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For more information about the San Juan County Land Bank, please call 360.378.4402 or visit the Land Bank Web site.

Riding Club and Land Bank members hike Turtleback Mtn

photo by Tess Simendingerhas
Checking the map of Turtleback Mountain Preserve are left to right; Rik Karon, Land Bank Steward Eliza Habegger, Land Bank Commisioner Mary Blackstone, Wanda Evans, Catherine Ascher, and Ruthie Thompson-Klein

posted 03/31/2008
Friday March 28, 2008 a Land Bank staff member and members of the Island Trail Riding Club hiked Turtleback Mountain Preserve on Orcas Island. The two groups are working together to communicate their respective concerns regarding multi-use of trails in the now publicly-owned preserve.

The Land Bank's proposed management plan does not allow biking or horseback riding. At public meetings on Orcas and San Juan Islands, Land Bank Board members and staff heard from community members who disagreed with the restrictions.

Staff member Doug McCutchen said the Land Bank did not have enough staff to allow multi-use of the preserve. He said Moran State Park has staff and allows horseback riding. The state park staff also tends to numerous other duties.

At the San Juan Island meeting, Rik Karon said having multi-use worked well on the DNR's Mitchell Hill property on San Juan Island. Bicyclists, horseback riders and hikers all used the trails without any staff. Will Hamilton who manages the adjacent watershed property for Roche Harbor concurred.

Hamilton also managed the forestry program for the previous owners of the Turtleback Mountain property. At the meeting he said something to consider was in the past the property had been used to train rescue dogs. And the dogs had been used successfully in a rescue on Orcas Island.

Turtleback Mountain Preserve was obtained by the Land Bank and San Juan Preservation Trust with the help of a public out-pouring of letters and donations. Voters approved a one percent tax real estate excise tax in San Juan County which funds the Land Bank to purchase land to be held in open space for public benefit. The tax was renewed once and is due to sunset in 2014 unless approved again by voters.

Since the two meetings, the Land Bank has decided to extend the time period for public testimony to April 18 and to hold its regular Land Bank meeting on Orcas on April 11. The meeting begins at 10:15 a.m. and will be held in the in the Main Meeting Room, Orcas Island Fire Department Station 21, 45 Lavender Lane, Eastsound. Public comment time is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.

The Draft Plan is available for download on the Land Bank’s website www.co.san-juan.wa.us/land_bank/turtle_back.html or by calling the office at 378-4402.

Land Bank extends Turtleback management plan comment period to April 18

posted 03/22/2008
Recognizing the high level on interest in management of the Turtleback Mountain Preserve, the Land Bank is extending the public comment period on its draft management plan until April 18. "We have received many comments from people already in our three public meetings and via emails, letters and calls," stated Lincoln Bormann, Land Bank Director. "However, some have expressed confusion over our process and we wanted to make sure we received input from as diverse a cross-section of the community as possible."

In order to further ensure capturing a variety of opinion, the Land Bank will have its April 11 meeting at on Orcas Island. The meeting location has yet to be determined. "The agenda will provide for an expanded public comment time," said Bormann. "It will be an opportunity for the Land Bank Commission to hear comments first-hand."

Following the end of the comment period, the Commission will review all public comments and direct staff to redraft the plan as needed. The draft plan would then go back before the San Juan Preservation Trust Board for approval as mandated in the terms of the conservation easement on the property. The draft plan will be finalized in a public hearing before the County Council.

Public comment welcome until March 31 on Turtleback Management Plan

No horseback riding or biking allowed

posted 03/11/2008
The San Juan County Land Bank is inviting public comment on its Draft Stewardship and Management Plan for Turtleback Mountain Preserve. Comments will be accepted through March 31, 2008, and may be submitted in writing. Written comments should be directed to the Land Bank at 350 Court St. #6, Friday Harbor, 98250.

The Draft Plan elaborates on the theme of Turtleback as a natural area that will be managed to protect the land’s native species, habitats, and other noteworthy features, and to enable low-impact, compatible public use. No bicycling or horseback riding is allowed under the plan. Once finalized, it will replace the existing Interim Management Plan. It will direct stewardship of the Preserve for years to come. The Draft Plan is available for download on the Land Bank’s website www.co.san-juan.wa.us/land_bank/turtle_back.html or by calling the office at 378-4402.

