Author: Emily Gaskin

15 Jun Exciting Changes Coming to Springbrook Creek Preserve!

We are excited to announce major developments at Springbrook Creek Preserve over the next few months. Our goal of enhancing the wetlands, stream, meadow, and forest habitats on this 23-acre conservation land is well underway. After extensive planning and preparation, we are now entering the construction phase to remove a full fish passage barrier on Springbrook Creek. We will be installing a 30-foot pedestrian bridge over the stream, allowing the creek to flow freely and creating vital fish rearing habitat. This bridge will also provide public access across the stream. We are grateful to our neighbors Jeff Glanzrock and Kathy Levine who have been instrumental in moving this process forward. In preparation for the construction, you will soon notice changes near the Preserve. The Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) will be removing the old creosote and wire fence along Fletcher Bay Road. We will temporarily replace it with an orange construction fence, ensuring public safety during this period. Once all construction is complete, the orange fencing will be replaced with a split rail fence. WCC is also supporting our ongoing efforts to control invasive plants and enhance meadow, wetland, and riparian habitats. They will also assist with trail work to prepare for future public access. 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. Until then, you can sign up for a guided tour to visit the property.

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13 Apr Birds and Blooms Walk at Springbrook Creek Preserve

Join us on Saturday, May 20th to discover the birds and blooms of the Springbrook Creek Preserve. Whether bird or bloom, species composition and diversity are great indicators of ecosystem health. Ecosystems with higher species diversity are more resilient to disturbance and change. We invite you to join us as we take an inventory of the bird and plant species at the newly acquired Springbrook Creek Preserve.  

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06 Apr 2023 Environmental Conference Inspires Climate Solutions

Bainbridge Island, WA – On Saturday, March 25th, more than 140  environmental stewards and community members gathered at Bainbridge Island High School for the 2023 Bainbridge Island Environmental Conference. The theme of the conference was “Our Island Home on an Unruly Planet,” a title inspired by the keynote speaker Madeline Ostrander, environmental journalist and author of the book “At Home on an Unruly Planet.”  Madeline Ostrander has written extensively on issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental justice. Her keynote speech focused on the urgency of addressing climate change and the need for collective action at all levels of society. “I wrote ‘At Home on an Unruly Planet’ hoping it could start meaningful conversations about climate responses in people’s communities,” said Ostrander. “I couldn’t have dreamed up a better or more inspiring place for that than at [the Environmental Conference].”  The 2023 Jerry and Elane Hellmuth Environmentalist of the Year Award was awarded to Lara Hansen, Chief Scientist & Executive Director of EcoAdapt. She is the 25th islander to be recognized with this award, which was first presented in 1991. Lara shared her passion with the audience during her plenary speech on anticipated climate impacts to Bainbridge Island. Lara “approached climate change with such vivid knowledge and enthusiasm to rally us and the world to find solutions,” shared conference organizer Frank Stowell.  Following the plenary, attendees were invited to participate in breakout sessions led by engaging Island leaders from environmental agencies and nonprofit organizations across Bainbridge Island. Attendees examined the impacts of climate change on Bainbridge Island’s shorelines, forests, air quality, transportation, infrastructure, and sense of place. The sessions were designed to encourage actionable insights and strategies to address these challenges and make progress toward a more sustainable future for Bainbridge Island. The Bainbridge Island Land Trust, with…

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23 Mar Celebrate Earth Month!

We invite you to celebrate Earth Month with the Bainbridge Island Land Trust! We will be taking action throughout the month of April to to support our natural environment. Please join us on Wednesday, April 5 from 9-11AM at Quitslund Preserve for our First Wednesday Work Party! We will be removing Himalayan blackberry and maintaining the areas cleared during the 2022 volunteer work parties. Please register here. On Saturday, April 22 from 8AM-3PM, stop by our stand for the 2023 Earth Day Expo at Battle Point Park. We will be featuring watershed demonstrations for kids of all ages! On Sunday, April 23 and Sunday, April 30 from 10AM-4PM, 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. A calendar of Earth Month events on Bainbridge Island is available here.

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14 Mar Free Invasive Weed Disposal is Back this April!

Sundays, April 23rd and 30th 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 King 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! Resources: The Land Trust’s Invasive Weed Primer Jeannette Franks’ Despicable 6 King County Noxious Weed List Bainbridge Island Cooperative Weed Management Area Priority Weeds A special thanks to Bainbridge Disposal for helping facilitate this important event. If you are interested in volunteering for the invasive disposal effort, please email Thea.

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07 Mar The 2023 Bainbridge Island Environmental Conference is Here!

