Short's Family Farm

The Short’s Farm is open to limited public access for wildlife viewing. 

Acquisition, re-development, and active use of the Short’s Farm represents a rare opportunity for the Port to help to strengthen the agricultural sector of our economy and support the health of our local food system. The Port wants to hear from all interested parties and encourages your ongoing participation. Ideas about the best ways the farm could be used to help local ag can be relayed to Port Staff or you may attend Port Commission meetings.  If you sign up for email updates from the Port, meeting notices will also arrive in your inbox.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Background: 
In the summer of 2023, the Port acquired the 253-acre Short’s Family Farm in Chimacum, one of the largest contiguous agricultural land holdings in the County.  The Commission authorized the purchase of the farm with the objective of developing and maintaining infrastructure and establishing uses of the property that will help sustain and expand agriculture in Jefferson County.

The Port Commission directed that a “Farm Plan” be prepared to provide a clear vision and implementation actions to guide future use and development of the property in a way that supports the local ag community, advances the public interest, and addresses the Port’s financial needs.  On September 27, 2023, the Commission adopted Resolution No. 797-24 to guide the process.  The resolution outlines four clear planning objectives, a schedule for plan development, and establishes a committee of local experts (a Farm Steering Committee (FSC)), to prepare the plan.  The FSC is comprised of nine (9) members:  six (6) local farmers; and one (1) representative each from the Jefferson LandWorks Collaborative, Jefferson County Conservation District, and the North Olympic Salmon Coalition.

The Port obtained special process facilitation help from master’s degree students and faculty from the University of Washington’s Department of Urban Design (UW).  The UW assisted the FSC and Port staff with the visioning process, community engagement, meeting facilitation, and aided the FSC in preparing its recommendations for Commission consideration.  The planning effort spanned from January to July of 2024.  All meetings of the FSC were open to the public.

The series of Short’s Farm meetings and events is listed below.  FSC meetings in the period January through March of 2024 meetings focused on developing a common understanding of existing site conditions and identifying issues requiring additional information and research.  Community and FSC meetings in the period April through June concentrated on developing a vision for future use of the site, a choice of alternatives for future use and development, and selection of a “preferred” alternative.  At the July meeting, representatives of the FSC presented their recommendations to the Port Commission.

Additional Resources/Project Documents:
Application for Planning Committee – deadline November 10, 2023
Appraisal January 25, 2023
Appraisal January 2015
Canarygrass “Effects of Canarygrass on Dissolved Oxygen and Fish in Chimacum Creek”
Canarygrass – Photos of blockages ( Jeff. Cons. District)
Chimacum Drainage District History, Conditions, Options by Jefferson County Conservation District
Chimacum Drainage District Map
Chimacum Creek Watershed Map Set
Chimacum Creek North Olympic Salmon Coalition Geomorphic Assessment
Chimacum Creek at Short Farm Pre-Channelization
Commission Authorization of Purchase February 15, 2023
Conservation Easement (Recorded)
Conservation Easement-Baseline Conditions Report by Jefferson Land Trust
Conservation Easement-Stewardship Plan by Jefferson Land Trust
Environmental Phase I Site Assessment December 13, 2022
Environmental Site Assessment Feb. 19, 2014
Environmental Investigation Completed Questionnaire by Port to ADESA Environmental Investigations
Feasibility Study 2018 Study USDA Slaughter in Okanogan County, Washington
Final Ag Vision Statement January 2017
Final Report-Opportunities for Values-Based Supply Chains on the North Olympic Peninsula
Initial Conditions Assessment University of Washington June 2024
Initial Conditions Appendix and Comprehensive Report of All Reporting by University of Washington June 2024
Jeff Co Farmer Survey 2012
Lewis Report Olympic Crossroads 2012
Letter of Intent Access Agreement
Meat Producer Survey Result Summary 2019
Meeting Materials Port Commission Dec. 14, 2022 Presentation
Meeting Materials Port Commission Jan. 17, 2023 Presentation
Meeting/Commission Retreat April 20, 2023 Presentation
Meeting Materials Port Commission September 27, 2023 Resolution Adopting Planning Process
Meeting Materials for Community Drop In Open House October 18, 2023 Tri-Area
Naylor’s Creek Culvert Information for Short Farm Planning
Public Comment to Date
Purchase and Sale Agreement
Resolution 797-23 Adopting Objectives to Guide the Short Farm Planning Process
Resolution Adopting Short’s Family Farm Plan (Adopted 07/10/24)
Salmon Restoration Assessment (Coho) Northwest Watershed Institute 1996
Short’s Family Farm Plan (Adopted 07/10/24)
Streambank Mowing Comparison
Trumpeter Swans Draft Habitat Plan on the Short farm, prepared in 2004 by Martha Jordan, NW Swan Conservation Associations
Vegetation Removal Leland Creek 1991

Links to Groundwater Studies:
https://www.usgs.gov/centers/washington-water-science-center/science/chimacum-gw-model#publications
https://www.usgs.gov/publications/ground-water-system-chimacum-creek-basin-and-surface-waterground-water-interaction
https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2011/5129/
https://www.waterqualitydata.us/provider/STORET/JCPH_WQX/JCPH_WQX-CHI5.3/

Title Documents:  Deeds, Exception Documents, Maps, Preliminary Title Commitment

As information is gathered, it will be posted here.