Habitat Addenda: Illahee Preserve
The following Illahee areas have significant open space, habitat, and cultural aspects that have not been addressed in the Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan:
Illahee Creek
The Illahee Creek Stream Corridor, extending through the North and South Forks, and the North Tributary
The Illahee Creek Greater Watershed
Illahee State Park
Illahee State Park, with regards to its proximity to Illahee Preserve
Illahee Preserve
Illahee Creek National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Salmon Restoration Project
Illahee Creek Coastal Protection Fund Project
Illahee Department of Ecology/Port of Illahee Surface Water Management Plan Project
The existing land formations and natural resources of the Illahee area form a rich and pristine habitat for fish, wildlife, and plant species in an area that is surrounded by urbanization. The natural terrain of this area, along with over 500 acres of primary habitat, make this a significant contribution to the habitat network in Kitsap County and as such need to be addressed in the Open Space Plan. The restoration and grant projects noted in the above list indicate ongoing efforts by local citizens, county, and state agencies to enhance the open space and habitat features of the area. The following entries correspond with the general themes noted in Chapter 6 “Habitat Plan” and further document these ongoing efforts and provide the rationale for the addition of Illahee to the Open Space Plan.
Acquisition
1. Illahee Preserve
In 2001 the Illahee Preserve, consisting of 352 acres of primarily second growth forest, was purchased from the DNR for approximately $5 Million. In 2003 the Stewardship Plan for the Preserve targeted private lands within the Illahee Creek corridor for purchase or conservation easements to expand the Preserve by taking in major portions of the Illahee Creek watershed. By 2006 the Preserve has grown to approximately 460 acres, with other grants being submitted to continue to purchase or obtain conservation easements on the remaining targeted acreage. The ultimate goal is to expand the Preserve to encompass the main stream corridors and undeveloped land, which will ultimately amount to over 600 acres. (Note that the original goal targeted approximately 700 acres, but this had to be reduced to suit the preferences of individual land owners to retain portions of their properties.) By 2012 the Preserve grew to approximately 550 acres with the gifting of Rolling Hills Golf Course to Kitsap County.
2. Secondary Wildlife Corridors
Because of the relatively close proximity of Illahee State Park to the Illahee Preserve, the issue of secondary wildlife corridors has been pursued with Illahee State Park and Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel. This item is further discussed in the Greenway Corridor section. Additionally, in 2008 Kitsap County approved the Illahee Community Plan which formalizes four wildlife corridors in Illahee (Illahee Community Plan, Chapter 4 “Natural Systems”). The acquisition grant plans for this project are just beginning.
Threatened & Endangered
Illahee is home to a number of bald eagles. In 2006 four immature and four mature bald eagles have been seen making their homes in and around the Illahee area.
Wildlife Habitat Patches- (This word refers to the goal of preserving the remaining large blocks of habitat in Kitsap County.)
While the Illahee area may not be as large a block of land as some of the other areas mentioned in this section, it has the distinction of being a large block of diverse habitat; having a virtually self contained salmon bearing stream and creek watershed in a nearly all natural setting, along with a relatively wooded saltwater shorelines. The natural settings extend through the stream corridor to an inland setting and the saltwater proximity make this an ideal habitat area for a wide variety of species.
Riparian Corridors/Watersheds
Illahee Creek is also a fish bearing stream supporting four types of salmonids, coho, chum, cutthroat, and steelhead. The viability of Illahee Creek to support salmon increased greatly in 1999 with the new fish friendly culvert that was installed by Kitsap County. (While the new culvert is supportive of fish passage, excessive sediment has slowly filled the culvert and raised the lower flood plain by approximately 18 inches, thereby jeopardizing the culvert. This resulted in the Port of Illahee obtaining a Washington Department of Ecology grant to complete a watershed study to determine possible remedies.) In 2005 a grant was obtained from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to investigate restoration of Illahee Creek’s salmon and steelhead runs. The grant also looked at the possible restoration of an old reservoir that was built in the 1930’s to support increase salmon propagation. While the investigation found the raised flood plain in the area negated the use or restoration of the reservoir, and suggested its removal, other restoration projects were accomplished. In 2006 another grant was approved to acquire property along the north tributary of Illahee Creek and restore that stretch of the creek, and another 2 acres of riparian property was acquired. Additionally, in 2007 the Port of Illahee obtained grant funding from the Washington State Department of Ecology to study how to resolve storm surge problems that began when developments at the far north end of the North Fork were not required to mitigate storm water flows. The results of the study were published in 2008 and documented the remedies necessary to control the surges and protect the area’s aquifers.
Each of these items meets the goals and objectives outlined in the habitat portion of the Plan and as such Illahee Creek needs to be included and specifically mentioned in the Strategies section of the Plan.
Greenway Corridors
The Illahee Creek corridor and the bulk of the Illahee Creek watershed are in their natural state. Additionally, a major portion of this area, along with the old Department of Natural Resources (DNR) land, was designated in 2003 as part of the Illahee Preserve, with the intent that the private property within the boundaries be purchased, or conservation easements obtained, that the major watershed areas would comprise a wildlife preserve. This specifically dedicated wildlife area represents nearly 200 acres of the approximately 460 acres of the Illahee Preserve, which has been noted as a primary wildlife corridor and is a Kitsap County Heritage Park in its formation stage. The proximity of the Preserve with Illahee State Park, which is also designated as a primary wildlife corridor, makes it incumbent to try and connect two major wildlife areas with secondary wildlife corridors. A secondary corridor would pass through private property and a minimum of road surfaces. Grants are anticipated to purchase easements for secondary corridor accesses. The viability of this option has been verified by Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel and Illahee State Park, see enclosure (2).
Open Space Strategies General Comments
The following comes from Chapter 5 “Strategies, Goals, and Objectives”; Section 1. “County’s Role”; Item B “Open Space”, which states:
Open Space lands will be preserved to:
1) Secure habitat for specific species such as riparian corridors and near shore fisheries habitat
2) Preserve important cultural, historic sites or features
3) Maintain lands which contribute significantly to the character of the County
4) Buffer urban areas. Acquisition programs should rely on existing studies for prioritizing acquisition.
Responses have been made to each of the above items.
1. Secure habitat for specific species such as riparian corridors and near shore fisheries habitat. – This goal and strategy is still in the execution stage for the Illahee area. It began in 2001 with the purchase of the Illahee DNR land, and continues to this day, with grants and specific plans. These prior accomplishments and ongoing efforts need to be reflected in the Open Space Plan.
2. Preserve important cultural, historic sites or features. – Pursuant to this item is Illahee Creek and the surrounding area, and in particular of historic relevance is the La Mott house near the mouth of Illahee Creek and archeological sites reported to be in the area.
3. Maintain lands which contribute significantly to the character of the County. - The Illahee area lands, with all their natural resources and critical areas, provide a significant source of character to the area and Kitsap County and as such needs to be documented in the Open Space Plan and preserved.
3. Buffer urban areas. – The Illahee Preserve, and especially those areas specifically designated as wildlife preserve areas, need to have buffers established to protect the habitat efforts to date and those in the future.
