What is the project and why is it being done?

Owned by the City and located near a recently restored salmon stream and an aquatic conservancy area, the approximately four acre Strawberry Plant Park property is one of the most significant opportunities to restore lost habitat in Eagle Harbor that can benefit salmon, shellfish, birds, and other wildlife.

The purpose of the restoration of the Strawberry Plant property is to improve public shore habitat, while providing for recreational opportunities at a shoreline park. The park development is expected to be multi-phased with the City leading the shoreline restoration component and Park District leading the planning and development for the upland portion of the park, which offers additional opportunities for recreation,  cultural activities and historical interpretation.

The shoreline restoration project is funded by the City and significant funds from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board Grant (SRFB) and the Natural Resource Damage Assessments (NRDA) levied as part of the Superfund Cleanup.

The primary objective of the restoration project is to restore intertidal habitat, marsh and marine vegetation by removing 100 creosote piles, 250 linear feet of concrete and rip-rap, 23,000 square feet of fill, and 23,000 square feet of asphalt paving. The project also establishes a non-motorized boat launch and walking path to provide direct water access, and creates a bermed meadow for picnicking and other recreation with an 80-foot wide view corridor. Also included in the project are permits for a future footbridge over Weaver Creek and an overwater viewing structure (approx. 145 feet in length) envisioned for future construction.

When will construction begin on the project; how long will it go on, and will the park be open to the public during construction?

Construction is expected to start in mid-September and continue into mid-November. For safety purposes, the park will be closed to the public during construction. The public can follow the progress of the work by visiting the City’s website page at www.ci.bainbridge-isl.wa.us/strawberry_plant.aspx for regular updates.

Does the project create space for recreational activity at Strawberry Plant Park?

The Strawberry Plant Park Restoration project will remove fill material, concrete and other debris at the shoreline to restore natural functions and create saltwater marsh habitat for fish and wildlife. Shoreline restoration activities will take place within the 50-foot native vegetation zone along the waterfront, impacting less than 15% of the four-acre park.

The removal of fill will reduce the land area above mean higher high water by approximately 0.2 acres – five percent of the overall park land area. An intertidal marsh of approximately .65 acres will be created along the shoreline. Clean fill will be placed in the upland area, replacing the existing large asphalt paving and creating a sloping meadow for recreational activity. Removal of the asphalt and concrete at the site will be completed using impact hammers, excavators or similar means. Dynamite will not be used.

Will public access to the water be reduced, and will the shoreline be fenced off?

When the restoration is complete, Strawberry Plant Park will offer direct public access to the water in several ways. A non-motorized boat ramp will provide a place to launch kayaks and other human powered crafts. An ADA-accessible beach access pathway will be created with over 60 linear feet of direct saltwater access, allowing visitors to explore the shoreline. Once the marsh is established, the site will offer another 200 feet of shoreline access. The property also has a creek along the eastern edge, which provides another 600 linear feet of water viewing access. A pathway leading to an overwater viewing structure is planned for the future.

Temporary goose fencing will be used to protect the saltwater marsh. Once plants are established, the fencing will be removed. In the future, temporary fencing may occasionally need to be used again to allow for re-establishment of marsh plantings. The property also has a creek along its eastern edge, which provides another 600 linear feet of water access.

Will plantings block the water view of picnickers from the newly created meadow?

The landscape plan includes an 80-foot wide view corridor from the new meadow sloping down to the marsh and water’s edge. The view corridor will include new native shrubs, and groundcovers will be planted so that lower-growing plants will be placed at the meadow edge and taller shrubs down slope from the meadow. A maintenance plan specifies that plantings in this view corridor may be pruned to two feet for groundcover and shrubs, and to four feet for taller shrubs located along the stream mouth. Views from the meadow will ultimately depend on the final rise of the meadow area.

Is there a danger of environmental contamination from underground toxics during the construction of the restoration project?

Because a neighboring property is a former fuel storage site, several environmental studies have been performed at the site as part of the due diligence for the shoreline restoration project. At the City’s request, Anchor QEA, an environmental consulting firm, recently reviewed these studies, and reported that “there is no evidence that indicates the Strawberry Plant Project site (ie., the area of proposed habitat restoration) has impacted soils or groundwater, and no indication that the soils tested would be expected to pose a risk to environmental media or receptors.” As with all construction projects, during excavation workers are required to report any concerns regarding suspicious soils.

Will the shoreline restoration plan destroy an historic site?

As part of the development of the City’s shoreline restoration plans, a Cultural Resources Assessment of the site, which was the location of a Strawberry Packing Plant prior to World War II, was conducted by Northwest Archaeological Associates, Inc. (NWAA). This study consisted of background review, field survey, monitoring, assessment and reporting.

The assessment concluded that “While the property boasts a significant history, little remains within the Area of Potential Effects (APE) that conveys that significance. The cannery’s destruction (by fire) in 1997 eliminated any integrity that once existed.” The document concluded that the restoration project will not involve excavation beneath existing fill and therefore will not be likely to disturb cultural deposits that may be present.

This study was reviewed by the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, which agreed with NWAA’s determination that no historic properties would be affected by the shoreline restoration. As advised by the consultant and the Department of Archaeology, the City will implement professional archaeological monitoring during construction activities that disturb the ground. Should archaeological or historic materials be discovered, work in the vicinity would immediately stop, the area would be secured, and the Suquamish Tribe’s cultural department and the state Department of Archaeology would be informed.

Is the City responsible to maintain the restoration plantings in perpetuity even if the restoration is not successful and the grant monies are exhausted?
As stipulated in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the City and Elliott Bay Trustee Council, the City is responsible for maintenance and adaptive management of the shoreline restoration project, and the Elliott Bay Trustee Council, which manages the Natural Resources Damage Assessment funds which are being used to fund the restoration, will provide the funds for stewardship. The covenant specifies the maintenance plan for the project. If for some reason the restoration is not effective as determined by the Elliot Bay Trustee Council, the deed requirement may be extinguished and the City will not be required to replant the planting.