Suzuki property needs protection | LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Published 9:24 am Monday, March 2, 2015
To the editor:
Because of its close proximity to the Sakai property sought by the parks department and its central position among so many of Bainbridge public school campuses, the fate of the city-owned Suzuki property on the northwest corner of Sportsman’s Club Road and New Brooklyn has been the subject of much commentary lately.
Since I live on Commodore Lane just to the south of the Suzuki property, I have had the opportunity to observe that land fairly closely for a number of years. Before any decisions on the future of that property are made, I believe one must take a close look at the real physical and biological features and resources of that entire property in person, and not just via satellite images, topographical maps and walks on the periphery.
There are two distinct features that I feel deserve special protection: a spring-fed pond edged by native Pacific willow and an extensive grove of very large conifers. Both lie on the south side of the property and are connected to each other through a corridor of thick mostly-native vegetation.
The pond and its near surroundings were defined as a Class III wetland in the early 1990s. For many decades, the pond has been left to nature without human purpose, although its sides were bermed in the previous century. It is approximately a quarter acre in surface area and was measured by our neighbor to be 12-14 feet deep all year with some seasonal fluctuation in depth. It fills mostly via ground water that flows down between clay layers from the hill on which the north water tower sits. Also, after winter rains, young neighborhood kids have been able to float, sitting in blue recycle bins, on the surface of water that pools in the grove.
Unlike most of the rest of the property, there is very little understory vegetation in the grove, indicating that the large mature trees have been shading that land for a long time. Owls have made their home there for many years.
The whole grove-pond corridor supports a rich variety of wildlife. Since 2007, I have recorded in the vicinity of the pond over 70 different species of birds of various types: 24 that are present regularly every season of the year, about 20 that are present regularly only at certain seasons, and others that are present occasionally. Kingfishers and a great blue heron hunt there actively. The pond probably does not support fish, but we see (and hear!) several kinds of frogs, newts and salamanders. Every year we see huge globs of frog eggs floating on the pond. We see black snakes and garter snakes regularly. Dragonflies of various sizes and colors patrol the pond in great numbers in warmer seasons because of the abundance of other insects. Otters show up occasionally, as do coyotes. Deer and raccoons are regulars.
As our neighborhood’s emergency preparedness organizer, I am also concerned about our local water supplies after a major disaster. The pond represents a large reservoir of renewable non-potable water that should be protected as such.
For the above reasons,
I believe the southern part of the Suzuki property deserves permanent protection.
LESLIE MARSHALL
Bainbridge Island
