A recent social media post in PNW Bucket List that was widely shared and appeared on many other popular pages has led to a flood of visitors at the Preserve. And while we know we’re a “hidden gem” to many, we had no idea how many visitors would find us from that initial post.
How many visitors showed up? It’s not an exaggeration to say that the Preserve had more visitors in two days than we typically have in six months. While we’re happy that more people know about the Preserve, the sudden flood of visitors is taking a toll. Some of this is likely due to Preserve visitors not knowing about our dedication to maintaining the Preserve as a healthy ecosystem and all the work we’ve done to restore its forests and waterways. The same forests and waterways that create the diverse ecosystem that is home to abundant wildlife and some of the healthiest salmon runs in Western Washington.
Because of the massive influx of new visitors, you may notice some changes such as temporary fencing to discourage people from entering the creeks and to lessen wear and tear on the trail. We’ve also demarcated where the Washington Conservation Corps will complete planned trail improvements this spring. New plantings have been marked too, and visitors are asked to avoid those areas to ensure the new plants can take root.
We’re going to use this newsletter to help new (and returning) visitors gain a better understanding of why we have rules in place to protect the Preserve and how everyone can play a role in educating others about the importance of following our rules while enjoying the beautiful outdoors.
It’s incredibly exciting to see so many enjoy the work we’ve done over the years, but we want everyone to enjoy the Preserve through a lens of conservation and preservation of our landscapes and waterways. We post the rules for all visitors on our website as a friendly reminder of how to help us keep the Preserve pristine.
As always, if you have a large group that would like to visit, please reach out to us. We may be able to arrange a personal tour led by one of our Directors. You can also get involved in helping us protect this incredible place. We are always looking for volunteers for our planting events too. They are a great opportunity to learn the intricacies of how we choose the plants that we select for the Preserve, as well as our long-term vision for restoration.
– Jeff Wirtz, Vice President