels for outreach, and an improved conservation easement on a high priority property.
Whidbey Island Conservation District involved land owners in the Forest Stewardship Coached Planning Program; held farm planning workshops and targeted outreach to high priority; installed a low impact development demo project; held multiple LID education events; developed a model for future outreach to waterfront and bluff-top landowners.
Washington State University Extension developed ‘Shoreline Living Toolkits’ and provided them to landowners. The toolkits included educational booklets and a DVD on coastal biologic and geologic processes.
This project was a collaborative effort, and its success relied heavily on the partners’ coordinated efforts. Although the administrative effort for coordination was significant, Island County feels the project was a success and will result in future opportunities to serve the salmon recovery goals in WRIA 6.