Comments on: Road ends raise issues of public access to the shore

By: Lucinda Staley

Lucinda Staley — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:51:36 +0000

For my first years in Kitsap, I did not own waterfront and I could not find a way to get to the beach. Intuitively I knew that there must be public access allowed other than the few parks that communities were able to to somehow set aside..at that time I knew only of Illahee. I would drive looking for ways to get to the beach and everywhere it was posted..private property. While yes some was private, I now know that many of these signs are simply keep the public off in cases where the actual access and beach are owned in part by the county, state or town, in essence owned by us.
Property owners who share ownership of the tidelands ajacent or near often have taxes they do not pay and you and I pay because of the public ownership which they would likely have to tolerate.

No property owners that I know of embrace use by the public and whole communities of them will attempt to stall, harrass or otherwise restrain public use and sometimes with the help of the county who will yield to a litigenous body of property owners..the fear of who has the most money to bring them down is historical, not so much in an obvious way because again, we are talking about the mob with money. The public generally accepts the signs, the yelling to get off the beach because not everyone carries around maps of county property and the county hardly if ever! puts a sign up saying this belongs to all of us.
If people do not want to share what is not theirs ie public land ajacentto theirs, find a different property..IF those who are willing (is there ANYONE who we pay their property taxes, willing to let us wander and wonder at the great Puget Sound in Kitsap?

By: Jeff Adams

Jeff Adams — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:41:56 +0000

Instant inspiration and motivation came out of reading Chris Dunagan’s blog about shoreline access earlier today. With the Kitsap Beach Naturalists program’s growth and activities of the Shore Stewards, Stream Keepers, Marine Riparian Initiative, Stillwaters, future Beach Watchers, etc., it’s hard to believe a shoreline access guide doesn’t already exist for Kitsap County.

A possible option… I just created a map called “Kitsap Marine Shoreline Access” (link below) and added two points (Southworth Ferry Dock “road ends” site and Manchester State Park) to show how this can work (pictures can also be added). The text I added was very quick and could be edited and improved, but the idea would be to provide some context by which to enjoy and appreciate the place, and provide information on conservation issues that may be important or observable at that site.

Google map

I imagine this could be populated very quickly since I can invite others to collaborate and contribute to the map. It might be a nice project for Beach Naturalists, Shore Stewards or other volunteers. The “road ends” sites, described in Chris’ blog, could be provided by the County and cities. This could be created inexpensively and quickly as a resource, then a printed version could evolve from it if there was interest and resources.

I will begin to populate this map with sites, but am interested in any reactions you may have. Thanks and have a great day! JEff
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Jeff Adams – jaws@u.washington.edu
Marine Water Quality Specialist
Washington Sea Grant – Kitsap
University of Washington
345 6th Street, Suite 550
Bremerton, WA 98337-1874
360-337-4619
(m) 360-229-9398
(f) 360-337-4864
http://www.wsg.washington.edu

By: Dave Kimble

Dave Kimble — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:15:37 +0000

Thanks to the Kitsap Sun for showing an active educational interest that promotes State intent to encourage our communities here in Kitsap to find and use these public lands as our Legislature has intended.