Great Peninsula Conservancy’s Filucy Bay Preserve protects 119 acres of beautiful shoreline, salt marsh, and forest near Longbranch on Key Peninsula. At the end of July, a generous community member purchased two small properties, about 1.3 acres each, and donated them to Great Peninsula Conservancy to expand the preserve and protect an additional 200 feet of estuary shoreline. Not only does this donation conserve more habitat, but it can be used as match for grants to support additional acquisition work in the area.
Last year, thanks to the support of a Lu Winsor Memorial Environmental grant from the KGI Watershed Council, GPC was able to activate the preserve for passive recreation and install a bench, picnic table, interpretive signage, and a hand-powered watercraft landing.
However, further work was necessary to create a safe opportunity for public access and enjoyment. In early 2021, a dilapidated oyster shack at the shoreline water-landing was tested and identified as containing friable asbestos material, which could deteriorate into the waters of Filucy Bay. With funding from the Gig Harbor Rotary Foundation and KGI Watershed Council’s Lu Winsor Memorial Environmental grant, GPC hired a certified asbestos abatement contractor to safely remove the hazardous debris from the site.
This spring, GPC’s stewardship team was once again able to partner with community volunteers at the site. They worked together to remove invasive species and plant native plants on the shoreline.
We are so thankful to our community of donors, funding partners, and volunteers for helping protect and restore Filucy Bay Preserve!