DISCOVERY BAY — Washington State University’s Extension Service has launched a new program to educate residents about what they can do to better protect the threatened health of Jefferson County’s waterways.
Shore Stewards offers workshops to residents who apply to the free program on subjects such as caring for your bay, stream or lake property and how to make it fish and wildlife friendly.
“We want to reach all those people who don’t even think that way,” said Pat Pearson, WSU Extension Jefferson County natural resources/stewardship coordinator.
“It’s about your relationship to the shore and your property.”
“The audience for Shore Stewards is not only people on marine shoreline, but also people who live on lakes and streams throughout Jefferson, Kitsap and Mason counties,” said Cammy Mills, Hood Canal Shore Stewards coordinator.
New applicant accepted
Mills joined Pearson on Thursday to accept an application from new Shore Stewards member Gabe Ornelas at his Discovery Bay home.
Ornelas was then presented the program’s colorfully designed metal sign, which can be posted on a participant’s waterfront property.
“A lot of us are realizing that our natural habitats are escaping us,” said Ornelas, explaining why he was interested in the program.
Ornelas and his wife, Robin, have long been interested in water and fish habitat preservation around the bay and county.
He is the former president of Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee and his five-acre property between Cape George Road and Discovery Bay is part of the state’s Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary program.
The Shore Stewards program allows people like Ornelas to help educate their neighbors about how they can use their land in a way that least affects marine and wildlife habitat in and around waterways.
Mills said 11 others have joined the program, from Discovery Bay, Port Ludlow and the Quilcene-Brinnon communities.