Sustaining
our region's quality of life, environmental health and economic vitality
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Creating
a
linked system of
publicly-owned
trails,
protected
marine & upland habitats,
and
sustainably managed forests.
Saving
Special Places
Kitsap
Forest & Bay Project
is targeting
6,690 acres in five
large
tracts for conservation.
This biologically
rich landscape includes shorelines, tidelands, wetlands, and upland
forests in the Port Gamble Bay watershed and beyond. The five tracts
include:
Port
Gamble Upland Block -
3316
acres
Port
Gamble Shoreline Block -
564 acres,
including 1.8 miles of shoreline
Hansville
Block - 1784 acres
Divide
Block - 664 acres
Park
Expansion Block - 366 acres
You
Can Help!
Sign
up to save the land!
Add your name
to our growing list of supporters.
Volunteer
Have fun and
support a great cause by helping us plan and coordinate outreach activities.
Tell
your friends and family
Encourage them
to get involved!
Join
us on facebook
Stay up-to-date
on the latest news and events.
Sound
to Olympics Trail
The Sound to
Olympics Trail is a planned paved shared-use path that will link the
Kitsap Forest & Bay Project to north Kitsap communities and, via
ferries and bridges, to the Burke-Gilman and the Olympic Discovery Trails.
Port
Gamble Trail Map
Get
Involved!
.
Kitsap
Forest & Bay Coalition invites community and business organizations
from Kitsap County and greater Puget Sound to become involved.
The
Coalition meets monthly to share project updates and develop strategies
for advancing the Kitsap Forest & Bay Project. Contact our Coalition
Chair.
Support
Kitsap Forest & Bay Project's outreach efforts and wear one of our
t-shirts or sweatshirts proudly when you're on the trails or in town:
http://bit.ly/XYvYgR
Kitsap
Forest & Bay Coaltion
Resolution
on
Timber Harvest:
In
order to further the goal of preserving the 7,000 acres of the Kitsap
Forest & Bay Project for the public forever, we encourage the KFBP
Principals to explore the idea of allowing Pope Resources (or its successor)
an additional timber harvest rotation to decrease land acquisition costs,
while replanting a mix of native species and transitioning to a sustainably
managed forest.
Kitsap
Forest & Bay Coalition, January 23, 2013 (Resolution passed unanimously)
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Kitsap
Forest & Bay Project
Kitsap
Forest & Bay Project is a community-wide effort to conserve nearly
7,000 acres of forest and 1.8 miles of shoreline on the Kitsap Peninsula
of Washington's Puget Sound. With Port Gamble Bay at its heart,
the land has been used to grow trees and produce lumber since 1853.
The landowner, Pope Resources – a timber company, wants to move
out of this urbanizing region at the tip of Hood Canal. Recognizing
the value of their lands for public recreation, wildlife habitat and
cultural sustenance, the company has given the community an incredible
opportunity to determine the land's future.
But,
time is running out...the community's option to purchase the land expires
in March 2014. At that time, Pope Resources will pursue other
options for disposing of its land.
See
the whole project at a glance:
Kitsap
Forest & Bay Project Fact Sheet.
Kitsap
Forest & Bay Coalition
Kitsap
Forest & Bay Coalition is a collaboration of community and business
organizations that has mobilized to advance the Kitsap Forest &
Bay Project. Working as a group and independently, Coalition Partners
support efforts of the Project Principals (Kitsap County, Pope Resources,
Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, and Suquamish Tribe) and fundraising leader
(Forterra) to conserve the land.
The
Coalition's task is to: rally community support, help
advance public and private funding efforts, integrate community voices
into the conservation strategy, and participate in long-term land stewardship.
A
Treasure for all Generations
Conservation
of Kitsap Forest & Bay Project lands will help sustain our region's
quality of life, envirnomental health, and economic vitality in myriad
ways.
| Preserve
open space for public use and enjoyment
Protect Port Gamble Bay and its watershed
Preserve healthy Puget Sound shorelines
Protect
our water quality and supply
Conserve wildlife habitat
Provide
the economic benefits of a multi-use community forest and eco-recreation
hub |
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|
Coalition
Partners
.