Council appproves Land Bank plan to preserve farmland on Orcas Island

posted 03/05/2008
PRESS RELEASE: The San Juan County Council authorized Land Bank Director Lincoln Bormann to proceed with the purchase of 186 acres of farmland located between the Judd Cove Preserve and Turtleback Mountain Preserve on Orcas Island, to insure that the land stays in agriculture and to protect scenic vistas and potential trail access connecting the preserves.

The property is now owned by family farmers Vern and Sidney Coffelt who are nearing retirement. Director Bormann noted that the Land Bank purchased conservation easements on the farm in 1995 and 1996, but the Coffelts are now in the position of needing to sell the land or find another way to enable them to back off from their day-to-day activities. He told the Council that if the property were sold at full price on the open market the cost would make it highly unlikely that any investor would maintain it as a farm.

The Coffelts have agreed to sell the land to the San Juan County Land Bank for $1,175,000, a price which Borman said is well below the estimated market value.

Under the terms of the sale, the County will make payments on the property over a period of four years, and the Coffelts may remain in residence on the property for the rest of their lives. The Land Bank will eventually lease the farm to others interested in maintaining it in agriculture.

The Council unanimously supported the purchase, with Councilmember Gene Knapp saying, "There is no way to describe this as anything other than terrific."

Councilmember Bob Myhr said, "This can serve as another model for preserving property and land in agriculture."

San Juan County Land Bank was created in 1990 and mandated to "preserve in perpetuity areas in the county that have environmental, agricultural, aesthetic, cultural, scientific, historic, scenic or low-intensity recreational value and to protect existing and future sources of potable water." It is funded with a one percent real estate excise tax paid by purchasers of property in the county.

Cady Mountain Preserve One Step Closer to Public Access

posted 01/10/2008
San Juan County Land Bank purchased 10 acres from Bruce Clark in December 2007 adjacent to its existing Cady Mountain Preserve on San Juan Island. The Clark acquisition added a shady fern-filled ravine and a fringe of Garry Oak woodland to the Preserve’s existing Garry Oak savanna, mature forest and open meadows. "Perhaps more importantly," said Land Steward Eliza Habegger, "it takes the Land Bank one step closer to its goal of a primitive, public trail that could one day lead from the county road to the mountain’s top."

The Land Bank efforts to protect forest land on Cady Mountain began in 2002 with the purchase of 40 acres. The effort continued in 2005 when an acquisition from the Department of Natural Resources kept an additional 80 acres in public hands. With the new purchase the preserve now consists of 130 acres and features outstanding views.

The Land Bank has worked in recent years with the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program to restore Garry Oak habitat on the Cady Mountain Preserve. The area was identified in the 1975 study of San Juan County Natural Areas as being of the highest priority for conservation due to its oak stands.

Eliza Habegger was assisted on the project by Thom Pence a Land Bank Commissioner and retired forester with a lifelong dedication to conservation. "This addition to the Cady Mountain Preserve is a Commissioner's dream!" said Pence. "Not only does it provide the possibility to extend scenic hiking access to the mountain, but also incorporates one of the best, biologically diverse pieces of Garry Oak habitat remaining on the mountain. Such opportunities are rare and we fully appreciate our good fortune."

The preserve also features various plants including the wildflower, Jeffrey's shooting-star. While the preserve is not currently open to the public, photos of the view, the forest and the flowers can be seen on the Land Bank's Web site www.co.san-juan.wa.us/land_bank.

Council approves $4 million in new acquisitions for Land Bank

includes parcels on Cady Mtn, Watmough Bight, Judd Cove and more

By Sharon Kivisto

posted 06/07/2007The Land Bank's amended 2007 budget, approved unanimously Tuesday, June 5, 2007 by the San Juan County Council, includes $4 million in new acquistions. Many of the purchases are still in process, one was quickly finalized immediately following the public hearing for the budget amendment.

The property referred to as the Westside Preserve Addition was owned by James and Anne Airy. It is one acre in size and has approximately 160 feet of rocky shoreline on Haro Strait. The Land Bank owns property to the south of the parcel. A house is on the parcel to the north. On the other side of the house is more Land Bank property.

