Divide Community Forest
Straddling the Grovers Creek and Gamble Creek watersheds and home to stunning views of both the North Cascades and Olympic Mountains, the Divide Community Forest (commonly referred to as The Divide) spans 467 acres of vital forestland. As Great Peninsula Conservancy’s (GPC) newest Community Forest, this property serves as a critical link in a 5,000-acre wildlife corridor stretching across the Kitsap Peninsula from the Hood Canal to Puget Sound’s Central Basin. The Divide features six wetland and riparian areas rich with diverse plant communities and a remarkable array of wildlife. The property’s good soils, ample moisture, and moderate slopes provide some of the best growing conditions in western Washington.
The Divide is the final large acquisition of forestland from Pope Resources (now Rayonier) completing the decades-long Kitsap Forest and Bay Project. This community forest expands upon the adjacent 320-acre Grovers Creek Preserve, which protects critical wetland and peat bog along Grovers Creek, as well as 200-year-old Sitka Spruce trees and true old-growth red cedars. The property is also slated to serve as a key segment of the future Sound to Olympics Trail, connecting the Mountains to Sound Greenway with the Olympic Discovery Trail.
The Divide was acquired in December 2024 with funding from several sources, including a $2.9 million grant from the State RCO Community Forest Program, a $2 million grant from Kitsap Conservation Futures, several major donations from private individuals, and a loan from the Washington Opportunity Fund.
Goals of The Divide Community Forest
Representing more than a decade of conservation efforts by over 30 organizations, including the Port Gamble S’Klallam and Suquamish Tribes, The Divide is part of the larger Kitsap Forest and Bay Project. The forest will be managed as a community forest to protect and enhance its rich biodiversity, supporting resident wildlife including black bears, bobcats, mountain beavers, and many neotropical migratory and resident birds. As part of a larger network of protected lands, The Divide will provide sustainable ecological forestry opportunities while serving as a key segment of the Sound to Olympics Trail, connecting communities across the Kitsap Peninsula.
GPC’s primary management goals for The Divide are to create an ecologically diverse, healthy, and climate-resilient forest ecosystem that provides opportunities for public recreation, environmental education, and sustainable revenue generation. The Divide prioritizes guidance by the community to help inform its purpose and management.
Community Forest Advisory Team
In the spring and summer of 2025, plans to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the spring of 2025 and will hold a series of open meetings with interested community members to develop a comprehensive management plan, including plans for potential trail development. If you are interested in learning more about the process, email Micaela Petrini, Stewardship Coordinator, at micaela@greatpeninsula.org.
2025 Divide Community Forest Project Campaign
In 2025, GPC will launch a project campaign to raise $1 million to secure the funding gap and pay off the loan. To learn more about becoming an anchor donor, contact Nathan Daniel, nate@greatpeninsula.org.