March Shore Friendly Newsletter

Kitsap County sent this bulletin at 03/13/2026 09:35 AM PDT

March on the Shoreline

As winter slowly begins to fade in the Pacific Northwest, March brings change along the shores of Puget Sound. The days are getting longer, the tides keep moving in and out, and the shoreline starts to show signs of early spring.

If you take a walk along the beach this time of year, you might see more birds flying overhead and plants starting to wake up along the shoreline.

March is also an exciting time for spawning forage fish like the Pacific herring. Their eggs become food for seabirds, marine mammals, and larger fish. These small fish play a big role in keeping the Puget Sound ecosystem healthy.

Along the beach, winter storms may have moved driftwood and sand, changing parts of the shoreline. This is normal. These natural changes help keep beaches healthy, provide homes for wildlife, and help protect coastal properties.

Sources: Pacific herring distribution in Puget Sound | Encyclopedia of Puget Sound

Unraveling the Mystery of Herring in South Puget Sound: A Key to Salmon Recovery - Long Live The Kings

Herring Highway

Driftwood and Sand

Take a closer look at the shores of the Salish Sea with this fascinating article from Salish Magazine. From massive logs to tiny creatures that break down wood and return nutrients to the sea, “Driftwood and Sand” reveals the hidden stories of our beaches. Every piece of driftwood and grain of sand plays a role in the ecosystem right at our feet.

Photo by John F. Williams

Read it here: Driftwood and Sand | Salish Magazine

Shore Friendly Kitsap will be at the Bainbridge Island Environmental Conference

Shore Friendly Kitsap will be hosting a field trip and tabling at the Bainbridge Island Environmental Conference this year. Stop by our booth to say hello, ask shoreline questions, and learn more about free resources available to shoreline landowners. We look forward to connecting with community members who care about healthy shorelines and Puget Sound.

Field Trip - Saturday, March 28th

Conference Sunday, March 29 from 1 - 4pm

Learn more and register here: Bainbridge Island Environmental Conference - Sustainable Bainbridge

Shoreline Landowner Workshop - April 15

Shore Friendly Kitsap will be hosting an in-person Shoreline Landowner Workshop with John Bornsworth of Peninsula Environmental Group in April. This workshop will focus on practical, shoreline-specific strategies for caring for waterfront property while supporting nearshore habitat.

Spring Reminder from Your Shore Friendly Team!

As you start adding plants to your garden this spring, remember, say no to noxious weeds! Check out our list of native plants that thrive along your shoreline and provide excellent habitat for wildlife. Shore Friendly Native Plant Guide

Herring Spawning Survey Opportunities

Closeup of herring spawn on kelp. Photo credit: Tessa Francis

Each spring, schools of Pacific herring move into the shallow waters of Puget Sound to spawn, laying thousands of tiny sticky eggs on eelgrass, seaweed, and other nearshore vegetation. Though small, herring are a critical forage fish that help support salmon, seabirds, marine mammals, and many other species throughout the food web. If you happen to notice milky water, fish activity, or eggs along the shoreline, you can contribute to citizen science by reporting your observation through this new herring spawn survey: Herring Spawning Observation Survey

Species Spotlight - Dumbbell Worm / Mud Owl

Photo from Encyclopedia of Puget Sound

Ever heard of a worm that looks like a tiny owl? Meet the dumbbell worm (Sternaspis affinis), a small marine worm that lives buried in the muddy seafloor of Puget Sound. Most of the time it feeds upside-down with its head tucked in the sediment, munching on tiny organic particles while the back end of its body sticks up into the water. To protect itself, it uses two tough plates called a caudal shield that cover its burrow opening, and those plates look just like little owl eyes, which is how it earned the nickname “mud owl.”

I have to say… this creature is so cool! It’s amazing to think that these tiny, and totally fascinating animals are living just beneath the mud in Puget Sound, quietly helping process organic material on the seafloor. It’s a great reminder that some of the most intriguing wildlife in our region is the stuff we rarely get to see!

Source: The dumbbell worm | Encyclopedia of Puget Sound