Our Mission

The Fern Cove Preservation Alliance is a nonprofit community group dedicated to protecting the natural beauty and serenity of Vashon Island’s Fern Cove Preserve. The Alliance is working to ensure that government agencies prioritize community engagement and scientific rigor as they make decisions about leasing our public aquatic lands for private enterprise.

Fern Cove Today

  • Credit: K.S. McCormick
  • Credit: K.S. McCormick
  • Minus 4.0 tide (Credit: K.S. McCormick)
  • Credit: K.S. McCormick
  • Looking toward where Vashon Kelp Forest would be located from low tide at Fern Cove nature Preserve on Vashon Island.
    Credit: Karen Davis

The 30-year-old Fern Cove Preserve is a 13-acre forested shoreline on the Northwest side of Vashon Island. Its salmon streams create a fan-shaped estuary on the edge of Colvos Passage. Learn more about Fern Cove Nature Preserve.

Our Concern

Aerial layout showing the location of the porposed commercial kelp farm called Vashon Kelp Forest showing its proximity to Fern Cove Nature Presesrve and the many residences in the area.


A 10-acre commercial kelp farm, the so-called Vashon Kelp Forest, which seeks to set up shop at the entrance to the Preserve threatens to spoil and endanger this pristine public sanctuary with miles of rope, hundreds of floats, and four-foot tall buoys with flashing white lights. Learn more about the proposed kelp farm.

Render showing the proposed commercial kelp farm, Vahson Kelp Forest, from the shore at Fern Cove Nature Preserve.
Rendering showing a view of the kelp at a mid tide (Credit: Frame Visualization Studio)
Simulation of the 10-acre grid at night with its flashing white lights
Credit: Frame Visualization Studio

Important Dates

December 11, 2023:

Day One of the Fern Cove Preservation Alliance’s appeal before the state’s Shoreline Hearings Boards. Proceedings are virtual and open to the public. Stay tuned for details about how to attend.

April 30, 2024:

The US Army Corps of Engineers decided to push back its original deadline for
completing an Environmental Assessment of the proposed kelp farm, “because of the substantial public comments received and level of review required to address the comments.” The new deadline is April 30, 2024.

How you can help

Join the effort to preserve Fern Cove by volunteering your time and talents, making a financial contribution and, most importantly, speaking out. Learn more here.

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