Where are the Whidbey Watershed Stewards Working?

As of September 2015, Whidbey Watershed Stewards is the proud steward for six Whidbey Island properties. Please read below for a more detailed description of the long-term goals, activities, and locations of each site:

The Lower Maxwelton Roadside Property

This small parcel of land is in the lower valley of Maxwelton Creek, lying to the east of Maxwelton Road and just west of what had been the creek’s main channel. Sloping from the county roadside down to what was once a tidal marshland, the site provides a good vantage point for views of the lower valley and its seasonal flows of wildlife.

Acquired by private gift in 1996 from Joseph Miller [ to Chums of Maxwelton ]. Whidbey Watershed Stewards hosts restoration events in attempt to return the vegetation to its most biologically stable state.

The Lower Maxwelton Roadside Property

Old Clinton Creek

This property was purchased by the Old Clinton Creek non-profit organization for $5,000 in 1994. Whidbey Watershed Stewards acquired the property from OCC upon its dissolution in 2010.

Old Clinton Creek, made up mostly of nearby residents, bought this irregular parcel in 1994. It holds a rare year ‘round stream, hidden at the bottom of a brushy ravine. The 19th century estuary at the stream’s mouth was completely eliminated by residential shoreline development,

as our current parcel’s boundaries were drawn by the placement of other lots around it — both along the flatter ground below and along the upper edge of the creek’s ravine. An excerpt from OCC’s 501(c)(3) application in fall 1995 further describes the property:

The property purchased by the association early in 1995 had been surrounded in recent years by expanding development around the town of Clinton, Washington. In contrast to the adjacent area, it retains natural vegetative cover and is a rich environment for native species diversity. It contains a small stream flowing into Puget Sound, an associated wetland, and the slopes on either side of the stream. The initial impetus for the association’s formation was the fact that this property had been placed on the commercial real estate market, and appeared to be in danger of losing its natural character through subsequent development or cutting of the mature trees along its edge.

…

It is the belief of the association’s Board that the action of preserving ecological function in sensitive and environmentally rich areas is of inherent value …

Old Clinton Creek Property

Freeland Wetland Preserve

The Freeland Wetland Preserve is an open space of approximately 45 acres located east of Freeland, WA near Newman, Double Bluff, and Scott Roads. In 2014, the Friends of Freeland, a local non-profit, donated this area to the Whidbey Watershed Stewards with the intention of conserving the area forever as open space for public education and passive recreational enjoyment. The area consists almost exclusively of wetlands, providing a natural habitat for plants and wildlife.

Native species of wetland and riparian plants dominate the property. The Whidbey Watershed Stewards intend to protect the diverse native plant community from competition by invasive species through specific removal of these invasive species. No removal of native species or intentional alteration of the hydrology of the site is to occur. This area serves as an important habitat for bird, mammal, and amphibian species.

Whidbey Watershed Stewards maintains The Freeland Wetland Preserve property as public open space and conservation property. No alterations to the site will occur with the exception of those intended to protect public safety (dangerous tree removal), or restoration activities (invasive plant removal, replanting).

Freeland Wetland Preserve

Freeland Wetland Preserve Entrance from Newman Road

Robinson Beach

In April 2013, Whidbey Watershed Stewards adopted the Frank D. Robinson Beach Park off Mutiny Bay Rd (on Robinson Rd). Our first goal was to remove all the noxious weeds and plant, encourage native plants to “retake” the park. In the first year we removed most the large Scot’s Broom and immediately saw many of the natural plant life reestablishing its claim to the beach. Recently, we planted some shore pines and are continuing to remove undesirable plant-life as it appears. Volunteer work for the beach park occurs every couple of months. E-mail rick.baker@whidbeywatersheds.org if you want to get the notices.

Robinson Beach

The Outdoor Classroom

Since the opening of the Outdoor Classroom in 1997, Whidbey Watershed Stewards has presented a steady program of K-5 lessons in spring and fall sessions. Each lesson is aligned with grade level learning objectives and is developed and guided by our staff. We have grown and adapted our lessons over the years, and continue to improve and meet the needs of teachers and students.

The self-guided trail at the Outdoor Classroom site is open to the public year-round. We only ask that you respect the nature preserve and not disturb the wildlife and plants. Please have your dog on a leash while you walk, and pick up poop. The trail and boardwalk platforms are wheelchair accessible. A brochure at the information kiosk explains the viewpoints and the watershed system. Comments can be left in the kiosk mailbox.

Smith & Minor Island Aquatic Reserve

Smith and Minor Islands (S&M) lie a few miles off the western shore of Whidbey Island near Oak Harbor. The Islands exist within the 36,300 acres of tidelands and seafloor habitat of the S&M Islands Aquatic Reserve which are managed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Aquatic reserves are zones of the seas and coasts where wildlife is protected from damage and disturbance and are widely promoted as a means of fostering biodiversity, achieving more natural population structures and managing exploited fish populations. DNR has establishing aquatic reserves throughout the state to protect important native ecosystems. It is an effort to promote the preservation, restoration, and enhancement of state-owned aquatic lands that are of special educational, scientific, or environmental interest. As part of this effort DNR created the Aquatic Reserve Citizen Science Program which consists of partnerships between non-profit organizations like Whidbey Watershed Stewards and DNR at each of the seven Reserves. Lots of opportunities to do research, outreach, work side-by-side with researchers. If you’re interested e-mail rick.baker@whidbeywatersheds.org to get the notices.

A research quadrant.

Smith & Minor-4