Miller Bay Education and Outreach; East Kitsap Nearshore Education

The project accomplished all the Miller Bay objectives and expanded to include adjacent watersheds (Carpenter, Dogfish, Clear, Chico, and Bainbridge Island Creeks) with the primary purpose of educating landowners, residents, students, and visitors to how human activities affect habitat, how salmon and other Treaty natural resources are impacted, and how we can protect and restore habitat with specific projects and educational field trips and learning opportunities. A section of Cowling Creek was restored, two rain gardens were constructed, adult salmon returned to spawn naturally in Cowling and Cooper Creeks for the first time in 70 years from fry released from educational facilities, three floating nearshore classes were conducted, six nearshore beach seinings were done with Olympic Community College students and the Clear Creek Task Force, two Salmon Tour events were held on Dogfish and Chico Creeks to observe natural salmon spawning, and numerous events were held at the Cowling Creek Center to educate over 500 residents, students, and visitors.

Miller Bay Outreach and Education: The goal of this project will be to encourage small stream protection, restoration, and barrier correction. The purpose will be to protect habitat by working with property owners and with the Department of Natural Resources.
It is estimated that 500 landowners will be contacted by this project, but it’s anticipated that only 10 actual projects will result due to the small scope and assistance rendered by this project. These projects are anticipated to be seed projects, leading to many more projects in future years. The Cowling Creek Center will provide a public venue to monitor project progress by documenting projects being implemented. Depending on the willingness of landowners, tours will be arranged to completed project sites to encourage adjacent neighbors to participate or become involved with habitat protection. A monthly tally will be recorded on the number of landowners contacted, projects applications developed (culvert removal, rain garden construction, restoration, etc) and the resultant stream habitat opened up, native vegetation planted, among other activities.
East Kitsap Nearshore Education: The goal of this project is to develop a 1-day outdoor curriculum to educate the public on nearshore functions and values, including the important role of the nearshore as habitat for rearing juvenile salmon. The purpose is to increase public knowledge of nearshore habitats and habitat forming processes and ways that the ways that they can contribute to their protection. The expected benefit is a more informed public and broader public support for salmon recovery actions.