Watershed groups in and around the Puget Sound and Kitsap Peninsula embody this philosophy in so many ways. And they do so… with passionate and proactive volunteerism.

Kitsap has a strong history of building partnerships to forge collaborative solutions on natural resource issues such as stormwater management, conservation, land use issues, low impact development, as well as numerous salmon habitat protection and restoration projects.

And while there is no shortage of work to be done in Kitsap watersheds; existing and emerging groups are out there to restore, protect, and advocate for the importance of preserving the best of our natural resources.

In Illahee…

In the last week of July, the Port of Illahee received final notification of an $181,000 grant award from the state Department of Ecology’s Centennial Clean Water Fund to determine how to control storm water in Illahee Creek and its subwatersheds.

“It’s fantastic! When you look at this grant relative to the size of our port with an annual budget of just $15-$20,000, well, that’s like a gift of $10 million to a large port district,” said an elated Don Deitch. Port commissioner since 1989, Deitch led the effort to convince the other commissioners to protect and restore the stream as a part of its commitment to the community. “I think this shows a strong community commitment and more walkin’ than talkin’ on our part.” Deitch jokingly accepts the title of “Troll of Illahee” as he also acts as the Harbormaster at the port.

Dennis Sheeran, elected to a 6-year term in 1999 and George Schaefer, elected in 2001, will manage the project along with Illahee Forest Stewardship member Jim Aho.

The Port and its community partners will develop a stormwater management plan to determine what improvements can be made to restore stream volumes and water quality, conduct monitoring, provide public education, and implementation of more natural stormwater strategies in coordination with the Illahee Forest Stewardship Group. The Illahee Forest Preserve’s Illahee Creek Salmon Restoration & Rearing Project NFWF and SRFB Funding of $20,000 to develop plans for the restoration of the reservoir on Illahee Creek to enhance riparian habitat is provided as local match to the port’s grant.

Some of the group’s other successes include; creation of the Illahee Preserve as a Heritage Park, a new culvert for Illahee Creek increasing the viability of salmon runs, and the recent purchase of approximately 90 acres of creek corridor lands using IAC’s WWRP Urban Wildlife grant money, adding to the existing 300 acres purchased from DNR. A primary and possibly secondary wildlife corridor between Illahee State Park and the Illahee Preserve is under consideration. These accomplishments, coupled with watching others in the county define themselves as unique subareas; have resulted in a resurgence of community pride, community activism, and community independence.

For further information on the grant projects and community plans you may contact Dennis Sheeran, 692-6971 or Jim Aho, 479-1049.

The Port and Illahee Community are celebrating their 90th Birthday in an event open to the public — Illahee Day! — will take place on Saturday, August 5th — 11 a.m. at the Illahee Dock with a Forest Preserve Trail Walk scheduled at 8 a.m. The East Bremerton Rotary Club, led by member Vic Ulsh, has contributed to the park over the past years as well. The Rotarians recently complemented the entry into the Illahee Preserve on Thompson Lane with the construction of picnic tables placed in an attractive natural setting for all to enjoy.

You may come to the Thompson Lane Entry into the Illahee Preserve, where you will be able to picnic beside the newly created walking trails. East Bremerton’s “Central Park” awaits your arrival, commented Judith Krigsman in a letter as she thanked the group for their efforts, adding “Thanks to the hard work of these caring volunteers, we now have a destination point that will take us back in time and remind all of us of the beauty of nature and a special place to share with our families.” The Illahee Forest Preserve is only moments away. Bring the family for a stroll through this Kitsap County Heritage Park — and don’t forget the picnic lunch.

If you would like to become a volunteer or tour the Illahee Preserve, please call the Preserve’s Stewardship Committee at (360) 479-1049. For more information and updates, visit the Illahee Community website launched on June 28th at www.illaheecommunity.com.

Greater Kitsap and Bremerton....

The recent formation of Kitsap Trees & Shoreline Association (KiTSA) on Earth Day 2006 was borne of a desire by three former active volunteer groups to be an advocate with a voice in the community — From seas to trees, to promote environmental education, advocacy, and action. KiTSA incorporated with the state and currently await 501 (c) (3) IRS determination. The initial focus will be on more forest protection and restoration, clean water projects, low impact development support, shoreline bike trails, and partnering efforts with other organizations and local governments.

The group’s goals include; to promote and improve Kitsap County communities by cultivating a public awareness and appreciation of trees, fostering community forestry programs, stimulating increased funding for acquisition and maintenance of new and existing trees and forests, and promoting partnerships with private enterprise and residents in the preservation and management of urban trees and forests, the enhancement and protection of habitat and water quality in the saltwater embayments and freshwater systems of Kitsap County, their shorelines, underwater parks, and the adjoining watersheds, to provide education to the public in support of these goals, to provide unified action to identify short and long-term habitat enhancement projects, and to facilitate communication and foster mutual support between various interest and user groups.

