What Each of Us Can Do for Hood Canal

Crab Updated 2024 Hood Canal is a treasured place. We experience it in many ways and value it for many different reasons.

While there are many large-scale efforts to protect and restore a healthy Hood Canal, individual choices and actions contribute too!

Read below to learn more about actions we can all take – on our own property, while in the outdoors, and in our communities – to Do Some Good for the Hood!

How you can help during your favorite activities

Are you new to the area and/or interested in Hood Canal history?

Visit the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and Skokomish Indian Tribe to learn more
Learn about the region’s maritime history and culture at the Northwest Maritime Center
Read about the geologic forces that created Hood Canal’s unique fjord
For a comprehensive history of Hood Canal’s people and environment, read the Kitsap Sun’s Splendor at Risk

Do you like to eat fresh foods harvested close by?

Buy local, wild-caught, or sustainably raised salmon and seafood – Ask your grocer or fishmonger for advice on which products to buy and how to cook them
Support your local Hood Canal shellfish growers, ask your favorite restaurant if they serve Hood Canal shellfish
Get information on mushroom gathering and other forest products

Do you like to camp in Hood Canal?

Camp in designated areas in campgrounds or approved off-trail areas
Be prepared for the elements and leave no trace while out in the wilderness and enjoying public parklands
Help support campground maintenance – get a Discover Pass, a wilderness permit, or pay camping fees where required

Do you like to hike or walk along the beach?

Help keep our forests and beaches clean by properly disposing of pet waste in garbage bins
Pick up lost fishing gear and trash you find on the beach and trails
Become an expert beach-walker by joining the Kitsap Beach Naturalists or Jefferson Beach Naturalists
Learn about local land and freshwater issues by becoming a Stream Steward
Be prepared for the elements and leave no trace while out in the wilderness and enjoying public parklands
Help support trail and park maintenance – get a Discover Pass, a wilderness permit, or pay daily use fees where required
Respect private property rights when accessing natural areas. Learn more about the Public Trust Doctrine

Do you fish for salmon, or crab, or gather shellfish?

Help our fisheries management efforts by knowing and following fishing regulations
Pick up lost fishing gear you find on the beach or in the water
Practice clean, green boating techniques

Does your property have an on-site septic system?

Get your OSS inspected for leaks and to make sure it is operating properly

Check out the Craft3: Clean Water Loan Program that provides financial assistance for septic system owners

Watch this video of how Craft3 works in Hood Canal.

Does your property have a bulkhead or hard shoreline armoring?

Learn about how to protect nearshore habitat – Use environmentally friendly soft armoring techniques to maintain green shorelines.

Do you want to know how maintaining your property helps Hood Canal?

See these helpful Property Owner Guides from the Washington State Department of Ecology:

At Home with Wetlands: A Landowner’s Guide – Things you can do for your wetland
Slope Stabilization & Erosion Control – How to use plants to stop erosion on coastal slopes
Managing Drainage on Coastal Bluffs – How to design a drainage control system for your coastal property
Managing Vegetation on Coastal Slopes – How to manage plants on your coastal bluff
The Guide for Shoreline Living is the all-inclusive handbook for living in Hood Canal

Do you live near the shoreline or along a stream?

Balance a healthy and dynamic shoreline with the safety and comfort of your home and property
Conserve or plant native trees on your property, especially along the water’s edge – talk to a local arborist or nursery staff to learn about which native trees suit your landscaping needs
Use proper clearing, trimming, and pruning techniques
Limit pesticide use to prevent chemicals from reaching the watershed
Use rain gardens and other bio-filtration approaches to manage runoff from your property and keep our watershed clean for salmon
Do not dump toxic household or mechanical chemicals down storm drains that end up in streams and beaches. Contact your County to find out about safe hazardous waste disposal in your area
Become a Shore Steward and join others who are acting on their own property to protect Hood Canal
Restore the habitat in your backyard with Kitsap Conservation District Backyard Habitat Program grants and expertise

Be active in your support for a healthy Hood Canal

Connect with local outreach and education efforts to learn more about Hood Canal

The Hood Canal Watershed Education Network (HCWEN)
Puget Sound Starts Here on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest

Is this where Puget Sound Starts?

Get involved in local restoration and stewardship efforts

Take advantage of the wealth of information and services provided by regional Conservation Districts and WSU Extension offices:

Support your local Salmon Enhancement Group by volunteering for fish surveys, tree plantings, take an art class, donate to salmon enhancement projects, and more:

Help local land trusts conserve important properties to maintain a healthy Hood Canal: