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| Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park, courtesy Craig Wester |
16 August 2023, 5:30pm
Jeanette Best Gallery
presentation by Rick Jahnke
Admiralty Audubon President
Kah Tai (qatáy) has weathered controversy and misguided attempts at development since the late 1800s, including the dumping of 231,000 cubic yards of dredge spoil in 1963. In 1980, an effort by many Port Townsend residents to protect the area created a Land and Water Conservation Fund park dedicated in perpetuity to wildlife habitat, with compatible passive recreation. More than 180 bird species have been recorded at Kah Tai as the habitat planted by humans, birds and the wind matures into woodlands, grasslands and wetlands.
The talk will present aspects of the physical, political, legal and
ecological evolution of the lagoon and created uplands as they have
transitioned from dredge spoil to beautiful habitat that attracts and
supports a wide variety of birds and other wildlife. It will highlight
the role of community involvement in the park development and the
wildlife that can now be seen and end with a few slides on future
challenges for the park.
