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My first memory of Port Townsend is riding with my mother into Port Townsend and seeing the beautiful lagoon. (1950s) Unfortunately not everyone felt the same. The Port Commission received permission to dump 231,000 yards of dredged sand into Kah Tai Lagoon. There was a public outcry but by 1963 the Southern end of the lagoon was filled. The poplar trees that had been planted along side the highway promptly turned brown and died. PTL June 25, 1964 "Poplars dying along highway. Salt water pumped into Kah Tai Lagoon in dredging and filling operations is killing the tall poplar trees . . ."

No new development was allowed and the land began to recover, grasses, trees and shrubs and the poplars along the highway were replanted.

A little history:

PTL April 23, 1942 - Rotary poplars all doing fine. (planted 120 trees) Along Sims Way.

PTL Sep 13, 1945 - Oh, Save Our Trees is Chamber's plea. Lombardy poplars that line Sims Way near the Lagoon.

PTL Sep 4, 1947 - Will recommend tree removal. Poplars at intersections on Sims Way.

PTL Aug 29, 2001 - Planning ahead. Search begins for ferry traffic holding area needed in 2006. Story & Color photo of area between Haines Place and Benedict street where poplars would be cut to make room. By Patrick J. Sullivan.

PTL Aug 29, 2001 - Cartoon by Burdekin: I hear they want to cut these trees and put in ferry holding lanes. Good idea. Where else could they go. Sign: Park & Ride only 1 block, real close, lots of room . . . [This of course never happened]

Like the history of Kah Tai Lagoon, it's a wonder we have any of the lagoon left or the poplars.