Grovers Creek Preserve Expansion Project
Towered by hemlock, alder, spruce, and cedar, a peaceful mossy oasis lies at the heart of nearly 40 acres of undeveloped land next to one of Great Peninsula Conservancy’s most treasured conservation properties, the 279-acre Grovers Creek Preserve. This North Kitsap forest, which includes a rare grove of 200-year-old Sitka spruce, supports a wide array of wildlife, including black bears, deer, bobcats, beavers, and birds. Streams and wetland pools release a year-round flow of clean cold water, making this a critical habitat for threatened steelhead. Grovers Creek Preserve is at the center of a forest corridor spanning nearly 1,700 acres in northern Kitsap Peninsula. This corridor serves as an important wildlife habitat but also a treasured place for people to explore the natural wonders of this special area.
The target property contains wetland habitat, mixed forest, and a tributary of Grovers Creek. Prioritizing the connectivity of undeveloped parcels like this is increasingly important for climate resiliency in addition to providing benefits to wildlife. This project was a rare opportunity to expand a forested corridor in an area of the northern Kitsap Peninsula under increasing development pressure.
Campaign
Thanks to amazing community support in spring 2023, the campaign succeeded in raising the $237,000 to purchase the property and expand Grovers Creek Preserve!
