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Pierce County Biodiversity Network Implementation

Through the
Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance (PCBA)

Pierce County's multi-pronged implementation strategy helps guide county planners in directing more intense development away from identified bio-rich lands and can also guide private and public land conservation purchases or easements. But what about encouragement of conservation and stewardship on private lands?

The PCBA selected Gig Harbor, one of the 16 Biodiversity Management Areas as its pilot. The process included:

  • Conduct a bioblitz to compare the lists of species predicted to occur in the BMA
  • Use the bioblitz data as a baseline from which residents can begin to assess changes over time
  • Conduct a year-long series of community meetings with the land owners to develop a longterm strategy to conserve biodiversity for their BMA and as part of the entire Biodiversity Network
  • Produce a Biodiversity Stewardship Plan that can be used as a template as community efforts move to other BMA's.
  • Training the landowners and local schools to become NatureMappers to conduct long-term monitoring throughout their BMA.
  • Identifying an organization that would continue the process while the PCBA moved its efforts to another BMA. Crescent Valley Alliance is formed!
  • PCBA partners such as the NatureMapping Program and National Wildlife Federation Community Habitat Program continue to support the organization and community for long-term monitoring and evaluation.

    Welcome to the 2005 Gig Harbor Bioblitz results page

    The Pierce County Biodiversity Network began in 1999 in an effort to identify fish and wildlife areas and include them in the County's Open Space Plan. After the Network was included in the Open Space Map, a three-year effort took place to refine the information and to begin implementation of voluntary management plans that would include the landowners living within the 16 Biodiversity Management Areas (BMA) and the connecting corridors. These reports are available online. The Biodiversity Planning Brochure, gives a brief overview and the website address.
    Gig Harbor was selected for the first bioblitz in the State of Washington. The complete detailed report will be online soon.
    The Bioblitz Community Report

    The Gig Harbor Masonic Temple provided the "Science Central" site for the Bioblitz.

    Fifty scientists, volunteers, and land owners participated in the 24-hour inventory of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, insects, aquatic insects, and plants.

    Most of the volunteers completed a NatureMapping training workshop. Armed with handheld computers with the NatureMapping data collection sequence using CyberTracker software, teams reported the locations of 194 species of fish and wildlife, 150 land and aquatic insects, and 305 species of plants.
    Science Central

    Wildlife species predicted to occur were compared with species that were observed.

    A data table with the species observed on participating landowners properties were sent to each landowner.

    A plant list from three sampled sites gives a good overview of the native and introduced plants within the Crescent Creek Area. It also includes what species are invasive. In the future we will include medicinal plants as part of the bioblitz.

    The Winter Bird Survey was conducted on February 25th, 2006 in conjunction with the NatureMapping workshop. The Winter Survey data have been added to the bioblitz data, with 14 additional bird species added to the list.
    Data Tables

    For more information contact:

    Friends of Pierce County
    e-mail: FOPC@comcast.net