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	Sept. 25, 2003 County praises new state protection of Vashon/Maury Island tidelands King County Executive Ron Sims and County Councilmember Dow Constantine today praised the state's decision to recommend inclusion of tidelands off Vashon/Maury Island as one of the first aquatic reserves in Washington State. The decision by State Lands Commissioner Doug Sutherland comes after a year-long technical review and evaluation. "Commissioner Sutherland and the advisory committee are to be applauded for leading a comprehensive look at this area," said Executive Sims. "Today's decision reconfirms our initial analysis that these tidelands are critical to juvenile salmon from all over the Puget Sound Basin." "I commend Commissioner Sutherland for a thorough review and evaluation of the Aquatic Reserve Program," said Councilmember Constantine, whose district includes Maury Island. "The Commissioner's decision is a major step forward in preserving and protecting our valuable state aquatic lands. "This area includes the largest herring spawning ground in central Puget Sound, as well as being an important area for juvenile chinook salmon survival," continued Constantine, who is also steering committee co-chair for Watershed Resource Inventory Area 9. "I appreciate the Commissioner's work to recognize the importance of the island's near shore area to the entire state." The state's objective is to protect and support aquatic lands with unique, high-quality ecological features and habitats. The designation recognizes Vashon/Maury Island as an important spawning area for herring and other bait fish in Quartermaster Harbor and along the southeastern shore of Maury Island and as an important wintering area for marine birds. It is home to extensive eelgrass beds, kelp beds, limited salt march habitat, herring spawning grounds, surf smelt spawning grounds, sand lance spawning grounds, chinook salmon migratory corridors, bull trout migratory corridors and bottom fish rearing habitat. "By protecting tidelands that support and provide habitat to so many species, the Maury Island Aquatic Reserve will benefit our regional salmon recovery efforts," said Sims. "We look forward to working with the state as it makes a final decision on management plans to preserve the resources." The Vashon/Maury Island designation and recommended designations of Cypress Island, Fidalgo Bay and Cherry Point, will be subject of continued public input under the State Environmental Policy Act. Scoping meetings will be held between October 2003 and April 2004. Scoping meetings for the Maury Island designation are tentatively scheduled for this October. Updated: Sept. 25, 2003 Executive's home Executive's news Executive's site map | E-mail the Executive King County | Executive | News | Services | Comments | Search Links to external sites do not constitute endorsements by King County. By visiting this and other King County web pages, you expressly agree to be bound by terms and conditions of the site. The details.