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Extra, Extra!
GPC Adds 150 Acres to Rocky Creek Preserve |
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On Thursday, November 5th, GPC closed on a new addition to the Rocky Creek Preserve in Pierce County. The property contains significant stretches of two important salmon streams, Rocky Creek and East Fork Rocky Creek, as well as a portion of the upper estuary of Rocky Bay. At 150 acres this is one of the largest properties GPC has ever acquired in one transaction! GPC is currently working to acquire two smaller properties directly adjacent to this new acquisition, and by the end of next year we expect the Rocky Creek Preserve to have grown to nearly 200 continuous acres! Funding for this project came from the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office’s Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Pierce County Conservation Futures Program, and Max and Janet Laudeman. Thank you all for your help and support with this project over the past few years! More information about this amazing acquisition coming soon! |
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Kitsap Salmon Tours
2020 Virtual Kick-off |
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Kitsap Salmon Tours has gone virtual this year! To ensure we continue to follow health and safety guidelines, we will be kicking off the return of salmon to our Kitsap streams with a month of virtual opportunities. For more information, keep an eye on kitsapsalmontours.org and the WSU Kitsap Extension facebook page. If you choose to visit one of the Kitsap salmon viewing sites on your own, please socially distance and recreate responsibly. |
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On the Blog
"A One of a Kind Naturalist and Educator" |
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The Kitsap Sun recently published a wonderful piece on local conservation hero, Jim Trainer. Jim, who recently entered hospice care, is a former Kitsap County arborist and community forester famous for planting more than one million trees on the peninsula! As many of you remember, Jim has also contributed greatly to the mission of Great Peninsula Conservancy. Former GPC staff member, Kate Kuhlman, shared some of her memories of working with 'Kitsap's Johnny Appleseed': "Jim was an enthusiastic educator. He loved to share his knowledge of the forest ecosystem with children and families. His unique approach to learning was captivating... I could always count on him to provide an entertaining and unforgettable program. He will be missed." Have a story about Jim that you'd like to share? Send it to Claire Voris (claire@greatpeninsula.org). We'll add it to the blog and make sure it gets shared with the Trainer Family. |
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Virtual Event Exceeds Expectation
Thank you, GPC Members and Sponsors! |
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Due to COVID-19, GPC's traditional Spring Dinner wasn't possible this year, and going virtual was our only option. Although we weren't quite sure what to expect, the generosity of GPC members, table captains, and event sponsors, should never be underestimated! GPC staff are endlessly grateful for the many ways our community stepped up and pulled together to make the transition to a virtual event successful. Because of you, GPC was not only able to meet our 2020 event fundraising goal, but exceed it! You raised $100,000 for conservation! Special recognition goes to the following sponsors, auction donors, speakers, and award winners without whom this event could not have happened: |
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- Auction Donors: Mike and Becky Hall, Iklil Gregg Photography, Far Away Entertainment, Patricia and Steve Weagant, Taylor Shellfish Farms, Braided River Publishing, Dalton Art Studio, Rod Weagant Studio, Foreman's Forest Works, Alan Newberg, Harv Kolln's Spirit Bird Studio, Rachel Tacke, Michelle Amicucci's Muddy Paw Studio, Bat Revival Projekt, and Tamara Bogue Voris
- Keynote Speaker: Mindy Roberts of Washington Environmental Council.
- Gary Allen Cunningham Conservation Award Winners: Nancy and Dick D'Archangel
We're always trying to improve. Do you have feedback for GPC about the Virtual Celebration and Online Auction? Complete the survey below. |
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Stewardship Corner
Orca Recovery Day 2020 |
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What is Orca Recovery Day? For the third year in a row, Conservation Districts around the state along with dozens of nonprofit and agency partners worked together to restore habitat, reduce stormwater pollution, and educate the public about about things we can do everyday to help one of the most iconic species of the Pacific Northwest. GPC's 2020 Orca Recovery Day project, a native shrub and tree planting at the Lay Wildrose Preserve, took shape in partnership with Pierce County Conservation District and support from the Washington Native Plant Society, Gig Harbor Rotary, Promise the Pod, and One Tree Planted. The estuary where Rosedale Creek flows into a sub-inlet off Henderson Bay’s Lay Inlet provides essential rearing habitat for juvenile salmon, which in turn has the potential to support the longterm viability of our 74 remaining Southern Resident Orca. This fall, GPC staff have plans to share drone footage from our Orca Recovery Day replanting project with local middle school students by Zoom. Opportunities to inspire the next generation of conservation advocates look different in the time of COVID-19, but GPC staff continue to seek creative solutions that will allow us to support and connect with the community. |
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GPC Conservation Director, Erik Steffens, captured these amazing shots of the Southern Resident "J pod" as they passed by Vashon Island this October. |
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In the Community
Virtual Event, Volunteer, and Employment Opportunities |
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Conservation Futures Citizens' Advisory Board Are you excited about protecting open spaces, wetlands, forests, and farms? Do you want to help preserve these lands for the benefit of Pierce County residents now and in the future? A volunteer position on the Conservation Futures Citizens’ Advisory Board (CAB) might be right for you! For more information about the Conservation Futures program or to apply online, go to piercecountywa.gov/conservationfutures. For questions or to request a hard copy application, call (253) 798-4252. Clear Creek Task Force Volunteer Call The Clear Creek Task Force is looking for volunteers to help repair boardwalk and repair gravel trails along the almost 8 miles of trail. Check out their website for more details or email Mary Earl at volunteer@ClearCreekTrail.org Tree Planting at Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park Kitsap Environmental Coalition and Kitsap County Community Forester, Arno Bergstrom, have organized a four part tree planting event at Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park. The 875 potted cedar and pine trees will be planted by small groups of five volunteers in the "Stumps " area of the the park. In order to control group size, and keep things safe for everyone, volunteer slots will need to be reserved in advance. Available dates include: Nov. 14th, Nov. 21st, Dec. 5th, and Dec. 12th from 9am-12:00pm. If you are interested, please contact Lisa Hurt of Kitsap Environmental Coalition at
rainbowzen1@gmail.com or (206) 866-8111. Mason County Conservation District Hiring The Mason Conservation District is seeking an experienced Senior Projects Manager to join their team. The successful candidate will be responsible for safe, timely, and efficient execution of small and large scale habitat restoration projects. You can find more information about the position here. Stillwaters Environmental Center Benefit "Ebb and Flow" is a benefit event for Stillwaters Environmental Center happening now until November 15th. Check out the online auction and attend exciting webinars all week long. Learn more here. Have a safe and socially distanced stewardship opportunity that you'd like GPC to share with members? Email it to claire@greatpeninsula.org before December 1st. |
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