Author: BILT Admin

24 Jun Strategic Land Use at the Heart of Land Trust and Housing Resources Partnership

Cullen Brady and Phedra Elliott — Guest Column in Kitsap Sun   Two years ago, when Housing Resources Bainbridge (HRB) and the Bainbridge Island Land Trust co-wrote a newsletter article which explored our interest in one another’s work and our still-nascent partnership, a supporter of both organizations wrote to thank us. The partnership, she said, “presents a stronger response,” eliminating “the need to choose.” She is not alone. We are heartened by the number of islanders supporting both organizations, a testament to an increasingly sophisticated understanding of our community’s need for both affordable housing and environmental protection. Earlier this year, HRB and the Land Trust announced a joint project that will combine the two interests. The Land Trust acquired three contiguous 5-acre parcels of undeveloped land along Lovgreen Road near Highway 305. The Land Trust evaluates all potential acquisitions using a conservation values index which identifies areas with the highest ecological attributes, such as healthy habitat, the presence of wetlands, or importance as a wildlife corridor, and directs its finite resources to purchase and restore land with the greatest value. The Lovgreen property was notable for its relatively intact forest within a larger band of connected forested habitat. But the property stood out for another reason too. A portion of one parcel fronting the road demonstrated signs of recent human activity with younger vegetation and invasive species — presenting an opportunity for partnership with HRB. The Land Trust will sell this small section to HRB, where in a few years, HRB will develop a cluster of small single-family homes consistent with existing zoning and affordable housing policy. Like any other HRB development, these homes will be affordable to low-income households as defined by HUD, and they will be kept permanently affordable to eligible households through price regulation and income qualification….

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15 Apr Critical Landscape Activities for Birds and Pollinators Event

Join us for an exploration into the beauty and functionality of native landscaping with native plant landscape designer and restoration ecologist, Anna Thurston. Prepare to be inspired as Anna shares her expertise and passion for native plants, revealing their transformative potential for your landscape while fostering biodiversity and supporting local wildlife populations.   Critical Landscape Activities for the Benefit of Birds and Pollinators May 25th, 2024 11:00am-3:00pm 11:00am – 12:30pm Learn plant identification on the trails 1:00pm – 3:00pm Presentation/Q&A with Anna Thurston Bookings and consultations available with Anna before and after the event   To register for this event, CLICK HERE. Presentation Highlights: Enlightening Insights: Gain valuable knowledge about the fascinating world of native plants; including soil preparation, ecological significance and the benefits of sustainable landscaping practices. Practical Tips: Discover tips and techniques for integrating native plants into your landscape design, enhancing aesthetics and sustainability. Q&A Session: Engage with Anna during a Q&A session, where you can seek personalized advice and insights. Pre-Presentation Native Plant Identification Walk: Before the presentation, you can join a guided walk through the Grand Forest. Explore local flora on this unique excursion, gaining insight into native plants and their ecological significance in their natural habitat Who Should Attend: Whether you’re a seasoned gardener, a nature enthusiast, or curious about native landscaping, this event is for you! All are welcome to join us for an enriching experience that promises to inspire and empower. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about our native plants and the benefits to wildlife. Reserve your place today and take the first step towards creating a thriving ecosystem right in your own backyard! Reserve your spot today! Space will fill up quickly – reserve your spot today! Unlock the potential of native plants and transform your landscape with their beauty and benefits….

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28 Mar Celebrate Earth Month with the Land Trust

We invite you to celebrate Earth Month with the Bainbridge Island Land Trust! We will be taking action throughout the month of April to support wildlife habitat on the Island, so mark your calendars to join us for these exciting events: Please join us on Wednesday, April 3rd from 9 – 11 AM at Springbrook Creek Preserve for our First Wednesday Work Party! We will be removing Scotch broom and preparing the Preserve for opening later this spring! Please register here. On Saturday, April 20th from 10am-2pm stop by our booth at the Bainbridge Island Farmer’s Market and learn about the different ways we are working to conserve and restore Bainbridge Island habitats. On Sunday, April 21st and Sunday, April 28th from 10 AM – 4 PM, we invite you to bring your invasive weeds to the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station for our FREE invasive weed disposal event. Invasive plant targets are Scotch broom, English holly, English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, tansy ragwort, English laurel, and the noxious weeds on King County’s “Noxious Weed” list. Learn more here. On Saturday, April 27th from 10 AM – 2 PM, stop by our table at the 2024 Earth Day Expo at Battle Point Park. We will be partnering with IslandWood to demonstrate iNaturalist as part of the City Nature Challenge! A calendar of all Earth Month events on Bainbridge Island is available here.  

