Kiket Island facts for kids
Kiket Island is a unique piece of land located in Washington State. It's not a typical island because it's connected to Fidalgo Island by a narrow strip of land called a tombolo. This means you can walk or drive to it! Kiket Island is co-owned by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. It's found near the town of LaConner in Skagit County.
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Kiket Island's Location and Features
Kiket Island is situated in a beautiful coastal area. It's very close to Snee Oosh, which is a place less than four miles northwest of LaConner. The special land bridge, or tombolo, that connects Kiket to Fidalgo Island even has a road on it. This makes Kiket Island quite unusual for an "island."
Nearby Islands and Waterways
To the south of Kiket Island, you'll find Hope Island. Just a short distance to the southwest is Skagit Island. These islands help to separate Skagit Bay from Similk Bay. The area around Kiket Island is well-known for its natural beauty and has been studied a lot by scientists.
A Look Back: Kiket Island's Past
For a while, Kiket Island was considered for a very different purpose than a park. In the late 20th century, scientists studied the island's environment closely.
Plans for a Power Plant
Back in 1969, two power companies, Seattle City Light and Snohomish County PUD, thought about building a large nuclear power plant on Kiket Island. This plant would have cost a lot of money, around $250 million, and generated a lot of electricity. However, by 1972, these plans were stopped. People were worried about how the plant might affect the environment, so the idea was dropped. The companies later sold the property in 1980.
Kiket Island Becomes a Public Park
After being privately owned for some time, Kiket Island eventually became a public park for everyone to enjoy. This happened through a special agreement.
Joint Ownership Agreement
On June 23, 2010, a very important agreement was signed. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community decided to own Kiket Island together. This agreement also included tiny Flagstaff Island, which is connected to Kiket by another tombolo. Both islands are now part of the popular Deception Pass State Park. To buy the $14 million property from its private owner, many groups worked together. They gathered grants and donations from various sources.
Visiting Kiket Island Today
Today, Kiket Island is open for the public to visit. You can access the park from Snee-Oosh Road, where there's a parking lot. Restrooms have been built there and also on the west side of the island for visitors' convenience.
Wildlife Studies on the Island
Before the land was purchased, wildlife experts conducted surveys during the winter of 2008–2009. These studies helped to understand the different animals and plants living on Kiket Island.
