2,300 acres near Everett now under 'Protection Zone' for kelp, eelgrass
EVERETT, Wash. – Washington state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is working to conserve a large area of habitat for kelp and eelgrass, a type of seagrass, near the mouth of the Snohomish River by establishing a “Protection Zone.”
Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz announced the “first-of-its-kind” effort Monday, explaining that the zone spans 2,300 acres and is part of a 10-year Watershed Resilience Action Plan.
Franz signed a commissioner order that prevent any development within the zone, which includes a forest of bull kelp at the southern tip of Hat Island, for the next 50 years. The zone also covers an eelgrass meadow along the Snohomish River delta and along the shoreline of the Tulalip Indian Reservation, according to Franz.
“Our kelp and eelgrass are the breadbaskets of the Salish Sea," said Franz in a statement. "They’re critical to the survival of our dwindling salmon and orca populations and act as a vital indicator of the health of our waterways because they respond so quickly to changes in water quality."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/2-300-acres-near-everett-now-under-protection-zone-for-kelp-eelgrass/ar-AAVkNrj