conservation Tag

Kayakers in the Little Manzanita Bay Estuary

21 Jan Conservation Opportunity: Little Manzanita Bay Estuary

News Mac Davenport About the Little Manzanita Bay Estuary Salmon and herring spawn in its cold, clear water; kingfishers patrol its shorelines and streams; and critically endangered Southern Resident orcas are supported by its vital shoreline and tidelands. Little Manzanita Bay and its broader watershed, extending from uplands to estuary, is home to some of the last remaining intact habitats on the Island. This parcel supports a healthy Puget Sound ecosystem with 5.1 total acres of intact estuary and nearshore habitat, 1,149 feet of undisturbed shoreline and 2.8 acres of critical tidelands. This conservation opportunity will expand protections west of the existing Miller-Kirkman Preserve, extending crucial wildlife networks. Help lead the campaign to secure the Little Manzanita Bay Estuary! The Stand for the Land campaign represents a significant achievement for our community. Now, we have an opportunity to protect the most vital estuary on the island. Please pledge your support today to help raise the needed $1,000,000* to protect this property. Your bold support will aid in our rapid response to conserve this vulnerable estuary. Take the Pledge Pictured: Miller-Kirkman Preserve, © Zephyr Visuals
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A person walking two dogs on a trail in the Grand Forest East, surrounded by towering conifer trees.

07 Jan Bainbridge Island Land Trust and Parks & Trails Foundation to work with community to protect the 39-acre parcel in Grand Forest system  

News Mac Davenport January 10, 2025 | Bainbridge Island, WA The Bainbridge Island Land Trust and the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation acknowledge the recent announcement by the Bainbridge Island School District (BISD) that it plans to surplus, or sell, its 39-acre property that functions as part of Grand Forest East parkland. The Grand Forest nature complex is a treasured Bainbridge Island landscape, known for its interconnected trail network, intact forest core and vital natural habitats.  Recognizing the conservation and recreational value of this land, our organizations are united in our commitment to protect it permanently, ensuring that it remains undeveloped and accessible to the community for future generations. On January 9, the School Board voted to surplus the 39-acre parcel. The Land Trust and Parks & Trails Foundation will work closely with the Bainbridge Island community, local leaders, and other stakeholders as we explore ways to safeguard this valuable resource. We encourage everyone to join us in helping to conserve one of the Island’s most beloved natural and recreational spaces. A Brief History on the Grand Forest and this 39-acre parcel This parcel and the surrounding lands, known today as the Grand Forest, were originally managed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to generate revenue for public education through timber harvests or land sales. In the late 1980s, plans by the State to sell the land prompted local activism. The “Committee to Save the DNR Forest” joined the Bainbridge Island Land Trust and Park District to fundraise through a bond levy, successfully protecting the first 240 acres of the Grand Forest, including the original Grand Forest West, North, and East (southern tract) parcels. At the same time, this 39-acre parcel was acquired by the Bainbridge Island School District (BISD) to serve as a potential school site based on projected population growth. As growth slowed...
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