East Kitsap County Nearshore Habitat Assessment

and Restoration Prioritization Framework

A Salmon Recovery Funding Board grant funded this important study completed for the east marine shoreline of Kitsap County.   The Battelle Marine Sciences Laboratory authors; Amy B. Borde, Chaeli Judd, Nichole K. Sather, Ronald M. Thom, Battelle  completed the study in April of 2009.  The overall goal of the nearshore assessment was to develop a  science-based protocol for determining priorities and strategies for improving nearshore ecosystem functions.  The primary objectives of the East Kitsap County nearshore habitat assessment effort were the following:

·Conduct a field inventory of shoreline features;

·Delineate assessment units at “site” and “landscape” scales;

·Characterize the ecological features and conditions within those assessment units;

·Provide a baseline assessment of disturbances to nearshore ecological functions using repeatable methods;

·Consolidate this information into a single, GIS-based database for use by planners and resource managers;

·Validate the disturbance results by evaluating habitat structures indicative of ecosystem functions, including juvenile salmonid habitat.

·Develop a framework for prioritizing preservation and restoration of nearshore habitats used by salmonids.

 The report is available below in 9 Adobe Acrobat files consisting of the report and Appendices A through H.

Click Here for the Final Report

Appendix A - Nearshore Inventory Methods Summary

Appendix B - Tables of Processed Data, Scoring Results, and Management Options

Appendix C - Maps of Score Results

Appendix D - Maps of Recommended Management Options

Appendix E - Fish Habitat Utilization Literature Review

Appendix F - Field Validation Data Summary and Data Sheets

Appendix G - East Kitsap Restoration Projects and Scoring Results

Appendix H - Worksheet for Tier 2 of Prioritization Framework

Click Here for inventory maps and access to data

Click Here for more information about the project

For more information and a list of contacts, please refer to our brochure,  letter, and Frequently Asked Questions

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