Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark announced Oct. 14 the management plan for the Smith and Minor Islands Aquatic Reserve, marking the first aquatic reserve he has designated since taking office in January 2009.

Goldmark leads the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, which will manage the new reserve and its resources. DNR is considering several additional reserves elsewhere in Puget Sound.

“All of Puget Sound is a special place, but the network of aquatic reserves give us a unique opportunity to conduct research and monitoring while allowing current uses by the public,” said Goldmark. “As with all of our aquatic reserves, the Smith and Minor Islands site was proposed by the public, and in this case I would like to give special thanks to the work of People for Puget Sound for their assistance in the designation process.”

Located off Whidbey Island, the Smith and Minor Islands Aquatic Reserve is recognized for its unique and diverse plants, animals and habitat. DNR worked with citizens, local governments and industry to create the management plan. The plan identifies the reserve’s natural resources, habitats, and species, what threats they face and how DNR will select and manage proposed uses of the reserve and its resources.

DNR is committed to the clean-up and restoration of Puget Sound as described in Goldmarks’ strategic plan. Once an aquatic reserve is designated, future DNR authorized uses at the site must be consistent with the goals and objectives for resource protection identified in the management plan. The reserve area applies to only state-owned aquatic lands and not private holdings.