County affirms Conservation Futures funding for North Kitsap community forest and Island Lake land purchase

Kitsap County commissioners on Jan. 13 affirmed two Conservation Futures–funded acquisitions: a $2,000,000 contribution to Great Peninsula Conservancy for a 467‑acre property in North Kitsap (the “Divide” acquisition) and a $940,000 purchase of roughly 11 acres adjacent to Island Lake Park.

Why it matters: County officials and the land trust described the purchases as the finishing pieces of long‑running conservation efforts to protect habitat corridors, shorelines and upland forest in North Kitsap, and to preserve open space near Island Lake Park. The funds come from the county’s Conservation Futures levy, which officials said has renewed capacity after debt service from earlier acquisitions was paid off.

Nathan (Nate) Daniel, executive director of Great Peninsula Conservancy, said the 467‑acre Divide parcel creates a continuous habitat corridor from Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park through Grover’s Creek Preserve and into North Kitsap Heritage Park. “This is a really big deal,” he said, adding the property will be managed “in perpetuity as a community forest.”

Alex Wazewski, Kitsap County parks director, described both contracts as “success stories” for Conservation Futures and said the purchases protect ecologically valuable shorelines, salmon streams and upland forests.

County and land‑trust speakers noted state and local funding matched and multiplied the county allocation: commissioners credited a prior state contribution secured in part by Commissioner Rolfes’ work as a state senator. The GPC representative said the county’s $2 million plus state funds together closed the acquisition.

The board voted to affirm both contracts on the record. The two actions approved:

- KC‑614‑24: Affirmation of a $2,000,000 Conservation Futures contribution to Great Peninsula Conservancy to acquire the 467‑acre Divide property for the North Kitsap Community Forest (approved). - KC‑100‑25: Affirmation of acquisition of approximately 11 acres at 1111 Northwest Island Lake for $940,000 in Conservation Futures funds (approved).

Next steps: Great Peninsula Conservancy said it will convene community walks and meetings to develop a management plan for the new community forest. Parks staff will integrate the Island Lake parcel into park‑area conservation planning.

Context: County staff said bond payoff in 2023 freed additional annual Conservation Futures capacity, allowing new allocations in 2025.