Green Sanctuary Program
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Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship
Green Sanctuary Program |
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Nature Conservancy http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/washington/preserves/art6355.html Why You Should Visit: This preserve is accessible only by boat and is an excellent stop off for boaters launching from Larrabee State park. Located South of Bellingham in Northwest Washington. How to Prepare for Your Visit: Open year-round, the island is accessible by private boat only. Please beach boats on northeast and west beaches only. Please stay on the foot trail that circles the island. The preserve is open daylight hours only. For more information, please see our "Preserve Visitation Guidelines" page. Directions: From Bellingham: Take Interstate 5 to Exit 231 onto Route 11 (also known as Chuckanut Drive.) Proceed south for 14.4 miles to Larrabee State Park, a public boat-launching site. Continue north by boat around Governor's Point to the preserve. What to See: Plants:The Cyrus Gates Memorial Preserve offers a protected forest island habitat of Douglas-fir (some well over 250 years old) along with grand fir, madrone, and western red cedar. The understory is dominated by salal, ocean spray and snowberry. Western starflower blossoms appear each April. Animals: The tidal areas of the island are home to many marine invertebrates including barnacles, rock crabs, sea cucumbers, limpets, hermit crabs, and blue mud shrimp. Surfbirds, which winter in flocks of two dozen or more in Chuckanut Bay, frequently perch on the island's rocky shore. There are two bald eagles that nest on the island. Why the Conservancy Selected This Site: This island was a gift to the Conservancy in 1976. It is home to a bald eagle nest and is healthy example of native coastal forest habitat. What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing: An active volunteer network has provided surveillance for inappropriate land use such as camping and fires. The island is also being managed for non-native plants such as ivy that would disrupt the natural balance. |
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