Curley Creek Acquisition Feasibility

Great Peninsula Conservancy (GPC) completed an assessment project to prioritize conservation acquisition actions and determine feasibility of protecting Curley Creek’s lower reach salmon habitat from an immediate threat of conversion to residential development. Curley Creek is located in South Kitsap County, flowing north to Yukon Harbor near Blake Island in Central Puget Sound. This stream is one of the largest and most productive salmonid streams in the West Sound Watersheds Lead Entity. Primary species targeted for protection included steelhead, coho, and cutthroat trout.

The primary objective of this feasibility effort was to determine which parcels should be targeted for protection of riparian habitat including main stem and tributary fish-bearing streams, associated riparian forests, and wetlands habitat.

The project concentrated efforts on the lower +/- 2 mile stretch of Curley Creek from Sedgwick Road to the estuary, where 17 acres of habitat was protected by Great Peninsula Conservancy in 2002.

Great Peninsula Conservancy worked with Kitsap County, the Suquamish Tribe, and multiple landowners to determine the best strategy to permanently protect this reach through, a) assessment and inventory of the resource (undeveloped parcels), b) outreach and engagement with landowners, c) due diligence to clarify encumbrances, and d) fair market valuation through appraisals.

The project achieved primary goal to prioritize conservation acquisition actions to protect Curley Creek and the associated riparian habitat. Curley Creek is one of the largest and most productive salmonid streams in the West Sound Watersheds Lead Entity. Primary species targeted for protection include steelhead, coho, and cutthroat trout.