Shoreline Successes: Kicking Off 2025 with Inspiration and Impact!

Kitsap County sent this bulletin at 01/08/2025 07:00 PM PST

January 2025

Year in Review: Celebrating Shore Friendly Kitsap's Accomplishments

As 2024 comes to an end, we’re excited to share some of the great work we’ve done this year.

One of the biggest highlights was finishing the Kleins’ bulkhead removal project. This project is helping to improve shoreline habitat for fish and wildlife. It shows how private property owners can make a big difference in restoring the health of Puget Sound.

We’ve created a series of short videos to share the story of the Kleins’ shoreline transformation. Check them out below to see the journey in action!

What a year it’s been! Here are some other exciting things we accomplished in 2024:

Visited 21 waterfront properties providing homeowners with personalized advice and resources.

Conducted 7 geotechnical site visits in 2024, partnering with Natural System Design and Coastal Geologic Services to offer free assessments by professional geologists.

Hosted a workshop with 27 attendees and two fun beach walks with 37 shoreline landowners.

Supported great projects like the Klein bulkhead removal project (mentioned above), which received a $15,000 Shore Friendly grant and is now complete!

Attended 4 community events, including the Bainbridge Island Native Plant Sale and Kitsap Salmon Tours.

Added 438 new newsletter subscribers (hello to all 3,057 of you!) and shared 59 posts on Facebook, getting over 6,800 views!

Thank you for being part of this journey to protect and restore Puget Sound shorelines.

The view from one of the sites we visited.

We’d love feedback on your Shore Friendly Kitsap site visit!

As a shoreline homeowner, your experiences are invaluable in helping us enhance our site visits and create resources that address the unique challenges of managing and protecting marine shorelines. Please take a few minutes to complete our short survey by clicking here. Your feedback will help guide how Shore Friendly supports homeowners like you in the coming year.

Upcoming Community Events Urban Planning & Trees

Kitsap County Community Development Staff are hosting two events in February to gather and discuss urban planning topics important to our community.

Jane's Walk

Saturday February 1, 2025

9:00am - 11:00am

Village Greens Community Center | 26159 Dulay Rd. NE Kingston, WA

Guided walk on a 2-mile loop while discussing points of interest including parks, trees, and other highlights with local officials.

Book Club Workshop

Braiding Sweetgrass: Maple Nation Discussion
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
5:00–7:00 PM | Village Green Community Center

Join a facilitated discussion on Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, focusing on the chapter "Maple Nation: A Citizenship Guide." Following the book club, discuss Kitsap County topics, including the new Tree Canopy Code.

Books available at local stores or Kitsap Regional Library

Hosted by Kitsap County Community Development in Partnership with Kitsap Regional Library.

Thank you for being a part of Shore Friendly’s journey. We’re looking forward to another year of collaboration, innovation, and positive change!

Shore Friendly Events!

We are thrilled to announce that our first beach walk of 2025 will be in March! Stay tuned for more details.

Image from Canva:Tides

King Tides

Mark your calendar to observe these naturally occurring high tides in early 2025 on the following dates:

January 12–16
January 31
February 1–3

King Tides occur when the gravitational forces of the moon and sun align to produce the highest tides of the year. They offer a glimpse into how rising sea levels could affect our shorelines in the future.

For a deeper understanding of tides, check out this video: What Causes Tides?

Help document these tides by taking a photo at the highest point of the tide cycle and uploading it to the MyCoast App.

📍 Tidal patterns can vary based on specific locations within the Puget Sound. For the most accurate and location-specific information, consult Sea Grant King Tides Calendar

⚠️ Remember to stay safe when visiting the shore during these extreme tides.

Image from Canva: Bald Eagle

Winter Ecosystems: What’s Happening Along Your Shoreline? Winter brings unique changes to the shorelines of Puget Sound. Stormy weather reshapes the coast, washing up kelp, driftwood, and other natural debris that provide habitat and nutrients for wildlife. Watch for buffleheads and goldeneyes foraging in the water or bald eagles perched high above. These seasonal shifts remind us of the resilience and beauty of our local beaches.

Check out this past newsletter about the seasonal differences of our beaches.

About Shore Friendly Kitsap

Shore Friendly Kitsap is your waterfront partner. We connect waterfront landowners with technical support and resources for bulkhead removal. Whether you are thinking about restoring your shoreline or are actively pursuing a project, we are here to help. To learn more about who we are and how we can help, click here.

Phone:
360.307.4242

Email:
shorefriendly@kitsap.gov

Website: shorefriendlykitsap.com

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Shore Friendly Kitsap, Your Waterfront Partner

Our mission is to empower Puget Sound waterfront landowners to create beautiful, environmentally friendly shorelines for themselves and generations to come.