Projects

One of the ways that WICD helps out in the community is through grant-funded projects. The projects we do can vary in scope, size, and involvement, but they always follow our mission of working to conserve our island's natural resources.

Our current projects include outreach building, reducing storm water run-off pollution in the Penn Cove Watershed, and returning a Central Whidbey lake to health. Check out the links below to get the details on our current grant projects.

Penn Cove - Near Term Action (NTA)

WICD has grant funding through the Washington State Department of Ecology, from the National Estuary Program Stormwater Strategic Initiative, to improve water quality through outreach, technical assistance, and Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Penn Cove, Whidbey Island. 

Click here to go to the project page.

Greenbank Marsh Project

Since 2012, WICD has been assisting Greenbank Beach and Boat Club (GBBC) to address the deteriorating outfall on GBBC property. GBBC, with support from WICD, recently received funding for the next phase of this project.  The “Greenbank Marsh Restoration Design” will refine the GBBC member-supported conceptual design into a “permit-ready” design for the subsequent construction phase.  Primary tasks of this phase 2 will be to hire geotechnical and coastal engineering consultants to support WICD’s completion of 90% engineered designs and apply for construction permits.  

​Follow the project's progress here.

Past Projects

Over the past 50 years that we've been inspiring natural resource conservation on Whidbey, we've had the privilege of working all over the island, with so many great partners. Here are a few of the past projects we've been involved in.

Better Ground: Puget Sound District Caucus Outreach Project

Better Ground is a broad-based communication and education campaign spanning all 12 districts of the Puget Sound to increase conservation outcomes in our region, and to enroll more citizens in conservation efforts. 

Visit the project page here and check out the Better Ground website or follow on social media.

Lone Lake Algae Management Project

WICD has grant funding from the WA Department of Ecology's Freshwater Algae Program to develop an Algae Management Plan for Lone Lake.  The overall goal of this project is to produce a management plan focused on reducing nutrient loading to Lone Lake, allowing restoration of native aquatic vegetation and fish habitat, and improving water quality to restore and enhance recreational uses of the lake.

​Learn more about Lone Lake on the project page here.

Farmers to Farmland Beginning Farmer Grant 

Over a three year period ending in 2019, WICD and the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild  partnered to support and connect new farmers with farmland owners seeking to transition their farmlands to the next generation. This work was part of a larger USDA Beginning Farmer Rancher Grant to assist new farmers with establishing, growing, and improving farm enterprises on Whidbey and San Juan Islands. More info on the grant here. WICD continues to offer Beginning Farmer and Farmer to Farmland services. More info is available here.

Historical Mapping Project

When the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) closed it's Whidbey office, WICD inherited several sets of historic aerial photographs  of Whidbey Island and Island County from the 1940s, 1963, and 1990. Recognizing the important historic value of these aerial photos, WICD secured funding from the Washington State Conservation Commission (WSCC) in 2015 to electronically archive the images. Hard copies were donated to Island County Historical Society.
​View the historical maps here.

Maxwelton & Livingston Watersheds Near Term Action (NTA)

In partnership with Snohomish Conservation District, this project focused on providing technical assistance and public outreach to two Island County watersheds to encourage and support stormwater and agricultural best management practice (BMP) implementation, improve surface water quality by using a watershed-based approach to reduce and/or prevent bacterial contamination originating on private lands in these basins.  
Work included a watershed characterization study, workshops, technical assistance, and both targeted and non-targeted outreach. 

Ebey's Prairie Watershed Projects

WICD worked on this multi-phase project from 2013-2016. In Phase 1, funded by the National Estuary Program (NEP) and the WA Department of Ecology (Ecology), we assessed stormwater drainage issues in the Ebey’s Prairie watershed and identified ways to improve water quality. Staff monitored water quality and storm flows, identified potential sources of pollutants, and provided outreach to farmers, homeowners and others  about water quality issues in the watershed and actions to improve it. In Phase 2, WICD staff identified locations within the watershed where water quality treatment technologies could be applied, and worked with farms, landowners, and partners such as National Parks Service, Island County, and Ecolotree Inc to implement projects, including designing and constructing a system to pump stormwater into a lagoon for irrigation and designing a bioswale system along Engle Road. 

Whidbey Island Drought Plan

In 2016, WICD developed a comprehensive drought plan with support from the Washington State Conservation Commission and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.  WICD worked extensively with San Juan Island Conservation District, who also designed their own drought plan. View the final plan here.

Central Whidbey Island Wildfire Hazard Assessment

In 2016-2017, WICD worked in partnership with Central Whidbey Fire & Rescue and WA Dept of Natural Resources – Wildfire Division, to develop a hazard assessment of 7 communities in Central Whidbey and provide the highest priority communities with Firewise resources and education. We continue to offer Firewise resources and free site visits to all landowners on Whidbey Island – find more information on our Firewise page.