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07 Mar Free Invasive Weed Disposal Days are Here!

Sundays, April 21st and 28th from 10 am to 4 pm. We’re here to help you get your yard in order with two days of FREE Invasive Weed Disposal! Bring your weeds to the transfer station and the Land Trust will cover the cost of disposal. Invasive plant targets are Scotch broom, English holly, English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, tansy ragwort, English laurel, and the noxious weeds on Kitsap County’s “Noxious Weed” list. Please do not mix in non-invasive yard waste. For questions about whether or not something will be accepted, email Andrew Fraser, Land Trust Stewardship Manager, or call (206) 842-1216. Invasive plant species are one of the leading causes of vegetation biodiversity loss. They spread quickly and can displace native plants, prevent new native plant growth, and create monocultures. Lack of diversity among native plants reduces the quality and quantity of fish and wildlife habitat. Remove your invasives now while the ground is soft and make room for native plants come fall and winter when the weather is best for planting! You can also report noxious weeds at Kitsap1 online. The resources listed below may be able to help you identify and manage small instances of noxious weeds on your own. If you have or know of a larger noxious weed infestation, please reach out to Kitsap County’s Noxious Weed Control Program Coordinator, Jade Jarvis, at [email protected]. Resources: The Land Trust’s Invasive Weed Primer Jeannette Franks’ Despicable 6 Kitsap County Noxious Weed List 2024 Kitsap County Noxious Weed Service Providers Bainbridge Island Cooperative Weed Management Area Priority Weeds A special thanks to Bainbridge Disposal for helping facilitate this important event.

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13 Nov Critical Salmon Habitat Restored at Springbrook Creek Preserve

Another win in the recovery of threatened and endangered species such as Puget Sound Steelhead.   In a landmark restoration effort, the Bainbridge Island Land Trust has restored a critical section of Springbrook Creek by removing an underground culvert to allow free fish passage through Springbrook Creek Preserve. The restoration efforts were made possible through the support of dedicated volunteers, partners, and neighbors.       This September, volunteers helped prepare 800 biodegradable bags of soil that were strategically placed to stabilize the streambank while native plants take hold. Port Madison Enterprises and Wild Fish Conservancy played a pivotal role in ensuring the project’s success. After removing the culvert, the Land Trust installed a 30-foot-long pedestrian bridge over the stream, allowing the creek to flow freely. This bridge will provide future public access across the stream.       The Glanzrock family, who reside near the Preserve, expressed their excitement with the results of the project, stating, “We have been happy working together with the Land Trust to protect the 23 acres of wetland and wildlife habitat now known as Springbrook Creek Preserve. Over the years, as parcels of land have been divided and built upon it’s satisfying to know that another large tract of Bainbridge Island will be kept mostly wild and undeveloped.”     The 23-acre Preserve was strategically chosen following a multi-year stream assessment, and conserved through the Stand for the Land movement in 2019. The Springbrook Creek Watershed Assessment identified future restoration opportunities within the nearly 1,000-acre watershed, such as removing other fish passage barriers and enhancing stream habitats.     Springbrook Creek (which drains into Fletcher Bay on the west side of the Island) is important in a region-wide context. Its protection is a priority of the Puget Sound Partnership Action Agenda, which is the…

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15 Sep Join us for the 2023 Native Plant Sale!

