Samish hope to manage Huckleberry Island
June 25, 2008 - 01:00 PM
by Joan Pringle
by Joan Pringle
The approximately 10-acre island just east of Guemes Island no longer fits within the vision of the state agency, while the Samish have found evidence of ancestry there.
A community meeting to see what the public has to say on the issue is 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 2 at the Anacortes Public Library. The goal is to gather public comments on the potential transfer to aid the agency in making the decision.
Bill Koss, Parks Commission planning and research manager, explained the commission evaluated all its property between 2003 and 2004. Huckleberry Island was one of a number of properties that was looked at and found to not be consistent with where the commission wanted the park system to be. It began looking at other government agencies to take over its management.
The Samish initially contacted the commission about obtaining Iceberg Island near the south end of Lopez Island. However, the commission chose to retain management of the tiny island because of the presence of a rare plant species.
Someone in the parks department then suggested Huckleberry Island, which was already identified as a candidate for transfer of ownership.
The island is a marine state park with 2,900 feet of saltwater shoreline, though no facilities are on it, according to “Washington State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide” by Marge Mueller. The island has sheer rock faces on the north, east and south sides and a gravel beach on the southwest side.
Samish Chair Tom Wooten said the tribe has a vested interest in the island because of Samish Indian Nation artifacts discovered to have originated from the island in a museum in Puyallup about two months ago.
If the transfer of the island happens, Wooten said the tribe intends to maintain it for public use and cultural education opportunities.
People unable to attend Wednesday’s meeting can submit comments to Koss at e-mail or by calling (360) 902-8629 through July 17.