KiTSA recently partnered with the City of Bremerton’s Parks & Recreation Department in a proposal to develop Blueberry Park, providing donated trees, shrubs, groundcover, design services, and labor. The park is located on Sylvan Way adjacent to the Armin Jahr Elementary School.

For more information contact KiTSA’s president Mike Shepherd by email at marathonermike@comcast.net, Vice President Don Larson at kitsaptrees.don.larson@gmail.com or founding member Jim Trainer at atrainer92@hotmail.com.

In Central Kitsap...

Since its inception in 1993, The Chums of Barker Creek conducts educational and stewardship activities for Barker Creek and its tributaries, within the Dyes Inlet watershed of Puget Sound, working to conserve and steward a greenbelt in an urban growth area along Barker Creek on the Kitsap Peninsula. Founded at the time of the Open Space Levy movement, the property owners along the creek organized so they could be more effective in preserving the entire Barker Creek corridor/ecosystem. The increase of impervious surface and inadequate stormwater facilities of present and future development has been the major focus of their concerns.

With its goals of preserving the ecological, recreational and educational potentials of the area for future generations, this organization has become well known throughout the Kitsap Peninsula for actively addressing major threats to Barker Creek and ultimately to Dyes Inlet and Puget Sound. Its successes includes appealing a development proposal for townhouses and single family residences on a sensitive area of the Barker Creek ecosystem. Not only was the development stopped, but with the assistance of the leadership of Kitsap County, the 10 acre site was purchased for use as an outdoor classroom for several nearby schools.

Their hard work has resulted in millions of dollars being spent on restoration and acquisition projects in partnership with the Suquamish Tribe, Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group, and Kitsap County Facilities, Parks and Recreation. Among monitoring and restoration work, the group helped secure funds to acquire major parcels along this stream corridor and gained the necessary support to replace an inadequate culvert at the estuary funded by a $417,000 grant from the Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board and $83,000 in matching contributions.

With members that include property owners along the corridor as well as citizens throughout the county, they are often engaged in debates around county regulations including the Critical Areas Ordinance and enforcement. According to the Washington Environmental Council (WEC) Voices publication, one of the group’s major issues of concern is the need for an overall basin-protection plan rather than relying only on site-specific plans because a basin plan could help assess how increasing impervious surfaces affects aquifers and assess how inadequate stormwater facilities continue to degrade the water quality of the stream system. The Chums are also concerned that Kitsap County has not yet adopted the Department of Ecology Stormwater Manual. Doing so would help reverse this trend.

They have recently produced a video showing the creek in a healthy state and the situation caused by development and in the process of developing an Outdoor Classroom site on County property for use for students primarily living in the Central Kitsap School District. For more information contact Mary Bertrand, P.O. Box 111, Tracyton, Washington 98393-by telephone 360 698-4004, or email bcchums@aol.com.

In North Kitsap...

The Stillwaters Environmental Center and volunteer monitoring group, Cutthroats of Carpenter Creek, have made great strides in recovery, education through sustainability classes and other events, and takes a hands on approach when it comes to promoting good stewardship of our environment through public education. The EcoFest celebrating Earth Day is just one of the many educational events that take place at Stillwaters throughout the year. You may keep up on current events at the website hosted by www.kitsap.biz.

“For five years their water monitoring efforts in the creek have resulted in data that is accepted by the state. It is extremely difficult and requires a strong commitment to conduct that level of work every month,” said Cindy Nevins, a volunteer with the group, “I think it’s important because the local and state budgets don’t have the resources to do this. It shows the real dynamics of volunteerism.”

Contact either Naomi Maasberg or Joleen Palmer at the Stillwaters Environmental Center, which is located at 26059 Barber Cut Off Road in Kingston WA 98346, 360-297-2876 or naomi@stillwatersenvironmentalcenter.org and joleen@stillwatersenvironmentalcenter.org.

Statewide...

The Washington Environmental Council (WEC) working with Washington Conservation Voters (WCV) in a Legislative Partnership has been instrumental in developing and implementing the environmental community’s winning strategy in recent years. With over 3,500 members statewide, WEC is a strong voice for Washington’s environment.

More than a dozen organizations, including many Kitsap groups, now work to elevate priorities and implement coordinated strategies throughout the session. WEC is one of the leaders in the effort to defeat I-933 claiming that this extreme initiative will cost taxpayers millions of dollars, create loopholes for irresponsible development, and make traffic even worse.

The WEC is currently involved in regular communication with the West Sound Conservation Council and Kitsap Partners in a collaborative effort within the environmental community to focus on issues important to this area. You can find more information about WEC on their website and join over 1,000 others in their action network GreenTree by signing up at www.wecprotects.org.