Business Stormwater Management: Roadhouse Nursery    
   This award recognizes the owner or operator of a business in unincorporated Kitsap County for implementing and/or supporting innovative practices resulting in clean runoff.
  This year’s recipients are Jan and George Bahr from Roadhouse Nursery in Poulsbo. Over the past several years, rain gardens have become a more accepted option for dealing with stormwater runoff. Rain gardens give us the ability to mimic nature by treating stormwater and putting it back in the ground. Jan and George were at the forefront of rain garden installation, creating one at Roadhouse Nursery even before local incentive programs began. They have been an invaluable resource to the Kitsap Conservation District, WSU Kitsap Extension, the county and local cities in encouraging the installation of rain gardens. They have worked to track down appropriate plants for the rain gardens and have devoted much time to education of citizens.

Residential Property Stormwater, WSU and KCD: Frog Farm    
Kitsap Conservation District and WSU Extension Kitsap recognize a citizen or group of citizens in unincorporated Kitsap County for excellence and/or innovation in managing private property stormwater for the public good.
   Kristine Strand owns Frog Farm in Poulsbo. Concerned about the effect farm runoff might have on Dog Fish Creek, she installed a rain garden near her barn and horse paddock. The rain garden collects runoff from almost 1,000 square feet of impervious surface from the barn and paddock area, helping to improve the quality of runoff entering Dogfish Creek and eventually Liberty Bay. The rain garden not only serves as a functional stormwater runoff feature, but is also a wonderful addition to the farm landscape. The Kitsap Conservation District and WSU Extension Kitsap would like to recognize Kristine Strand of Frog Farm in Poulsbo.

Septic System: Nathan Cleaver Septic Design, Inc.                                                                                
Kitsap Public Health District recognizes an individual or business that exemplifies the responsibility and the commitment to protecting public and environmental health of Kitsap County surface and ground waters from contamination by failing septic systems.
This year’s recipient is Nathan Cleaver from Nathan Cleaver Septic Design, Inc,. Nathan is a local onsite sewage system designer and installer. Last year, Health District staff identified a failing septic system on a property very close to Dogfish Creek. The homeowner was willing and interested in making repairs, but financing the repairs was a real challenge. Nathan stepped up and essentially donated both the time and the materials necessary to install a new onsite sewage system. Without his assistance, the owner would not have been able to complete the repair and the water quality of Dogfish Creek would have continued to be impacted.

Agriculture, KCD: Aspen Falls Farm                                                                                                        
The award from Kitsap Conservation District is given to the owner of a farm in unincorporated Kitsap County which demonstrates excellence in land conservation and sustainable farming.
William and Kathleen Urban own and manage Aspen Falls Farm, 64 acres off Hansville Road near Kingston. Grover’s Creek, a salmon stream, and an associated tributary flow through the property. Approximately 25 acres is used for agricultural purposes, and the remainder is used for forestry and wildlife. They raise Tennessee Walker horses and have been implementing their 2008 Farm Conservation Plan to meet forage needs of livestock, protect fish and wildlife habitat, and protect water quality.
Among the many planned practices they have implemented, the Urbans have installed fencing to exclude livestock from streams and ponds and to accommodate rotational grazing of pastures; confined animals to dry, upland areas and buildings during the rainy season to protect pastures; stored and composted manure to minimize impact on water quality; tested the soil and applied manure to fields for fertilizer; and have removed invasive vegetation and planted native trees and shrubs for a stream buffer.
William and Kathleen have an exemplary conservation ethic and have conscientiously used their own funds to implement their plan. The Kitsap Conservation District has selected William and Kathleen Urban for the Clean Water Partner Award for Agriculture for 2011.

Kitsap County Public Works                                                                                      Updated: 02/08/2012
Surface & Stormwater Management Program
(360) 337-5777 or (800) 825-4940
Kitsap1@co.kitsap.wa.us