Climate Change & Restoration
T. Pereida

With the threat of wildfires close to home and the potential for more record-breaking temperatures more of a likelihood than a possibility, we must acknowledge the dangers of climate change. According to a report by Restore America’s Estuaries, Responding to Climate Change Through Coastal Habitat Restoration, the current threats on our coastal habitat are only expected to worsen over the next century. We have seen rises in global temperature, sea level, and carbon dioxide concentration. We have seen changes in precipitation affecting freshwater levels while waves and storms grow in intensity. These changes are having dramatic effects on coastal habitats and the species dependent on these ecosystems (https://estuaries.org/reports/).

One thing we can do to help coastal habitats adapt to climate change is restoration, which will make these ecosystems more resilient. For over 20 years now, Stillwaters Environmental Center has been working to monitor and restore our local estuary, salt marsh, and watershed. Just this month, with the help of many volunteers, Stillwaters conducted multiple vegetation surveys, sediment analyses, invasive green crab monitoring, bird surveys, stream and estuary monitoring, and beach profiling. The fate of coastal communities and habitats are intertwined, and we work to provide data that tell the whole story.​

Volunteer Gloria Hill measures wind velocity
​at Arness Park.

​(L-R) Celina DeJong; intern from Huxley College of the Peninsulas and Jenna Wright; Monitoring Assistant assess water quality at our local estuary.

We also recognize that in order for restoration to be successful, coastal communities need to be made more aware of the benefits provided by these natural habitats. By providing volunteer opportunities for hands-on involvement with our restoration and monitoring efforts, community members play a huge role in managing their own local resources. Post-COVID, we are working to increase our communication with and presence in the community. Recently, our Program Director, Melissa Fleming, met with the Poulsbo Friends of the Library and explained Stillwaters’ early role in the statewide strategy to replace culverts and restore fish passage in Kitsap streams. Our ongoing monitoring documents ecosystem recovery since two culverts were removed in Kingston, while interns from local universities analyze the data collected.