Brothers Leif and Grant Carey-Odden walk through the water at Barnum Point on Camano Island with their mother, Kari Odden in 2012. (Benj Drummond / The Nature Conservancy)

Brothers Leif and Grant Carey-Odden walk through the water at Barnum Point on Camano Island with their mother, Kari Odden in 2012. (Benj Drummond / The Nature Conservancy)

Commentary: State grant fund vital to preserving Barnum Point

By Val Schroeder

As long-time resident and teacher on Camano Island, I am surrounded by Washington’s natural beauty every day.

Across from Triangle Cove lies one of these beautiful places — 129 acres of critical wildlife habitat called Barnum Point. This elusive, inaccessible land is home to eagles, deer, coyotes, raptors, woodpeckers and frogs — lots of frogs.

Barnum Point includes a mile of pristine shoreline along Port Susan Bay, through which more than 20,000 shorebirds migrate in fall and spring. Some, like thousands of dunlin, stay for the winter. This stop along the Pacific flyway also provides a critical feeding and roosting spot for wintering waterfowl. For these reasons and more, the Greater Skagit and Stillaguamish Delta has been recognized as a national priority for preservation.

Positioned across from the mouth of the Stillaguamish River, the tidelands and shoreline of Barnum Point serve as habitat for juvenile salmon leaving the river. The point is the gateway to the Triangle Cove estuary, a refuge for these young salmon, and to Kristoferson Creek, the main salmon-bearing creek on Camano. Juvenile coho swim up the small creek to the beaver marsh to grow and mature for a year’s time, before swimming back to Port Susan Bay and the sea.

I haven’t minded only seeing Barnum Point from a distance. It’s doing what it does best: providing habitat for the critters. However, we now have an opportunity to ensure that this natural area remains wildlife habitat while providing opportunities for us humans to visit. The Whidbey Camano Land Trust is working with willing landowners and the community to preserve Barnum Point’s ecosystem and to provide a refuge for bird watching, hiking, beach walking and just being in the natural world.

Portions of the Barnum Point area have been protected, but preserving the additional acreage maintains an ecosystem of feeder bluffs and estuaries, intact riparian forest and forest bluffs and important bird habitat.

To make this project a reality, the Whidbey Camano Land Trust has applied for two Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) grants, in conjunction with Island County.

If you haven’t heard of the WWRP before, you’re not alone. But don’t underestimate the importance of this little-known program: The WWRP is Washington’s primary tool for protecting its natural spaces and creating outdoor recreational opportunities.

Funded through the state’s capital construction budget, the WWRP has successfully leveraged more than $1.3 billion for more than 1,200 projects, protecting over 260,000 acres of parks, farmland and wildlife habitat. The program also improves parks, maintains open space and contributes to creating jobs, revenue and increased quality of life throughout the state. Key leaders such as state Rep. Norma Smith, one of Camano Island’s legislators, have shown strong support for the program.

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition, which is the primary advocate for the WWRP, has asked Gov. Jay Inslee and the legislature for $120 million in funding for the program in 2017-19. These funds will go directly to supporting projects like Barnum Point, projects that bring communities together.

I’m proud to say that even my students are working hard to protect this valuable land.

As Make a Difference Day honorees, my high school senior English students received a $10,000 grant to contribute to a community organization. After proposing and ranking several worthy causes, they selected the Barnum Point preservation project. I couldn’t have been happier. The students chose to become a part of the Barnum Point legacy.

And what a legacy it is. They can now proudly tell their future children and grandchildren how they helped save this gorgeous and ecologically important land for generations to come.

But they can’t do it alone. We need your voice to help get funding for projects like this one. If you support funding open spaces and preserving habitat in Washington, please call your elected officials and let them know that you support $120 million for WWRP.

Val Schroeder teaches high school and lives on Camano Island. In 2016 she was honored with the Snohomish Conservation District’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Correction: This commentary has been corrected to show that the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program has leveraged more than $1.3 billion for more than 1,200 projects statewide.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

People walk adjacent to the border with Canada at the Peace Arch in Peace Arch Historical State Park, where cars behind wait to enter Canada at the border crossing Monday, Aug. 9, 2021, in Blaine, Wash. Canada lifted its prohibition on Americans crossing the border to shop, vacation or visit, but America kept similar restrictions in place, part of a bumpy return to normalcy from coronavirus travel bans. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Editorial: U.S. and Canada better neighbors than housemates

President Trump may be serious about annexing Canada, but it’s a deal fraught with complexities for all.

Schwab: If you’re OK with foreign aid cuts, guess who’s next

At some point, if they haven’t already, Trump’s and Musk’s cuts will hit all but a very elite few.

Poor planning behind Snohomish PUD rate increase

It did not take long in 2025 for the Snohomish Public Utility… Continue reading

Trump’s aid cut will cost U.S. influence

The last time the U.S. pulled back its aid to other countries,… Continue reading

Musk’s financial access is a threat to personal data, payments

Recently Elon Musk along with six young men between 19-24 were able… Continue reading

CNA Nina Prigodich, right, goes through restorative exercises with long term care patient Betty Long, 86, at Nightingale's View Ridge Care Center on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Boost state Medicaid funding for long-term care

With more in need of skilled nursing and assisted-living services, funding must keep up to retain staff.

bar graph, pie chart and diagrams isolated on white, 3d illustration
Editorial: Don’t let state’s budget numbers intimidate you

With budget discussions starting soon, a new website explains the basics of state’s budget crisis.

Curtains act as doors for a handful of classrooms at Glenwood Elementary on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Schools’ building needs point to election reform

Construction funding requests in Arlington and Lake Stevens show need for a change to bond elections.

Comment: Birthright citizenship has helped make America great

Trump’s attempt to end it, almost certainly unconstitutional, won’t fix the nation’s problems at its borders.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Thursday, Feb. 13

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

State single-payer health care bill offers many advantages

I was excited to read in Will Geschke’s report (“Everett lawmakers back… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.