Seattle science journalist and author Madeline Ostrander will be the keynote speaker at the 19th annual Bainbridge Island Environmental Conference, “Our Island Home on an Unruly Planet.” The conference will be from 12-5 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at the Bainbridge High School Theater. It is presented by Bainbridge Island Land Trust, Sustainable Bainbridge, EcoAdapt, the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation, and IslandWood. Ostrander’s 2022 book “At Home on an Unruly Planet: Finding Refuge on a Changed Planet” examines how climate change has destabilized our fundamental notions of “home” through stories of finding resilience in the face of dramatic environmental change – melting permafrost in Alaska, rising seas in Florida, catastrophic wildfires in Washington state, and petrochemical disasters in California – Ostrander offers essays on our historical, social and psychological constructs of “home” as a place to be cherished and defended. Ostrander’s book is available before the conference through Eagle Harbor Book Co. For the full conference schedule, including additional speakers and breakout sessions, and to buy tickets, visit the event site here.

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06 Mar Bainbridge Island Land Trust Seeks Public Comments for Reaccreditation

The Bainbridge Island Land Trust welcomes public comments on compliance with national land trust standards and practices to support reaccreditation process. The Bainbridge Island Land Trust is currently applying for reaccreditation through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission (LTAC). Reaccreditation by the LTAC is a rigorous process that evaluates a land trust’s adherence to national standards and best practices in land conservation. The standards cover a range of topics, including ethical and legal responsibilities, financial management, land transactions, conservation easements, stewardship, and community engagement. Land Trust accreditation is important to the Bainbridge Island Land Trust because it provides external validation of our commitment to excellence in land conservation, enhances our credibility and reputation, and helps to ensure the long-term success of our mission. Additionally, this process can help the Land Trust continually improve our operations and programs by providing a framework for ongoing evaluation. The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how the Bainbridge Island Land Trust complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards see http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/help-and-resources/indicator-practices. To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org, or email your comment to [email protected]. Comments may also be mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments, 36 Phila Street, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Comments on Bainbridge Island Land Trust’s application will be most useful by May 25, 2023.

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08 Feb Bainbridge Island Land Trust Awarded State Grant to Help Protect Rockaway Bluff Preserve

One of the last remaining intact mature forests of its size on the Island, Rockaway Bluff Preserve will continue to provide a sanctuary for wildlife Bainbridge Island. Bainbridge Island Land Trust was awarded a grant of $1,374,552 from the State’s Recreation and Conservation Office’s Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) for the acquisition and stewardship of Rockaway Bluff Preserve. WWRP seeks to acquire valuable habitat lands across Washington State before they are lost to other uses. The Land Trust will use this grant to offset the acquisition cost of the property, the development of a long-term stewardship plan, invasive species control, and signage. When the 35-acre parcel of mature intact forest became available in 2020, the Land Trust saw the unique opportunity. Together with the community and supporters, they worked with steadfast determination to develop a plan to acquire the property and establish the Rockaway Bluff Preserve. The Land Trust recently acquired an additional 10 acres adjacent to the Preserve, bringing the intact, protected lands to 45 acres. Within the Preserve, grand fir, Douglas-fir, and bigleaf maple tower over a dense and diverse understory that includes salal, huckleberry, and ferns. The lush vegetation provides food and habitat for a variety of bird species, including eagles, ospreys, and seabirds, as well as mammals such as deer and coyotes. Rockaway Bluff also connects with a network of wetlands, streams, and forests already conserved in nearby Blakely Harbor Park, IslandWood, Pritchard Park, and the Cougar Creek Preserve. These ecological features make Rockaway Bluff Preserve a valuable resource for wildlife and humans, contributing to a network of climate-resilient lands on Bainbridge Island. Later this year, the Land Trust plans to open Rockaway Bluff Preserve to low-impact public use. This past week, visitors had a unique opportunity to attend an Open House at the Preserve....
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03 Feb Bainbridge Island Land Trust Welcomes Three New Board Members

The Bainbridge Island Land Trust is pleased to announce the election of three new members to their Board of Directors: Laurie Miller, Tom Ringo, and Nora Nickum. With their diverse backgrounds and expertise, these new board members will play a vital role in furthering the mission of the Land Trust to protect natural resources on Bainbridge Island for future generations. Laurie Miller is a non-profit leader with a strong background in fundraising and community engagement. Following a seasoned career at Islandwood, Laurie currently serves as the Financial Advisor to Global Child Nutrition Foundation. Tom Ringo is an experienced business executive with a passion for sustainability and the environment. Tom worked for Price Waterhouse and Westin Hotel Company in Seattle before moving to Kitsap County in the late 1980’s to take a position with Pope Resources, a publicly traded timber and real estate company based in Poulsbo. Nora Nickum grew up on Bainbridge Island and currently serves as the Senior Ocean Policy Manager for the Seattle Aquarium. Previously as a Senior Climate Change Adaptation Specialist, Nora served on the US negotiating team to the UNFCCC, and sat on the Climate Change Advisory Committee to the Bainbridge Island City Council. Nora is also a children’s author writing about nature and conservation. The Bainbridge Island Land Trust would like to extend its sincere gratitude to outgoing board members, Ed Gilbert, Asha Rehnberg, and Merle Montani for their dedicated service.

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