Site inspection with DNR-ALEA officials (L to R) Monica Durkin, Kathleen Byrne-Barrantes, Pat McCullough, Bob Brandow, Paul Dorn, and Jim Bolger

After coursing through written proposals, presentations, formal evaluation and top ranking by the Department of Natural Resources Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA) Technical Review Committee (TRC), an independent panel, the clean up of Sinclair Inlet leads the pack. Selected out of 70 some grant proposals throughout Washington State, this project ranks as the top dog.

Ironically, Commissioner Jan Angel received the news while attending the Governors Economic Development Summit in Spokane. “I am very excited! We’re Number 1... YES!” she replied in an email.

Back in April, Angel proposed the master plan and redevelopment of the Sinclair Inlet in Gorst commissioning Kitsap County’s contract consultant, Kathleen Byrne-Barrantes of Grant-Solutions, to seek grant funding on their behalf.

Conceptual design of ALEA funded acquisition and development project

The Kitsap Regional Economic Development Council (KREDC) identified several deterrents to higher end businesses locating here, citing image problems, aesthetics, traffic, and access related to the “gateway” community of Gorst. In fact, it’s said “all roads lead to Gorst” while it remains the most unattractive and economically impacted area of the county.

Touted as a solution to stimulate economic development, a model for sustainable development while enhancing the environment, this revitalization symbolizes that classic win-win with no compromise.

Begun as an initiative by the Bremerton Port Commission late last year, the conceptual vision was largely theirs and that of Pat McCullough of Engineering Services Associates (ESA). Retained by the Port for the design and securing of $318,000 funding through the Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB), McCullough has seen that spark become a virtual inferno.

The state DNR-ALEA grant of $671,393 acquired by Kitsap County will leverage funding from the US-EPA Brownfields environmental clean-up grant of $210,000, the Port’s grant and others to see through the completion of the first phase of that vision with nearly $2 million in combined financial efforts. It won’t cost Kitsap County a dime.

Phase 1 will consist of acquiring 7 parcels, adding 13 acres to property already owned by the Port of Bremerton, Kitsap County, Washington State Department of Transportation and abandoned or idle industrial land. This project will create a passive use public park at the intersection of state highways 16 and 3 near Bremerton consisting of 8,000 linear feet of waterfront, 104 acres of uplands, incorporating connective trails, viewpoints and shoreline access. This will provide opportunities for passive beach walking, and launching/beaching of small watercraft such as kayaks. Riparian acquisitions will also tie in to efforts to protect Gorst creek’s salmon runs while providing integrated environmental learning experiences to the public.

The Port of Bremerton has passed a resolution to add an additional 112 acres of tidal flats, valued at nearly $400,000, and applying its own funds of nearly $80,000 to complete the “Sinclair Inlet-Gorst Estuary Wildlife Preserve” concept. They will also lead in the restoration of the northern shoreline beginning early next spring.

Partnerships have grown to include the City of Bremerton, Suquamish Tribe, WDFW, U.S. Navy, Kitsap Trees, Washington Scuba Alliance, Kitsap Divers Association, Mid-Sound Salmon Enhancement Group, People for Puget Sound, and join in the Gorst Creek restoration supported by the city, Pogey Club, KC Stream Team and several local community volunteers.

DNR-ALEA officials met with project partners, consultants and others during a scheduled site visit on Sept.16. Bob Brandow, ALEA program director, John Boettner, DNR Scientist, Courtney Wasson and Monica Durkin, DNR Land Managers, inspected the site and queried the project panel team on how they would meet the expectations of the agency.

In attendance were Darryl Piercy, Rick Kimball (Kitsap County Department of Community Development), Joseph Coppo (Kitsap County Parks), Jim Bolger (Director of Kitsap County Natural Resources), Paul Dorn (Suquamish tribe), Ken Attebery (POB), and consultants Peter Batuello (Parametrix), McCullough (ESA) and Byrne-Barrantes (Grant-Solutions).

Among their concerns was readiness to proceed, environmental clean-up status, mechanisms for measuring improvements over the biennium, monitoring marine system function, thresholds for success, number of fish returns/epibenthic production and providing long-term benefits to the public.

Darryl Piercy assured the agency their expectations would be met, offering “This project has something for everyone from a community perspective — the EDC to the most radical environmental groups with collective efforts from WSDOT, state agencies, and previous comprehensive plans. This watershed project will test sustainable development and long-term commitments on a landscape scale.”

Rick Kimball reflected, “This vision for Gorst was first proposed by a previous county commissioner nearly twenty years ago. That man, Bill Mahan, now sits on the Port of Bremerton commission to see this come to fruition.”

Paul Dorn, Salmon Recovery for the Suquamish Tribe, pointed to the enormous success of the Gorst Creek restoration, adding, “On a watershed basis, this project will bring up the shoreline estuary system necessary for fish recovery. Protecting and working with native species, providing the salinity gradient, forage fish and prey items such as copepods, amphipods, crab larvae salmon feed on and even the hatchery Chinook juveniles are fed on by the wild cutthroats with longer residence time in the estuary. Not to mention the significant sport fishery who will benefit.”

But the best part will be for people... won’t it be a lovely site?.