[NKTA] February 2014 Newsletter

Greetings!

Yes, we did it!

The first of the Kitsap Forest and Bay land acquisitions closed on February 12 and our County is the proud owner of 535 acres of forestland and 1.5 miles of Port Gamble shoreline, extending 1/2 mile across the highway and protected for the public FOREVER! But this is just the beginning - the first phase and 535 acre milestone of our visionary 6,700 acre Kitsap Forest & Bay conservation Project!

"This acquisition has been years in the making and is the beginning of a series of great things to come in 2014. We are lining up funding to protect additional lands from Kingston to Port Gamble as part of this preservation effort."

Kitsap County Commissioner Rob Gelder

AND yes, NKTA and many of you were a big part of this success, both with the years of community effort and in the last minute crowd funding campaign.

"This purchase is a prize that has been earned through nearly a decade of dedicated efforts by the local community."

Jon Rose, President, Olympic Property Group (Pope Resources)

"The many community partners involved in the Kitsap Forest & Bay Coalition have dedicated countless hours to help achieve this historic land purchase - handing out trail maps, speaking to community groups and marching in parades, and when it came down to the wire, the Coalition raised over $10,000 in three days to fill the final funding gap."

Sandra Staples-Bortner,
Great Peninsula Conservancy and Coalition Chair

In just 48 hours, our community exceeded the goal for online donations. Through the support of Poulsbo Marathon organizers, NKTA contributed $2,500, and a generous donation from the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe put the project over the top. Thanks to Forterra, Great Peninsula Conservancy and Kitsap County for their tireless work, and for obtaining the grants through the WA state WWRP grant program, WA DOE, and the National Coastal Wetlands Program which made this possible.

With that accomplished, we'll continue right on working to purchase the land and trails in the Port Gamble Forest, North Kitsap Heritage Park Expansion, Divide Forest, and Hansville Forest. We still have over 6,000 more acres to save.

Kitsap Peninsula Water Trails
Receive National Park Service Grant

Great news for outdoor enthusiasts! The coalition known as the Kitsap Peninsula Water Trail Alliance recently received a National Park Service grant for the development and management program for the water trail. It's no secret that the Kitsap peninsula is surrounded by water, 371 miles of shoreline to be exact!

According to Dennis Oost, Kitsap's Trail Planner, the nine month grant provides technical expertise to develop a sustainable water trails management program that is consistent across jurisdictions. Sue Abbott from the National Park service helped NKTA with the NK String of Pearls Trail Plan and brings her expertise to Kitsap efforts again!

The Kitsap Peninsula Water Trails attracts recreation users from around the U.S. and provides significant economic benefit to Kitsap County. Patricia Graf-Hoke, Executive Director of Visit Kitsap Peninsula, and John Kuntz, owner of Olympic Outdoor Center, NKTA board member and creator of the water trail vision, are co-partners with Kitsap County on the water trails management program. They founded the Kitsap Peninsula Water Trails Alliance which includes representatives from local municipalities, tribes, government agencies, associations and business that will provide input on the project.

The Kitsap Peninsula Water Trails has applied to have the water trails designated part of the National Park Water Trails system. The Kitsap Peninsula Water Trail was recently added to the Washington State Water Trails and is now part of the 2000 mile Cascadia Marine Trail. Obtaining National Park Water Trails designation, would make the Kitsap Peninsula Water Trails the second largest National Park Water Trail in the United States and second water trail west of the Mississippi. This could help increase the visibility and popularity of our region as a water trails tourism destination and help local businesses.