Stand for the Land. And the water.

In 2022, the Land Trust added a 10-acre expansion to the 13-acre Miller-Kirkman Preserve at North Fork Manzanita Creek.  This property includes about 800-feet of fish-bearing stream used by coho salmon and a vibrant wetland complex covered in salmonberry, twinberry, sedges, and cattails. Our primary management goals for this property are to support high-functioning stream, wetland, and forest habitats. This will involve a significant restoration effort that starts with removing invasive species such as ivy, holly, and blackberries. We are also intending to plant hundreds of native plants to provide wetland and buffer enhancement, water shading for water temperature regulation, and forage and cover for wildlife.

Both Manzanita Creek and Mosquito Creek contain cutthroat trout and coho salmon spawning reaches. By protecting North Fork Manzanita Creek, the Bainbridge Island Land Trust aims to safeguard an Island treasure and help improve the vibrancy of the creek and surrounding watershed.

Please note that the Preserve is not currently open to the public – access to the property is limited to Land Trust tours at this time.

Climate Resiliency

North Fork Manzanita Creek holds regional significance for helping build resiliency to a changing climate. Its wetlands and mature conifer and deciduous forests act as a sponge to help protect groundwater, absorb carbon from the atmosphere, and control stormwater run-off.

Learn more about our Stand for the Land movement and how you can get involved!