Organization
The Clear Creek Project has four major aspects:
1) stream sensitive trail development
2) greenway preservation/stream restoration/salmon enhancement
3) restoration/renovation of an historical landmark barn
4) education/public awareness through interpretive center, trail signs and public outreach.
Task Force meetings are monthly with occasional sub committee meetings. The Task Force, in partnership with the Great Peninsula Conservancy, is primarily coordinated by volunteers. The Task Force operates with an small operations budget of about $20,000 a year. Administration/operations funds have come from individual and business contributions, grants and county support. With the exception of a small percentage of barn renovation work, engineer surveying work, and the pedestrian bridge and restroom construction, all project work done to date has been accomplished with volunteers. Over 14,000 professional and layperson hours have been contributed to this project since 1993
Community Activism at it’s Best
The Kitsap Land Trust received the generous donation of property with a landmark barn on the shores of the estuary, at the head of Clear Creek in 1989. The Task Force used this as it’s cornerstone. With no other assets, aside from the dedication of it members, the dream began to take shape. The Task Force created an ambitious master plan for the watershed to develop a trail system, enhance the stream for salmon and wildlife and educate and increase the awareness of the public.
Much has happened in the years since but maybe most importantly is what the Task Force itself has become and what it has come to pride itself on…a community activism group, a strong grass roots movement, a group known for it’s strong partnerships, for not just it’s willingness to use volunteers, but it’s insistence on it, it’s firm commitment to using local businesses, and for it’s commitment to involving youth -- from Eagle Scouts to Alternative to Detention juveniles. Also of great importance is what the Task Force has been able to provide the Silverdale community in terms of recreation. As a non-incorporated area, Silverdale has no formal ‘Parks Dept’. We have strived to be that informal Parks and Recreation department for the community. We have also been pleased to be a model for grass roots stream groups and part of early efforts in the county to develop and provide recreational trails in a county that has been lacking in such recreational provisions. For these reasons and many others, the Clear Creek Task Force has been a very strong, grass roots stream preservation/recreation oriented group in Kitsap County.
Clear Creek Task Force Members
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