This is a proposal to acquire a 5.5-acre parcel that contains 2,200 feet of riparian habitat along both sides of Chico Creek. This parcel is the only reach of Chico Creek in the urbanized part of the watershed that has retained access to its floodplain, its large woody debris and a complex profile of pools and riffles. Chico Creek is East Kitsaps most productive salmon stream. This parcel is located immediately upstream of the 5th round SRFB funded Chico Creek Instream Project, securing and adding value to the on-going restoration.
Currently there are patches of invasive, exotic plant species throughout the property. Funding would allow Kitsap County to obtain the land, followed by the removal of invasive vegetation, and installing a sign. Much of this initial work and future maintenance will be coordinated with Stream Team volunteers. This acquisition would set the preliminary stages for continuing efforts to showcase this highly intact reach within the Chico Creek watershed. Once the acquisition project is complete, future efforts by Kitsap County include native plantings and developing the site by converting a one acre gravel lot into public access to the property and building a trail system for salmon viewing that will include interpretive educational signs. The project site is centrally located, and would likely become a regional site for viewing the large numbers of salmon migrating to the watershed each fall. This property would provide an opportunity to tell the story of salmon recovery in Kitsap County.
