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Summer has come to a close, and we’re excited to welcome the fall season. Over the summer, we stayed busy with shoreline visits, workshop planning, and connecting with shoreline landowners. Thank you for being part of this work, we look forward to what’s ahead this fall!
 At the end of August, the Shore Friendly team had the opportunity to join the West Sound Partners for Ecosystem Recovery as they visited the recently finished Whiteman Cove project. Sitting right between YMCA Camp Colman and Joemma Beach State Park in Pierce County, the project tells the story of what years of research and collaborative work can do to improve our local shorelines and waterways.
The project, which was run primarily through Washington’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR), sought to remove a dam that had been built in the 1960s to develop the cove into a “saltwater lake” for rearing salmon and in support of salmon hatcheries. The project was unsuccessful and soon abandoned; the dam prevented tidal exchanges from entering the naturally occurring pocket estuary, degrading the habitat. Pocket estuaries provide the necessary habitat for young salmon to grow and take shelter from predators in the Puget Sound.
With collaboration between DNR, Pierce County, the Squaxin Island Tribe, and YMCA Camp Colman, the project was successfully completed in January 2025 and now has continuous monitoring efforts in place.
With National Estuaries Week occurring September 20th-27th, we encourage you all to go visit this exciting project or share your favorite local estuaries with us at Shore Friendly Kitsap!
Welcome our new intern Hope Swenland!
We’re excited to introduce Hope Swenland, our new Shore Friendly Kitsap intern! Hope is passionate about environmental policy and public communication. She’ll be helping us share shoreline stories, highlight restoration successes, and connect with the community through outreach and education. We’re thrilled to have her on board!
Upcoming Events
Fall is shaping up to be a busy season! With multiple workshops, community events, and salmon returning to our streams, there will be plenty of opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate the importance of healthy shorelines.
Shore Friendly Contractor Workshop
FREE Shore Friendly Workshop designed for landscape professionals, arborists, drainage specialists, excavation services, and other contractors working on the marine shoreline.
Don't work along the shoreline - Share with those who do!
Register here: Shore Friendly Contractor Workshop Tickets, Thu, Oct 16, 2025 at 8:30 AM | Eventbrite
Workshop Agenda here.
Discover Kingston
 The Discover Kingston Community Open House 2025 will be held on Monday, September 29, from 4–7 p.m.
at the Village Green Community Center (26159 Dulay Road NE).
Hosted by the Kingston Community Advisory Council (KCAC), this annual event features more than 60 local nonprofits, service providers, and government organizations that support the greater Kingston community.
Shore Friendly Kitsap will be there sharing shoreline resources!
Bainbridge Island Plant Sale
 Join Shore Friendly on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the Bainbridge First Baptist Church (8810 Madison Ave. NE, Bainbridge Island, WA) for the annual Native Plant Sale hosted by the Bainbridge Island Land Trust.
Shore Friendly will be there with a booth, ready to share tips and resources to help you protect our shorelines and restore native habitats.
2025 Native Plant Sale - Bainbridge Island Land Trust
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