Dabob Bay Preserve: We Want a NAP!

Connie Gallant
Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Not the resting type ... but the preserving type. The Dabob Bay Natural Area Preserve (NAP) is located in the Tarboo Watershed in eastern Jefferson County, north of Quilcene on Hood Canal.

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has proposed a 195-acre preserve to protect high-quality coastal sand spits, estuary habitats and upland riparian forests surrounding Dabob Bay. Spawning salmon in Tarboo Creek and shellfish production are an integral part of the preserve. Dabob Bay is considered one of the top five bays in the world for natural-set oyster spat and a primary provider of spat for the oyster industry in Washington and beyond.

At an October meeting in Quilcene, DNR gave the public an opportunity to view the proposal (see map at www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/em_dabob_bay_map.pdf), speak with staff, and comment on the proposed boundary expansion.

The majority of the local residents are very much in favor of this proposal; a few residents, however, are concerned with the loss or change of property rights. DNR has stated that the proposed expanded boundary would in no way compromise or change private landowners' property rights. The boundary would not be "regulatory" in nature. An expanded boundary would accomplish two things:

1. DNR land within the boundary would be transferred from "trust status" (subject to timber harvest) to "protected status" (no timber harvest). This would both preserve wildlife habitat and protect the bay's aquaculture (oysters) from siltation that can follow logging in inappropriate areas.

2. Boundary expansion would also permit private landowners within the new boundary to sell their land to DNR, if the landowners are willing and interested. There is absolutely no condemnation power associated with the expansion.

The 2007 Legislative Session allocated $5 million to Tarboo–Dabob Bay through the Trust Land Transfer program. An expanded natural area boundary will allow for use of this appropriation.

OFCO fully supports this DNR proposal. Tarboo–Dabob Bay is considered one of the crown jewels of the Hood Canal and is definitely worth preserving.


Tarboo–Dabob Bay. This view is looking south, with Shine to the left and Quilcene to the right. – photo by Washington State Department of Ecology