Kennedy Creek Natural Area Preserve
The Area is located approximately 100 yards from the junction of U.S. Highway 101 and Old Olympic Highway, about a 15-minute drive from Washington's capital city of Olympia. Parking areas are located on the side of Old Olympic Highway, and a short all-weather pedestrian trail leads to an improved wildlife viewing and interpretive area. The Preserve is visited by large numbers of migratory waterfowl, especially in winter months. Birding is best on a falling tide.
Kennedy Creek, whose headwaters are 500-foot (150 m) Summit Lake in the Black Hills, is one of the largest Chum salmon spawning areas in the lower Puget Sound, and has a genetically distinct run of Chum salmon. A forest trail about 1 mile (1.6 km) up from Oyster Bay along Kennedy Creek was opened in 2000 for salmon viewing during spawning season.
A $1 million expansion of the area has been proposed and is pending legislative action.
References
- ^ "Estuarine NAPs". Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition. Archived from the original on 2013-04-16. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
- ^ Kennedy Creek NAP, Washington Department of Natural Resources, archived from the original on 2013-04-14, retrieved 2012-12-21
- ^ Summit Lake environmental assessment, Washington Department of Ecology, 1997, retrieved 2012-12-21
- ^ Christopher Smith; Laura Ritter, Engineering with Nature: Alternative Techniques to Riprap Bank Stabilization, Federal Emergency Management Agency
- ^ "Home - Wildlife Recreation and Coalition". Wildliferecreation.org. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
- ^ Kathryn True (November 13, 2008), "Super salmon-spawning site Kennedy Creek entertains and educates", The Seattle Times, retrieved 2012-12-21
External links
- Official website
- Kennedy Creek salmon trail at South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group
- Nature Minute 21: Kennedy Creek NAP on YouTube