Polly Dyer – Seattle • Entered by Penelope Peterson on September 29, 2024
Advocacy for Deer Lagoon Preserve at our Deception Pass Broadwalk
June 26, 2024 – June 26, 2024
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | 5.25 |
| Post Admin hours | 0.5 |
| Activity Hours | 2 |
| Participants | 1 |
| Total Hours | 7.75 |
Key Issue: Wildlife Protection
Activity Type: Advocacy (rallies, lobbying, meeting decision makers, letters/calls/emails)
Key Partners: Whidbey Island Audubon
Measurable Outcomes
Outcome 1: Advocacy actions (71 letters/postcards)
Short Description of Activity
According to the Whidbey Audubon web site (https://www.whidbeyaudubonsociety.org/deer-lagoon):
“Deer Lagoon Preserve on Whidbey Island, Washington, is a National Audubon registered Important Bird Area (IBA) with at least 211 different bird species documented. It consists of marsh, tidelands/mud flats, open water, and surrounding woodlands. The species mix is appropriate to these habitats. Washington State Fish and Wildlife has concluded Deer Lagoon is the single most important site on Whidbey Island for use by waterfowl, year around. The lagoon is a critical resting and feeding site for migrating shorebirds in the spring and fall. It has been labeled the most important wetlands in Island County. River otters and coyotes are frequent visitors.
Since the 2004 purchase of the 379-acre Deer Lagoon Preserve by Island County, increased pressure on sensitive habitat from public use, misuse and outright destruction has resulted in critical habitat degradation. The existing passive management plan no longer protects the lagoon.
Deer Lagoon Preserve is in dire need of an upgraded, site-specific, county- coordinated management plan to protect it as critical fish and wildlife habitat and a place of natural beauty for people to enjoy.
A few examples of noted impacts to the sensitive habitat and environment at Deer Lagoon are:
• Illegal cutting of trees on county property in wetlands and sensitive areas
• Watercraft approaching and harassing waterfowl, including the rare and recently arrived (2016) American White Pelicans, causing them to flee
• Mowing critical bird habitat at the height of breeding season
• Kitesurfing within the lagoon
• Drone use at the lagoon
• Motorized and non-motorized watercraft inside on the lagoon
• Chemically polluted surface water runoff from the nearby golf course and surrounding areas
• Off-leash dogs harassing birds, destroying off-trail plant habitat, and depositing waste
• Large numbers of golf balls being hit into the lagoon and left
• Illegal fireworks in the surrounding areas “
At our Deception Pass Regional Broadwalk in June, we took on the issue of advocating for the increased protection and better management of Deer Lagoon Preserve on Whidbey Island. We wrote postcards to the Island County Commissioners asking them to protect and preserve Deer Lagoon.
Reflection/Evaluation
This advocacy activity was a huge success. Our Broadwalk attendees wrote and sent 71 postcards to the Island County Commissioners advocating for the increased protection and better management of Deer Lagoon Preserve. The County is currently updating The Island County Comprehensive Plan so we hope that our advocacy inspired the County Commissioners to make significant changes to the plan so as to give further protections to and better management of Deer Lagoon Preserve. The update Island County Comprehensive Plan is scheduled to for completion in 2025.