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Exciting news: the Bainbridge Island Land Trust has officially closed on the Little Manzanita Estuary property!

Now the story continues. To bring this estuary into permanent protection, we must raise $425,000 through Stand for the Land. Achieving this unlocks a matching $425,000 state grant, doubling the power of every gift. That means your support today has TWICE the impact, ensuring this rare shoreline is conserved permanently.

As one of only two remaining intact estuaries on the Island, this 5.1-acre estuary, with nearly 1,200 feet of pristine shoreline and 2.8 acres of tidelands supports a healthy Puget Sound ecosystem with its resilient nearshore habitat, undisturbed shoreline and vital tidelands. This acquisition expands protections west of Miller-Kirkman Preserve, connecting a critical conservation nexus of 165 acres in the Island’s largest watershed, stretching from Manzanita Park to the mouth of Little Manzanita Bay.

• Wildlife stronghold: Salmon and herring return to spawn here, sustaining orcas, eagles, and a rich diversity of shorebirds. Protecting this estuary protects the entire food web.
• Climate resilience: A healthy estuary means a healthy Manzanita Watershed. Here, wetlands filter water, store carbon, and shield our community from stronger storms.
• Lasting promise: With your support, this shoreline will remain wild and thriving, leaving an unparalleled legacy.

The Little Manzanita Estuary is the latest triumph of Stand for the Land, our bold, community‑powered campaign to safeguard Bainbridge Island’s most vital natural places. Thanks to your generosity, Stand for the Land has added 166 acres across ten crucial properties since 2018, bringing the total Land Trust-protected properties to 1,604 acres.

Together, we have achieved something extraordinary. With your continued support of Stand for the Land, the Little Manzanita Estuary will remain a sanctuary for generations to come.