Lake Sammamish Interpretive Plan

Lake Sammamish Interpretive Planning

Project Specifications: Interpretive Planning, Visitor Experience Development, Facilitation, Project Development and Management, Communication 

The designation of the Lake Sammamish Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership in 2013 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was a formal recognition of excellence under Service’s Urban Wildlife Refuge Initiative.

An Interpretive Plan was developed by Lennox Insites in 2014 to support the establishment and future development of the Lake Sammamish Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership. The plan is a starting point for further focused efforts and is meant to give guidance and direction to the planning team and initial partners by offering a more specific pathway for how partners might work collaboratively in the future using the goals, themes and strategies described in the plan.

SITE

Lake Sammamish is a freshwater lake 8 miles east of Seattle and further east of Lake Washington stretching from Issaquah to the south (feeding the lake by Issaquah Creek) and Redmond to the north (drained by the Sammamish River to Lake Washington).

The watershed contains major tracks of state natural resource and recreation lands but also is one of the fastest growing areas in metropolitan Seattle. Four cities and three state agencies manage facilities or lands in the area.

ISSUE

As this country becomes more urban and lifestyles are more hectic, youth and children spend less time outdoors with fewer nature experiences. Because much of their lands lie in remote areas, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to develop partnerships with local and regional groups focused on wildlife and conservation to build stronger relationships with urban populations.

SOLUTION

The Lake Sammamish Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership was established in 2013 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a formal recognition of excellence under the Service’s Urban Wildlife Refuge Initiative. Under the initiative, the Service strives to make the outdoors more meaningful and accessible to urban audiences. This Partnership provides cost effective, innovative ways to enable urban communities to learn more about the National Wildlife Refuge System and wildlife conservation and to gain an appreciation for the outdoors.

ROLE

An Interpretive Plan was developed by Lennox Insites to support the establishment and future development of the Lake Sammamish Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership. The plan is a starting point for further focused efforts and is meant to give guidance and direction to the planning team and initial partners by offering a more specific pathway for how partners might work collaboratively in the future using the goals, themes and strategies described in the plan.