To ensure the continued protection and restoration of the Duckabush River, the Jefferson Land Trust recently purchased a conservation easement preserving an additional 22 acres of the river. This brings the Trust’s total protected wildlife habitat on the river to more than 200 contiguous acres.
Excerpt: “Protection and restoration of the Duckabush River is a priority for Hood Canal Coordinating Council, Jefferson County and Wild Fish Conservancy, and it is identified by the Nature Conservancy as both a terrestrial and an aquatic ecoregional portfolio site.
The river is a regional conservation priority, as it supports a great diversity of native wildlife. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has identified the area as critical palustrine habitat, where spawning summer chum, chinook, cutthroat, coho, pink salmon and steelhead; breeding harlequin ducks; and the presence of spotted owls have been observed. Tracks and other signs of wildlife that have been noted on the property include those of black bear, Roosevelt elk, beaver, bobcat and river otter.”
Read the complete story in the PT Leader.