Kitsap County News

Kitsap Environmental Coalition

Kitsap Environmental Coalition (KEC) is a community of people dedicated to healthy lands, water, and habitat. The coalition is a non-profit educational organization run completely by volunteers. KEC formed in 2018 in response to the use of chemicals in forestry management practices. Now there are nearly 1,000 people involved in the coalition, ranging from students to retirees. Their mission is to educate and advocate for safe and clean water, air, and soil to support the health of all life on the Kitsap Peninsula.

The coalition gives the community accessible ways to join their mission of protecting the environment. With help from the coalition, the community can learn more about connecting with officials and representatives. Use the KEC event calendar to stay informed and take part in community events, demonstrations, educational opportunities, and advocacy events. Learn about environmental topics at the monthly KEC Presents Programs featuring speakers, films, roundtables, and more. Connect with neighbors and distribute educational materials. Participate in research and writing teams. Help build relationships with other environmental groups and organizations.

The coalition also completes community projects such as planting about 970 trees and invasive species removal in Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park. KEC?s community engagement, volunteer efforts, and environmental advocacy works to preserve a healthy and balanced ecosystem in Kitsap.

Brandon Redinger

Brandon Redinger is a Bremerton resident who has a passion for community and park preservation. Madrona Trails Park was littered with trash, choked by invasive species, and inaccessible in many areas. Brandon volunteered countless hours to change that. He rebuilt the trail network with a smooth loop trail, increasing accessibility to seniors and young children. He removed thousands of pounds of litter and replaced invasives species with native plants.

Madrona Trails is home to a unique madrona forest. This iconic tree is in decline throughout the region, making preservation of this forested park even more critical. Brandon continues to walk Madrona Trails Park almost daily, keeping trash out, maintaining trails, and making improvements.

Rebecca and Richard Robins

Adopt a Spot Program volunteers, Rebecca and Richard Robins, began removing litter from South Kitsap in 2022.

To date, they?ve completed 35 cleanups, covered over 150 miles, and collected over 160 trash bags. This doesn?t include the hundreds of pounds of large items they found and reported for removal. ?Their hard work has inspired other volunteers to join the Adopt a Spot program and keep Kitsap litter free.

A Kitchen That Works, LLC

Co-owners and couple, Molly McCabe and Clive Pardy, don?t cut corners when it comes to sustainability. Their design business knows how much waste is produced during a remodeling project and they want to prevent it.

They recycle what they can, encourage clients to re-use building supplies, and donate salvageable materials. In doing so, they?ve diverted tons of construction debris from the landfill. Molly served as the subject matter expert for the US Green Building Council for over 3 years and founded the Kitsap Chapter of the NW EcoBuilding Guild before it merged with Seattle?s chapter. ?

Molly and Clive?s dedication to waste reduction doesn?t stop when they clock out. They have spent years volunteering in the community. They help collect Styrofoam ? to be recycled, manage recycling stations at local events to reduce contamination, sponsor recycled fashion shows, and talk to students about trade careers and sustainability. ?

John Foltz

John Foltz can be found volunteering in Kitsap County Parks almost 7 days a week. He is either building trails, collecting research, removing invasive species, or educating the public. He serves as a Forest Steward with Kitsap County Parks and advocates for forest health. He was elected as the Chair for Banner Forest Heritage Park in 2022 and is a member of the Washington Trails Association.

He was named the Great Peninsula Conservancy (GPC) Volunteer of the Year in 2020 and leads a ?Walk and Talk? series for the organization. As a Kitsap County Stormwater volunteer, John conducts amphibian egg count surveys at Howe Farm Park. He conducts coastal sea bird studies at Harper estuary for the University of Washington Sea Grant.

He performs invasive European Green Crab trapping surveys around Kitsap County. You can also find John volunteering his time at community events, such as the annual Kitsap Water Festival. John can always be relied on when a helping hand is needed in his community.

Phil and Karen Best

Phil and Karen Best have been working to protect the environmental integrity of the Hood Canal watershed for more than 50 years. In 1969, Phil and other Kitsap County residents organized the Hood Canal Environmental Council (HCEC) in response to a proposal to dredge Stavis Bay and construct a large marina. Before that time,

Phil was a member of the Hood Canal Advisory Council that informed affected counties about environmental issues related to the Hood Canal. This advisory council served as a model for the longstanding Hood Canal Coordinating Council created in 1984.

Phil?s expertise as an attorney aids the HCEC in advocacy decisions. Phil and Karen?s leadership in HCEC led to many successful outcomes including: the passage of the 1971 Shoreline Management Act, collaborations with environmental groups and government agencies to address environmental concerns, opposing a proposed 6,000 acre subdivision and multiple gravel mining projects, serving on committees for the creation of policies and resource management programs including the Hood Canal Coordinating Council?s Salmon Recovery Program and the Hood Canal Shellfish Initiative, partnering with the Great Peninsula Conservancy to preserve natural conservation areas such as Misery Point, and educating HCEC members and the public about environmental issues.

Their efforts over the past 50 years have protected, restored, and preserved the water quality, habitat, and resources of the Hood Canal.