WDFW Ecological Investigations Unit Biologists Doris Small, Hwa Kim and Chris Waldbillig haul in the nets for analysis

“Gorste’ or perhaps Pleasantville,” remarked Kitsap County Commissioner Jan Angel, on the notion of a NEW AND IMPROVED Gorst. Following an initiative given birth late last year by the Bremerton Port Commission, Angel took the reins and subsequently proposed a master plan for the redevelopment and concurrent restoration of Sinclair Inlet to the board of commissioners in their April 3 meeting.

The revitalization plan is a culmination of previous comprehensive plans, private-public partnerships, conservancy plans, Mosquito Fleet Trail system, shoreline property reclamation, Brownfields environmental clean-up efforts, and is a flexible redevelopment opportunity with site remediation. It also creates more taxable property. The program as a whole promises to stimulate economic development, alleviate traffic, restore habitat, enhance public access, recycle abandoned and idle industrial land and improve water quality.

Crew members Barrantes, WDFW's Mark Carr, Hwa Kim, Chris Wialdbillig and Doris Small pack up gear for the seining expedition

As Peter Battuelo of Parametrix Engineering explained; “The project will take the approach of identifying and prioritizing the eight projects total, organize the stakeholders, engage the community and… seek funding.”

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Suquamish tribe, and U.S. Navy began seining operations in the Sinclair Inlet shoreline and estuary. “This full year study will determine the types of fish, food and prey, predation, and migration of juvenile salmon in the estuary. It is a major passage way and nursery for Chinook, Coho, Chum Salmon and Searun Cutthroat trout entering and leaving Gorst Creek, the largest tributary draining to Sinclair Inlet.” said Chris Waldbillig, fisheries biologist for WDFW. “This will help us understand more about primary habitat, when the Gorst Creek hatchery Chinook migrate out and their residence time in the estuary,” added Paul Dorn, Suquamish Salmon Recovery Coordinator.

“The Sinclair ecosystem is one of the most valuable assets in Kitsap County. This estuary, with its shallow littoral zone, is a warm and fertile habitat rich in protozoa and phytoplankton — this creates so much energy for sealife,” Said Pat McCullough of ESA Engineering Consultants, who was retained by the Port of Bremerton for the design and securing of $318,000 funding through the State Salmon Recovery Funding Board.

The Port of Bremerton, Parametrix, ESA Engineering Consultants, Grant-Solutions for Kitsap County, Bruce Dees Landscape Architecture and Urban Design have been meeting on a weekly basis tasked with the acquisition work, grant proposals and funding matches to leverage the mitigation and existing grant funds. Proposals have been made to the National Marine Fisheries Service and the DNR Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account.

This project will enhance and restore estuary and wetlands, establish conservancy district and marine reserve while leveraging against other coordinated projects in the area, including future plans for a Marine Protected Area (MPA).

The Port of Bremerton plans to donate up to 75 acres of tidal flats and lead in the restoration of the Eastern most 1500 feet of the northern shoreline. Kitsap County, U.S. Navy, Suquamish Indian tribe, City of Bremerton, Washington Scuba Alliance, Kitsap Divers Association, Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Washington Departments of Fish & Wildlife and Ecology, People for Puget Sound, Mid-Sound Salmon Enhancement Group, several local community clubs, schools and watershed groups will partner to clean-up, restore habitat, recover shoreline, construct trail systems, and place interpretive signs.

These organizations, agencies and local governments reflect the tremendous diversity that exists within the Sinclair Inlet Restoration movement. This will establish an effective estuary habitat restoration partnership at all levels of government and between the public and private sector.

The Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team May 2002 environmental trends report points to the number of people and their impact on natural resources as the primary environmental challenge facing the Puget Sound. The full report can be viewed at: http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/cppl/gbpsei/index.html

“Perhaps the most challenging issue is the same one facing all federal, state and local government organizations — budget,” said Scott Redman, the Action Team’s chair. “These agencies are faced with serious concerns about carrying on their vital work to protect marine life and to ensure the safety of shellfish harvested from the Sound’s waters.” In its 2002 session, the legislature cut some funding for several marine monitoring, management and recovery plans in the Puget Sound.

Restoration of this estuary is critical to the vitality of Sinclair Inlet’s ecosystem and will encourage people to preserve, protect and help create more beneficial estuarine habitat. Not to mention what it will mean to Kitsap County’s gateway... lovely Gorst.