Fellow Bainbridge Islanders
You are invited to attend an information sharing presentation and discussion about groundwater on Bainbridge Island.
When: Monday night, March 10, at 6pm
Where: At the Bainbridge Island Senior Center.
Understanding Bainbridge Island's finite groundwater resources is a basic requirement for continuing to meet the needs of both Island residents and the Island's natural environment. Knowledge and understanding of this vital resource is a key to protecting our Island from overdevelopment and preserving our quality of life. We can all learn more about this most important natural resource on Bainbridge Island and help ensure we are protecting this most important natural resource for future generations.
Please join us for Bainbridge Conservation Coalition's 2nd Citizen Water Resource Committee Workshop.
BCC had a good crowd for our February workshop at the Marge Williams Center. We are now continuing the conversation at a larger venue. EVERYONE IS WELCOME.
During the workshop Melanie and Malcom will:
- Review BI Geology, Aquifers, Groundwater Basics and Sole Source Aquifer designation;
- Provide information about the status and purpose of the BI Groundwater Management Plan (GWMP) and Groundwater Model Update, critically important for Bainbridge Island's Comprehensive Plan Update;
- Share preliminary findings for the GWMP and explain why a GWMP is important for sustainable growth management that recognizes the finite capacity of our aquifers to provide ample quality water for the Island’s long-range future;
- Learn how a Citizen Water Resource Committee can help steward stakeholder input;
Please join us to learn more about Bainbridge Island's groundwater resources from scientists and groundwater experts Melanie Keenan and Malcolm Gander.
Water Resource Committee Workshop
Monday March 10, 2025, from 6 -7:30 pm,
at the Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center, 370 Brien Dr. SE, Bainbridge Island.
Additional background information:
Currently The City of Bainbridge Island (COBI) is updating its Comprehensive Plan as required by the Washington Growth Management Act (GMA). As part of that process, the City issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on July 26, 2024, analyzing three Growth Alternatives currently under review by the City’s Planning Commission.
The DEIS – largely drafted by outside consultants – unfortunately fails to recognize the significance of Bainbridge Island's status as an EPA-certified Sole Source Aquifer (SSA) island, completely reliant on aquifer protection and recharge for our water supply.
Ahead of a completed and peer reviewed GWMP, COBI has been promoting high-growth planning alternatives for the Comp Plan update, both of which exceed Bainbridge Island's GMA population allocation of 4,524 for the next 20-year planning horizon. COBI's preferred high-growth plan would add zoning capacity for 6,000 additional residents over the current capacity of 5,640. This 6,000 increase equals capacity for over 11,000 more residents during the next 20 years. This is happening without a clear science-based understanding of how much growth our aquifers can actually sustain and still continue to support our high quality of life and the Island's natural environment.
Planning continues for potentially expanding the boundaries of Winslow and increasing housing densities
Last week the Planning Commission adopted a preliminary expansion of the Winslow Subarea boundary. Yet to be considered: How will the increased demand for water associated with accelerated growth impact Bainbridge Island's aquifers and streams? Currently there are documented concerns with deep aquifer declines, along with stream and surface water declines, impacts associated with meeting the needs of our current population.
Bainbridge Conservation Coalition's Water Resource Committee is a community voice for protecting Bainbridge Island's finite groundwater water resources.
For more information contact:
Melanie Keenan and Malcolm Gander at: malcolmgander@gmail.com
Bainbridge conservation Coalition at: biconservationcoalition@gmail.com
Enclosed are maps of the existing Winslow subarea boundary(red dashed line) and the PC proposed expansion of Winslow (blue).
