Kiket Island Phase I will add to Deception Pass State Parks approx. 55 upland and 20 tideland acres including all of Flagstaff Island, the western half of Kiket and 1.25 miles of Skagit County shoreline. Directly E of Deception Pass and within the Swinomish Reservation, Kiket Island is a peninsula connected to Fidalgo and Flagstaff Islands by tombolos. WSP is working with the Swinomish to garner support for the project that will protect important Skagit River delta marine riparian habitat for fish and wildlife and improve access to the shoreline for passive recreation and environmental education. Diverse nearshore habitat includes eelgrass (mostly subtidal) supporting Summer Chum, Chinook, and coho salmon, steelhead, and bull trout; marine mammals and birds including snipe, heron, osprey, bald eagles, and many waterfowl. Herring and sandlance, two important forage fish stocks for endangered salmon spawn along the Kiket Island shore that is rich with shellfish and crustaceans. Marine riparian forested uplands with old growth trees provide habitat for Douglas squirrel and many birds. Flagstaff is a rare example of a near pristine rocky bald habitat. Seattle City Light owned the property in the 1970s with plans to build a nuclear power plant. Fortunately the island remains mostly undeveloped, and the baseline assessments completed 30 years ago render this the most studied nearshore in the Puget Sound. TPL holds a time sensitive Option to Purchase the property from the owners, who otherwise plan to sell for development.