|
|
Keystone
Conservation Area
WAC
220-16-760: "'Keystone Conservation Area' is defined
as all bedlands and tidelands and the waters over these starting
at the extreme high water line on the east side of the Keystone
jetty in Fort Casey State Park then easterly along the extreme high
water line to a line projected from shore through the easternmost
row of pilings of the old military wharf, then offshore along that
line southeasterly for 600 feet, then southwest parallel to the
shoreline to a point due south of the southern tip of the jetty,
then north to the extreme high water line on the southern tip of
the jetty, then along the extreme high water line on the east side
of the jetty to the point of origin." Effective since 9/9/2002.
|
| CLICK
IMAGE TO ENLARGE MAP
 
(Note: this is the same
map as used for the Admiralty Head MP)
Geographic
Statistics
| Area
Type |
Acres |
Hectares |
| Intertidal |
None |
None |
| Subtidal |
11.40 |
4.61 |
| Total |
11.40 |
4.61 |
|
Links
to other imagery about this site
|
|
 The
finder map at left, extracted from the Keystone Harbor map,
has the locations of the photographer from where the four
images below were taken.
Shot
from a hill above the campgrounds (point "A" on the finder
map) and facing east, this image is an overview of the
area and its surrounds.
 |
This
shot of the wharf at the east end of the area and the
beach was taken from Point "C" and faces just south of
east.
 |
 Facing
SSE from point "D", this shows remnants of a pier that
previously extended to the wharf. The extension of the
line of pilings defines the eastern edge of the area. |
This short panorama was taken from point "B", beside the
marker near the south end of the jetty, and sweeps from
north (left edge) to just north of east (right edge).
|
|
| Recreational
Restrictions / Openings |
| Species |
Status |
Comments,
notes... |
| Salmon |
Closed |
|
| Trout |
Closed |
|
| Bottomfish |
Closed |
|
| Shellfish |
Closed |
|
| Forage
Fish |
Closed |
|
| Unclassified |
Closed |
|
| Commercial
Restrictions / Openings |
Species |
Status |
Comments,
notes... |
| Salmon |
Closed |
|
| Bottomfish |
Closed |
|
| Shellfish |
Closed |
|
| Forage
Fish |
Closed |
|
| Unclassified |
Closed |
|
|
| Prominent
and unique features |
|
The site is along the southern shore of Fort Casey State
Park. It includes the eastern side of the jetty into Keystone
Ferry harbor and extends eastward to the eastern row of
pilings under the old military dock. The jetty is a man-made
structure composed of large revetment boulders that creates
high-relief, structurally complex habitat within the site.
The area between the jetty and the old military dock has
been used for disposal of dredge spoils from the ferry
terminal in the past. The bottom is ungraded, mixed material
that ranges from sand and broken shell through moderate
sized cobble.
The reserve extends from intertidal depths from the
ordinary high water mark offshore to depths of 70 feet
(mllw) or more. The offshore terminus of the jetty is
subjected to strong tidal currents, and the cove to
the east often has eddies that brings flotsam and jetsom
on to the beach. A floating kelp bed composed of bull
kelp (Nereocystic leutkeana) occurs on the southeast
margin of the jetty and may occur near the derelict
pilings on the southeastern boundary of the reserve.
Bladed kelps and foliose red algae occur on the boulders
and cobbles in the photic zone of the conservation area.
|
| Description
of fish, bird, and mammal resources at the site |
|
Rocky habitat fish species use the jetty and include copper
rockfish (Sebastes caurinus), quillback rockfish
(S. maliger), and black rockfish (S. melanops),
and lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus). Other fish species
that may be observed are blackeye goby (Coryphoterus
nicholsii), striped seaperch (Embiotoca lateralis),
pile perch (Rhacochilus vacca), kelp greenling
(Hexagrammos decagrammus), and painted greenling
(Oxylebius pictus). Pelagic fishes are also attracted
to the site and include Pacific herring (Clupea harengus
pallasi), Pacific sandlance (Ammodytes hexapterus),
and coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch).
The high currents provide the basis for a rich invertebrate
community, especially for encrusting species. Dominant
invertebrates include giant anemones (Metridium senile),
giant barnacles (Balanus nubulis), red rock crabs
(Cancer productus), and red sea cucumbers (Parastichopus
californicus). |
| Programs
in place to manage the site |
| WDFW manages the site as
fully-protected marine reserve for non-tribal citizens.
WDFW regulations prohibit commercial and recreational
fishing and harvesting at the Keystone Harbor Conservation
Area. The taking of all species of invertebrates and fishes
is prohibited by WDFW regulations.
The site is primarily located adjacent to the Keystone
section of Fort Casey State Park State park staff patrol
the facility and provide signage with educational materials
at the base of the jetty. The enforcement of the harvest
restrictions is primarily relegated to the Enforcement
Program of WDFW. The state park staff provides supplemental
enforcement to WDFW agents. Recreational divers have
used the area for years and it is anticipated that they
will help to educate other divers informally at the
site.
Information on the site boundaries and restrictions
is found in WDFW's Sport Fishing Pamphlet and formal
regulations are published at the State of Washington's
Administrative Code available on the state's web site.
WDFW is developing specific pamphlets describing each
of its marine reserves.
WDWF scientists surveyed the Keystone Jetty from 1995
to 1998 when fishing was still allowed at the site.
Staff will conduct annual surveys at the jetty as part
of their marine reserve monitoring efforts. Quantitative
data will be collected on fish species present, their
densities, sizes and reproductive effort. The data will
provide the basis to evaluate the success of the reserve
in a before and after treatment comparison. |
| Issues
of concern |
| There may be some residual
conflicts with fishers who have used the site previously
but are unaware that it has been closed.
The Department of Transportation is planning changes
for the Keystone Ferry in the future. These changes
might entail moving the breakwater and changing the
embayment where the ferry docks. These changes are
likely to result in effects on the Keystone Conservation
Area. Dredging and disposal of material from the ferry
slip will be an ongoing management issue. Issues may
include direct disturbance during dredging and disposal
as well as effects on long-shore drifting material.
The presence of pilings in the conservation area may
present a source of toxic contamination if creosote
is still present in the wood. The reserve is located
at the entrance to Puget Sound and the high volume of
shipping traffic presents some threats to the reserve
if vessels become grounded or spill toxic substances.
In addition a popular boat ramp is located on the same
facility and toxic substances associated with boating
may be released on a small by continual basis. |
| Performance
measures |
| Acceptance by local
fishers.
The development of a diverse
fish community.
Increasing or sustained
abundances of copper, quillback, and black rockfish.
Increasing and sustained
large individual sizes of copper rockfish.
The presence of reproductive
fish and recruiting rockfish and lingcod. |
|
|
|