Mark your calendars for the Bainbridge Island Land Trust’s annual Native Plant Sale! Saturday, October 7th Bainbridge First Baptist Church – 8810 Madison Ave NE 9 am – 10 am: Member Early Access* 10 am – 12 pm: Open Sale *Not a member? No problem! You can become a member at the event or donate online.   Please visit the Native Plant Sale event page to learn more.   Interested in volunteering to help with the Native Plant Sale, or have wheelbarrows to lend? Please Sign Up Here or email Thea at [email protected]

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14 Sep Breaking Ground at Springbrook Creek Preserve

We have broken ground on our stream restoration project at Springbrook Creek Preserve! We are removing a full fish passage barrier culvert, and enhancing the stream habitat as part of this project. Check out our time-lapse videos of our progress day by day! Thanks to our partners from Port Madison Enterprises Construction Company, Wild Fish Conservancy, and our dedicated neighbors Jeff Glanzrock and Kathy Levine who are working with us on this project. Thanks too to our dedicated volunteers who helped prepare 800 coir bags of soil that will be used along the streambank as part of restoration efforts. The bags will be placed along the stream, planted, and will help stabilize the bank while vegetation matures. The goal of the project is to allow fish access to excellent rearing habitat in the preserve, and improve stream habitat on both the preserve and the neighboring property. After the culvert is removed we will install a 30-foot pedestrian bridge over the stream, allowing the creek to flow freely. This bridge will provide public and stewardship access across the stream. These initiatives reflect our commitment to conserving and restoring our local watersheds through our Watershed Initiative. Due to these ongoing activities, the preserve remains closed to public access. However, we are working towards providing the public with opportunities to enjoy this remarkable place soon. Stay tuned for more updates on the progress of this exciting project. See photos of our hard-working volunteers helping to prepare the site, and a first glimpse at the groundbreaking below (photos by Cameron Karsten):

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16 Aug Wetland Wonders: Welcoming Back Beavers – Event Series

Meet the orange-toothed, tail-slapping engineers of the natural world.      Please join us for this three-part celebration of beaver brilliance:   1. Join a virtual webinar with Ben Goldfarb on September 6th at 6:00 pm  Ben Goldfarb is the author of Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, winner of the 2019 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. His work has appeared in publications including the Atlantic, Science, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. His next book, Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet, will be published by W.W. Norton & Co. in September 2023. Registration required. 2. Bring the kids to the Bainbridge Island Library on September 9th at 11:00 am  Children’s book reading and activity session all about beavers with librarians at Kitsap Regional Library’s Bainbridge Island branch. No registration is required.    3. Learn, Discuss, Explore at Islandwood on September 17th from 12:00 – 5:00 pm Learn from educational presentations by BeaversNW, King County Department of Natural Resources, Wild Fish Conservancy, Kitsap County Planning and Environmental Programs, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Discuss beavers in the Living with Beaver Neighbors panel discussion focusing on beaver management strategies and resources for landowners. Our panel consists of representatives from BeaversNW, Kitsap County Planning and Environmental Programs, the City of Bainbridge Island Water Resources, and the Little Andersen Creek Watershed Working Group. Explore Islandwood’s beaver pond with a self-guided hike. Registration required.   Please register at www.islandwood.org. We look forward to your participation in Wetland Wonders: Welcoming Back Beavers, as we come together to protect and preserve the natural beauty and function of our local watersheds.   This event series aims to provide a space for community members to learn about beaver ecology, their role in the ecosystem, the…

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10 Aug Volunteers Needed! Support Stream Restoration at Springbrook Creek Preserve

  The Bainbridge Island Land Trust is seeking dedicated volunteers to support an exciting milestone with the Watershed Initiative! This September, we will be breaking ground at Springbrook Creek Preserve to remove barriers to fish passage, and construct a bridge as part of trail restoration. We need your help to fill soil bags that will be used in the stream restoration project. You will have a direct impact on this important conservation work!   There are two dates scheduled, with two shifts each:   Wednesday, August 30th — 9 – 11 AM, 12 – 2 PM Wednesday, September 6th — 9 – 11 AM, 12 – 2 PM   We need all hands on deck to ensure the success of this project, so feel free to bring your friends and family, and spread the word! Please register here.   If you have any questions, please contact Thea. Thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to seeing you out on the land!

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