Maxwelton watershed residents and landowners as well as interested community members are invited to meet today to discuss the area’s history and think about its future. Ideas will be welcome about the elements that make the area valuable to its people, what would make it better and how to have an impact.
Those unable to attend can answer the same questions by phone at 579-1272 or e-mail history@salmonadventure.org.
The Maxwelton watershed drains water from 11.5 square miles extending from Pioneer Park and Sills Road on the west, and from Coles, Maxwelton and Langley Roads north of the highway, across the ridges of Midvale, Campbell and French roads down to Maxwelton Beach. It’s the largest watershed on South Whidbey.
In addition to the conversation about the future, author Ann Linnea will read from “A Journey Through the Maxwelton Watershed,” copies of which are available free to all watershed residents and landowners.
Fifth grade students will present a mural of a timeline created as a result of their study of the history and geology of the Maxwelton watershed. The teachers whose classes participated are Lisa Davis, Jackie Gelston, Rene Neff, Debbie Payne and Sally Thompson.
Working with South Whidbey artist Liza von Rosenstiel, the students created a 10-panel display of their artwork with words about the natural and social history of the watershed. The display, on five hinged door panels, will be shown at community events and facilities.
The students also created PowerPoint presentations and essays on aspects of the watershed, hearing local speakers who talked to them about geology and about growing up in the watershed years ago. They took field trips to the Burke Museum and to places in the watershed that illustrate geologic concepts.
The study is part of a larger effort to “Remember the Past, Envision the Future” of the Maxwelton Watershed funded by the Maxwelton Salmon Adventure and the Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team Public Involvement & Education (PIE) Fund.
For more information, contact Nancy Waddell at 579-1272 or by e-mail at history@salmonadventure.org.
