Puget Sound is the crown jewel of Washington State. Its beauty promotes tourism, its bounty feeds us, and its vibrant cities on its shores bring goods and jobs. This vital asset with its incredible wealth of natural wonder faces a two-pronged threat. On one hand pollution threatens habitat; on the other hand, natural defenses to pollution, such as wetlands are being decimated by urbanization.

The Swan Lake Watershed Preservation Group is dedicated to preserving and restoring this rural watershed on Whidbey Island to its maximum natural potential. 

What We Do

Our group monitors the environment, actively participates to protect endangered habitat, advocates for watershed preservation and estuary restoration. We are currently involved in a trial habitat restoration project to support the Taylor's checkerspot butterfly.

History

Swan Lake was purchased with Conservation Futures Funds by Island County in 1999 for wetland & wildlife habitat; storm water & flood control; low-impact & minimally developed parkland; and low-impact recreation. Swan Lake is a rare estuarine wetland that was farmed for the majority of the 20th Century as the result of diking, pumping and draining through a culvert and tide gate system. It has not been farmed since the 1970's and has gradually returned to a more natural state. It is now designated a Habitat of Local Importance and it is a refuge for over 100 species of birds according to the Whidbey Audubon Society (1/7th of those found in the entire nation). Otters frolic while eagles soar overhead. Sunset Beach is only footsteps away. Joseph Whidbey State Park to the north and the wooded lands to the south combine to create a refuge and habitat for many rare plants and animals.