Piner Point Nearshore Habitat Acquisition
Project Description
- Located in the Nearshore Subwatershed
- This project will permanently protect six acres on the southern tip of Maury Island, which includes one-quarter mile of unmodified Puget Sound shoreline
- This site is located within the Maury Island State Aquatic Reserve, designated by Washington State Department of Natural Resources because of its unique and critical environmental attributes
- Habitat diversity is high and includes eel grass beds, salmonids and other fish species, and many bird species
Partners and Funding
- Led by King County in partnership with Vashon/Maury Island Land Trust
- $398,980 funded by SRFB (fifth round) with King County providing $71,000
- Additional funding information
Importance for Salmon
- All species of ocean-going salmon use the nearshore for migration, and it is particularly critical for juvenile Chinook and chum for rearing, refuge from predators, and transition to saltwater habitats
- Piner Point is in a landslide and erosion hazard area and is believed to be a critical source of sediment for the Maury Island driftcell (movement of sediment parallel to the shoreline)
- The shoreline has overhanging vegetation; a study has documented that young salmon rely heavily on terrestrial insects from marine riparian vegetation for their diet
- The Maury Island shoreline has documented smelt spawning areas and extensive eelgrass beds used by herring, both food sources for salmon
Other Watershed Salmon Restoration/Protection Projects