Author Archives: jltnatural-admin

Meandering on Marrowstone

Channel linking Kilisut Harbor and Oak Bay

On October, 18, 2019, the Natural History Society visited Marrowstone Island. We gathered at the entrance to Marrowstone with oceanographer Peter Rhines to review the restoration of the channel linking Kilisut Harbor and Oak Bay.

Then we walked through a vernal pond and swamp system on a beautiful property owned by Kurt Steinbach, a recent graduate of the Land Trust’s Northwest Naturalist program. Kurt says these habitats are locally common but hold many secrets due to their inherent inaccessible nature.

Trametes versicolor (Turkey Tail fungus) on Kindbergia praelonga (Slender Beaked Moss)

We timed this outing to coincide with the end of the dry season for easier access, and to take advantage of walking paths he maintains. We expected to see lichens, mushrooms, and mosses revived by the returning rains. We looked for species that have evolved to thrive in a dynamic system with such a variable water table.

Ken at JLTnatural@saveland.org provided meeting time and place, what to bring, and additional information about both projects.

Walk the čičməhán Trail

On September 27, 2019, the Natural History Society took a walking tour of Port Townsend’s new čičməhán (Chetzemoka) Trail. Lys Burden and Luzi Pfenninger, Trail Team members, led us on a specially designed 4.5 mile loop, following parts of the designated interpretive trail, but also neighborhood shortcuts and sections of Port Townsend’s off-road trail system.

As we visited seven sights, including čičməhán’s grave site, Kah Tai Lagoon, and Kah Tai Prairie, Lys and Luzi shared stories of the tribal signs. We learned about the ethnographic, hydrologic, and glacial history of the San Juan (qatay) Valley.

Nan at JLTnatural@saveland.org provided information about meeting time and place, and what to bring.

Field Tour of the Tarboo Watershed with Northwest Watershed Institute

Great Blue Heron

On August 20, 2019, the Natural History Society took an all-day tour of the Tarboo Watershed with Peter Bahls, biologist and Director of Northwest Watershed Institute. The Institute and many project partners have been implementing one of the largest landscape-scale conservation projects in Puget Sound.

We explored from the headwaters of Tarboo Creek to spectacular Dabob Bay, and stopped to take short walks to see a diversity of wildlife, stream, forest, and shoreline habitats, and a full spectrum of land protection and restoration projects.

Thuja plicata (Western Redcedar)

Janell at JLTnatural@saveland.org coordinated meeting time and place, what to bring, and additional information.

August 2019 Book Selection

The Jefferson Land Trust Natural History Society book club will meet on Monday, August 26, 2019, 3:30 – 5:00, to discuss Mountain in the Clouds by Bruce Brown. Let’s gather at 3:15 at the lot across from San Juan Taqueria; from there we can carpool to Ilahee Preserve.

Called “profound and moving” by the Washington Post, this environmental classic launched the wild salmon movement and inspired the removal of the dams on the Elwha River, the largest dam removal project in human history. The book centers on the rivers of the Olympic Peninsula, and although written in the 1980s, is as timely as when it was first written. A new preface was included in the 1995 publication.

If you’ve ever wondered “where did all the wild salmon go?” then this is a must-read for you.