Goals that Guide Our Work
Stewardship & Restoration
FOMB has deemed 2026 the Year of Stewardship
This means we're putting special emphasis on our efforts to steward our preserve lands with increased frequency and hopefully with more help! We will have monthly work parties, recruit more volunteers and invite community groups to get out and join us! We will continue to work closely with Great Peninsula Conservancy and increase our communication and accountability in working on common goals maintaining and improving the health of the preserves, following their forest management plans.
Photo by Leo Sooter
Work Parties
Stewardship requires ongoing, routine maintenance of land preserves. Work may include removing invasive species—Cutting ivy or digging up holly, clearing paths for access, and planting native trees and plants. It’s dirty work. We schedule short blocks of time for volunteer groups to work on specific tasks. Click to view our upcoming work parties, sign up and sign waivers. Thank you!
Miller Bay Preserve
FOMB partnered with Great Peninsula Conservancy (GPC) to purchase this rare 13 acre parcel of undeveloped, critical habitat in the tidewater area of Grover’s Creek. Our Stewardship began with major forest restoration, and continues with invasive species removal. We also work to keep a safe access to maintain this pristine woodland and waterfront property. We schedule routine, year-round work parties for this special Preserve.
Cowling Creek Forest Preserve
The recent additions of 2 new bridges over the creek and added steps in steep areas, within the preserve, have greatly improved access and safety on the Cowling Creek Forest Preserve trails. Our work includes significant trail maintenance throughout the year.
Olympia Oyster Restoration
FOMB partnered with Puget Sound Restoration Fund to restore native Olympia oysters to Miller Bay. These small Olympia oysters make a big impact on the ecological functioning of a larger ecosystem. They filter and clean the water, provide habitat for other marine life, absorb carbon, and produce micro-organisms that are critical for many invertebrates. Annual evaluations since 2018 of 2 monitoring stations in Miller Bay (at Clam Island and Grover’s Creek) proved oysters will spawn in our bay!
In Spring 2025, a crew of hearty volunteers braved the cold, and cold water to transplant our Olympia Oysters from Puget Sound Restoration Fund’s intertidal nursery at Clam Bay to Miller Bay. For the first time since the late 1800’s, Olympia Oysters are back in Miller Bay!
Cowling Creek Parking
The entrance and parking area for Cowling Creek Forest Preserve (CCFP) has recently been significantly improved. Located just south of the tribal owned properties on Miller Bay Road, this entrance is the major access point for the CCFP trails. New grading and sanding and a gravel surface have hugely improved the parking lot. Installation of large stump barriers, to prevent vehicle access to the trails adds a new level of safety and limits trail access for hikers only. Ambitious volunteers, Dick D’Archangel and Paul Dorn, took on this improvement project and FOMB greatly appreciates their work!