Back Country
Horsemen, Olympic Chapter
City of
Bainbridge Island
City of
Poulsbo
Evergreen
Mountain Bike Alliance, West Sound Chapter
Forterra
Friends
of Miller Bay
Great Peninsula Conservancy
Hansville Greenway Association
Hood
Canal Coordinating Council
Hood
Canal Environmental Council
Indianola
Beach Improvement Club
Kitsap Audubon Society
Kitsap Citizens for Responsible Planning
Kitsap Conservation Voters
Kitsap County
Kitsap
Regional Coordinating Council
North Kitsap Trails Association
Pope
Resources / Olympic Property Group
Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe
Puget
Sound Partnership
Smyth
Lumber Mill
Sports
Safety and Education Association
Stillwaters
Environmental Center
Suquamish Tribe
Sustainable Kitsap
Visit Kitsap
Peninsula
Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife
Washington
State Legislative District 23:
Senator Christine Rolfes
Representative Sherry Appleton
Representative Drew Hansen
West Sound Conservation Council
West Sound
Cycling Club
WSU Kitsap
County Extension
West Sound
Wildlife Shelter
.
And
your group to our list!
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Kitsap
Forest & Bay Project in the news:
| Forest
& Bay purchase celebrated – North Kitsap Herald –
Richard Oxley – April 25, 2014 |
| Purchase
completed: Kitsap County acquires 535 acres of forestland, 1.5 miles
of shoreline from Pope Resources – North Kitsap Herald
– February 12, 2104 |
| Kitsap
County acquires Port Gamble Bay shoreline – Kitsap Sun
– Christopher Dunagan – February 12, 2014 |
| Watching
Our Water Ways: Kitsap County acquires prime forst, shoreline
– Kitsap Sun – Christopher Dunagan – February
12, 2014 |
| Press
Release: Kitsap County Protects Port Gamble Shoreline, 535 Acres
of Forestland, February 12, 2014 |
| Funding
still in flux for coalition's land conserservation goals –
Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal – Tim Kelly – October
2, 2013 |
| Heritage
Park will be Expanded – North Kitsap Herald – Richard
Walker – September 6, 2013 |
| Sale
agreement reached for North Kitsap Heritage Park expansion –
Kitsap Sun – Christopher Dunagan – September 5, 2013 |
| Plan
in place for $7M in cleanup for Port Gamble Bay – Kitsap
Sun – Christopher Dunagan – September 4, 2013 |
| $14M
awarded for Port Gamble land, shoreline – Kingston Community
News – July 26, 2013 |
| State
grant bridges final funding gap for North Kitsap park expansion
– Kitsap Sun – Tristan Baurick – July 17, 2013 |
| After
shoreline deal, what's next? Coalition pushing for acquistion
of forestland in bay's watershed – Kitsap Peninsula Business
Journal – Tim Kelly – July 2, 2013 |
| Kitsap
Forest & Bay cause to celebrate – Kingston Community
News – Noo-Kayet, Our Village – Jeromy Sullivan –
July 1, 2013 |
| Our
View: senate needed for monumental step – Kitap Sun –
June 1, 2013 |
| A
big step for Kitsap Forest & Bay Project –In Our Opinion
– North Kitsap Herald – May 30, 2013 |
| Martha
Kongsgaard, Puget Sound Partnership Chair, Purchase & Sale agreement
signing for Port Gamble Bay Shoreline, May 30, 2013: "This
morning's signing is a milestone and forms the beginning of a response
to this ongoing central challenge of our time." |
| Forterra
signs purchase and sale agreement for Port Gamble shoreline block
– North Kitsap Herald – May 30, 2013 |
| First
part of longtime NK land deal comes together – Kitsap
Sun – Christopher Dunagan – May 29, 2013 |
| Coalition
has one year to close on purchase of forestland, shoreline –
Kingston Community News – Megan Stephenson – March 29,
2013 |
| Deal
struck to preserve peninsula shoreline and forestland –
KUOW EarthFix – Ashley Ahearn – May 29, 2013 |
| Huge
forestland deal coming together in North Kitsap – Kitsap
Sun – Christopher Dunagan – March 28, 2013 |
