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Protecting Biodiversity in Pierce County
Through Open Space Planning

Creation of a Biodiversity Plan for Pierce County

The multi-year process included:

• During the open space revision process, the Pierce County planners were approached by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the University of Washington who asked them to include as open space those land areas that have the greatest fish and wildlife biological diversity or “biodiversity.”
• Using an updated landcover map, areas of high biodiversity were identified and groundtruthed.
• The core habitats were connected by corridors which were often located along waterways.
• The Biodiversity Network identified 16 biologically rich areas and connecting corridors that cover 267,784 acres of land.
• In 2004, the County conducted a finer-level assessment of those lands within the Biodiversity Network and documented this effort in the report titled “Pierce County Biodiversity Network Assessment, August 2004”.

The Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance (PCBA)

The Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance (PCBA) is comprised of a unique group of stakeholders, representing governmental, academic and non-profit agencies, whose mission is to preserve the long-term biodiversity of Pierce County. The main emphasis of the PCBA is non-regulatory in nature and instead focuses on public outreach to property owners within this network, providing education on how to maintain the habitats and biological diversity. The PCBA goal is to provide detailed information on habitat quality and species presence/viability, restoration opportunities, and priorities for conservation and land acquisition for each BMA by doing the following:

• Conduct a bioblitz
• Follow-up with a Winter Bird Survey
• Conduct a series of community meetings
• Train residents and students to through NatureMapping workshops
• Develop a Stewardship Plan

Biodiversity Management Areas - Community Meetings and Bioblitz Reports

Kitsap County North Bay Gig Harbor - Crescent Valley (Began 2005) Greenwater Lake Bay McNeil Island Ketron Island Upland Norse Peak

Nisqually Delta - Roy BMA (Began 2009) Puyallup River Shoreline Upper Nisqually River Lewis County Rainier White River Lower White River (Began 2007)