STANWOOD — You might consider them Port Susan’s future guardians.
Scientists, local government and tribal officials interested in protecting the body of water between eastern Camano Island and the mainland have planned two public workshops next week. Their goal is to keep the scenic and biologically important area a fun place to live, work and play.
To accomplish that, they want to start a marine stewardship area to protect habitat and key species.
“Over the past year, the scientists, land managers and stakeholders have been getting together and really looking at the threats to Port Susan,” said Chrys Bertolotto, coordinator for WSU’s Beach Watchers program. “We now have strategies that have come out of the process and it’s time to share them.”
The first meeting is scheduled Monday at Kayak Point Regional Park followed by another Tuesday at the Camano Senior and Community Center. Each workshop runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Port Susan is both urban and rural, with farmland, natural areas and residential areas. A patchwork of government agencies oversees it, including Snohomish and Island counties, the Tulalip and Stillaguamish tribes, and the city of Stanwood. Two salmon-recovery groups and two marine resources advisory committees are involved as well.
Another player is The Nature Conservancy, an internationally active nonprofit that owns the 4,122-acre Port Susan Bay Preserve.
A Port Susan stewardship area would be a voluntary effort to mend the entire ecosystem, said Abby Hook, a hydrologist for the Tulalip Tribes.
“It’s extremely biologically productive, it’s valued for recreation and residential property,” Hook said.
Scientists already picked seven targets in need of attention: crabs, Chinook salmon, forage fish, shorebirds, bivalves, beach habitat and delta habitat. While Dungeness crab populations are healthy, local Chinook populations are considered fair; and the overall delta habitat is in poor condition, Hook said.
While experts have drafted strategies for approaching the area’s challenges, they also want to hear from people who live in the area.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.
Share strategies at public workshops
The public is invited to help shape strategies for protecting Port Susan at two workshops scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
Monday: Kayak Point Regional Park, 15610 Marine Drive, Stanwood. Parking fees waived for the meeting.
Tuesday: Camano Senior and Community Center, 606 Arrowhead Road, Camano Island.
For more information, contact Kathleen Herrmann at Snohomish County at 425-388-6414 or kathleen.herrmann@snoco.org.
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