| Forterra
moves closer to saving Port Gamble's sweetest forests –
Crosscut – Daniel Jack Chasan – March 28, 2013 |
| Pope,
DOE reach agreement on final cleanup – North Kitsap Herald
– Richard Walker – March 28, 2013 |
| $9
million for shoreline restoration at risk in docks dispute –
Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal – Tim Kelly – February
26, 2013 |
| Editor's
View: A lot at stake in standoff over Port Gamble mill site cleanup
– Kitsap Business Journal – Tim Kelly – February
23, 2013 |
| In
our opinion: Pope must agree to cleanup plan it made with DOE
– North Kitsap Herald – February 22, 2013 |
| Funds
in jeopardy in Pope, DOE spat – North Kitsap Herald –
Richard Walker, Megan Stephenson and Kipp Robertson – February
22, 2013 |
| Pope:
Permit before removal – North Kitsap Herald – Megan
Stephenson – February 14, 2013 |
| Watching
our Water Ways: Port Gamble Bay restoration stuck in dilemma
– Kitsap Sun – Chris Dunagan – February 13, 2013 |
| Ecology-Port
Gamble deal appears to be in trouble – Kitsap Sun –
Christopher Dunagan – February 12, 2013 |
| Kitsap
Forest & Bay Project awarded $1 million – North Kitsap
Herald – January 30, 2013 |
| $1
million federal grant will buy Port Gamble shoreline –
Kitsap Sun – Christopher Dunagan – January 29, 2013 |
| Deadline
nears for option on NK land – North Kitsap Herald –
Richard Walker – January 24, 2013 |
| Can
two men save thousands of acres of Kitsap Peninsula forest?
– Crosscut – Joshua Zaffos – November 30, 2012 |
| Future
of town, forests taking shape in plans for Port Gamble –
Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal – Tim Kelly – August
2012 |
| Stottlemeyer
race draws more than 300 riders –North Kitsap Herald –
May 22, 2012 |
Endurance
mountain bikers invade Port Gamble
Area is becoming a prime spot for long-distance mountain bikers
– Kitsap Sun – Tad Sooter – May 20, 2012 |
| Shoreline
Money Is In, Purchase On Hold – North Kitsap Herald –
Richard Walker – April 27, 2012 |
| Bay
Project Forages for Funds – North Kitsap Herald –
Megan Stephenson – April 27, 2012 |
| Governor
Gregoire Gives Kitsap Forest & Bay Conservation Effort a Big
Boost – Inside Bainbridge – Julie Hall – April
8, 2012 |
| Kitsap
Peninsula Site of Puget Sound's Biggest Conservation Opportunity
– Inside Bainbridge – Julie Hall – March 26, 2012 |
| Kitsap
Forest & Bay Project: So close, but still so far to go –
North Kitsap Herald – Richard Walker – March 16, 2012 |
| Port
Gamble Clean Up Might Benefit in Olympia Budgets - Kitsap Sun
- John Stang - March 11, 2012 |
| Passage
of forest tax bill in Olympia keeps effort to protect NK land on
track - Kitsap Sun - Christopher Dunagan - March 7, 2012 |
| Commissioner's
Corner - Rob Gelder - March 6, 2012 |
|
Pieces
coming together for Kitsap Forest & Bay
Kitsap Sun - Watching
Our Waterways - Chris Dunagan - Dec 31, 2011 |
Clock’s
Ticking On Innovative Land Deal Near Seattle
KUOW - Ashley Ahearn - Dec 29, 2011 |
| Field
Notes: 7,000 acres for sale in Seattle's backyard
KUOW – Dec 12, 2011 |
Land
conservation effort is challengeing but exciting
Kingston Community News
– Jeromy Sullivan– Nov 23, 2011 |
| North
Kitsap forestland deal could protect 7,000 acres
Kitsap
Sun - Oct 19, 2011 |
| Can
We Protect & Conserve 7,000 Acres of Prime Forestland in North
Kitsap?
Out and About in North
Kitsap - County Commissioner Rob Gelder - Oct 2011
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| Conservation
Group Given Chance to Buy Port Gamble Forestlands
The Seattle Times -
Oct 19, 2011
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Fundraising
Begins: Conservancy and Pope Resources Unveil Option Agreement
on 7,000 acres in North Kitsap
North Kitsap Herald
- Oct 19, 2011
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