New legislation signed into law March 12 will recognize Jefferson County’s historic maritime shorelines as a National Heritage Area.

The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act, introduced by U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, includes a bill put forward by U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer to establish a National Maritime Heritage Area in Washington state.

The bill is one of more than 110 that were included in the package that was passed March 12. It represents the largest bipartisan package of public lands bills in more than 10 years, according to a news release from Cantwell.

It includes a number of public lands priorities, including protecting the Methow Headwaters from mining, addressing water challenges in the Yakima Basin, updating volcano monitoring and early warning systems, and providing 21st century technology to firefighters.

The Maritime Washington National Heritage Area Act focuses on Washington’s shorelines.

It creates a heritage area that will consist of lighthouses, historic vessels, parks, and other landmarks located within one-quarter mile of the shoreline in 13 counties, including Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, San Juan, Island, King, Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Kitsap, Jefferson, Clallam and Grays Harbor counties. It will include 19 Native American tribes, 32 cities and 30 port districts, including the Port of Port Townsend.

For the first 10 years, $1 million will be appropriated to the National Heritage Area. Not only that, but establishing a heritage area will provide opportunities for communities to apply for federal grants, and draw contributions from state, local and private sources in order to preserve historic maritime areas, including Port Townsend.

The bill intends to help promote maritime-related tourism, economic development and maritime history through local museums, historic ships, fishing culture and other activities.

“This bill will honor our shared maritime traditions and support our local economies,” stated Kilmer in a news release. “By creating a National Maritime Heritage Area and helping coastal communities protect national treasures along our coast, we can remind future generations of our rich history along the water and attract visitors from across the nation.”

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

On March 15, Kilmer held a roundtable discussion at the Northwest Maritime Center, to discuss the next steps in preserving maritime heritage in Port Townsend and Jefferson County.

Speaking to a room of key players in the maritime industry, including representatives from the Port of Port Townsend, the Northwest Maritime Center, the School of Wooden Boat Building, the Adventuress, the Port Townsend School District, the Marine Science Center and others, Kilmer asked, “What’s next?”

“This could be a powerful tool in our economic development toolbox,” he said. “This is the first heritage designation the Pacific Northwest has ever had.”

The consensus around the table was that Jefferson County’s maritime heritage was still alive and working.

“There are really people here going to Alaska, fishing and bringing their boats here to be worked on,” said Chris Sanok, chair of the Port Townsend Marine Trades Association. “There are a bunch of businesses in Jefferson County that are poised to grow.”

But with the Port of Port Townsend struggling with 80 years of deferred capital maintenance, Sanok said he hoped the port could get funding for some of these projects from federal sources.

County Commissioner Kate Dean echoed his thoughts.

“One of our biggest challenges is we have a hard time attracting capital,” Dean said. “We have a lot of crumbling infrastructure. We need to invest in existing infrastructure that’s been severely neglected. Not just here in Port Townsend, but for the areas along the Hood Canal.”

The Hood Canal region has a long history of aquaculture, which will be included in the National Heritage Area. At the Quilcene Herb Beck Marina alone, the port has $1.6 million in deferred maintenance.

“It’s going to be valuable not just in terms of celebrating our maritime history, but in growing economically,” Kilmer said. “We will support any grant application to try to draw dollars to this community.”

FINDING IDENTITY

Beyond improvements to infrastructure, the distinction of a National Heritage area will give Port Townsend and Jefferson County the opportunity to “rebrand” as a national center of maritime history and innovation.

“From a public perception, we haven’t yet as a region articulated the very unique Pacific Northwest culture, from here to Alaska, that does exist strongly through fisheries and through the very vibrant maritime culture,” said Jake Beattie, director of the Northwest Maritime Center. “We could really create that identity.”

Part of creating an identity around Puget Sound maritime history, Beattie said, is recognizing that the history goes back to the Native American history and aquaculture traditions.

The heritage area must also go beyond the shore and into the sound, added Janine Boire, director of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center.

“The core of the Alaska Fleet is that there will be salmon,” Boire said. “We really need to look at the environmental issues going forward.”

With 13 counties included in the National Heritage Area, the trick will be to find a unified identity, which Kilmer said is an exciting prospect for Western Washington.

“There is great synergy to be had within our region,” he said. “When you’re talking about trying to draw tourists from around the county, they’re first going to come to the entire region.”