According to the Land Bank report, acquisition of this property is important to maintaining the open space character of the westside of San Juan Island. One of the essential qualities of the westside is its strong visual linkage to the waters of Haro Strait. This stretch of the Westside Road is one of those most traveled by islanders and visitors seeking opportunities to view killer whales from land. Additionally, maintaining this parcel in its natural condition will limit the potential for cumulative impacts on the strait.

Councilmember Kevin Ranker suggested the value of buying up single parcels would be something the Land Bank Commission would have to consider carefully. He understood the commission's desire to keep out "monster-sized" houses.

Land Bank Commission Chair Lisa Nash said, "The west side is like our Turtleback."

After the budget hearing was over and the budget was approved, the council approved the purchase of the Airy property for $875,000. This includes $5,000 closing costs.

Other potential purchases on San Juan Island included in the amended 2007 Land Bank budget are:

• $1 million for a conservation easement on the Webb property to buffer English Camp and protect Westcott Bay with a public trail connection. The property belongs to the Webb family. The Land Bank is not purchasing property, only an easement. The 75-acre parcel is zoned for one home per five acres. The conservation easement will eliminate not more than two housing units according to Land Bank Director Lincoln Bormann. The easement will contain a provision allowing a public trail connection between English Camp and the Roche Harbor highlands property.
  
  The million dollar price is just an estimate, the negotiations are still underway. Asked by the council if the oyster farm will still be operational. Bormann said the funds from the easement will help the family continue the operation. Another councilmember thought the oyster farm business belonged to someone else. Bormann said he would check on that.
  
  
• $250,000 in partnership with Sean Hubbard, who will contribute $250,000 towards the purchase of 10 acres on Cady Mountain owned by Bruce Clark. The property will provide additional protection to the rare Garry Oak plant community and provide potential for better public access to the Land Bank's existing preserve. Hubbard is also considering donating a conservation easement or the fee with a life estate to the Land Bank for a 20-acre parcel he currently owns adjacent 10-acre property. The 20 acre parcel contains some of the highest quality Garry Oak savannah community on San Juan Island, according to the Land Bank.

LOPEZ ISLAND

• $600,000 for a conservation easement on 120 acres on the Robinson farm located near Hunter Bay. The property consists of 170 acres. The portion covered by the conservation easement consists of open agricultural fields with forested patches and a wetland area on the western boundary.
  
  According to the Land Bank Commission report: Acquisition of this property is important to maintaining the open space character of Lopez Island. Robinson Farm is an excellent example of an island homestead from the early 20th century, complete with orchard, timber resources and high quality pasture. Its farmhouse and barn are also exemplary of that time period and the conservation easement could include an historic preservation component for these structures.
  
  


$600,000 for fee title seven acres with approximately 680 feet of high bank waterfront at Watmough Bight owned by Eric Meng and Ellison Cady. The property is immediately adjacent to Bureau of Land Management Land. "The Land Bank is pursuing this with the San Juan Preservation Trust," Bormann told the county Council. "A grant is being sought from the Salmon Recovery Board for half the cost."


• According to the report, Acquisition of this property is vital to maintaining the character of Watmough Bay. Currently, no structures are visible from the beach accessed across Land Bank and BLM property. The Bay provides one of the best opportunities in the islands for people to experience a sense of wildness and remoteness. Were the property cleared and a structure built, this essence would be lost.
  
  Maintaining this parcel in its natural condition will also limit the potential for cumulative impacts on Bight and adjacent waters.
  
  

ORCAS ISLAND

• $850,000 for acquisition of fee title to ensure continued operation of Coffelt's Farm. The property consists of 165 acres and is adjacent to the Land Bank's Turtleback Mountain Preserve to the west and Fowler's Pond Preserve to the north. It is largely open fields with some forested and wetland areas. There are two current residences and multiple farm buildings.
  
  According to the report: Acquisition of this property is critical in maintaining agriculture on Orcas Island. The Coffelts have maintained the farm for many years but are nearing retirement. The Land Bank already holds a conservation easement on the property, but this does not preclude the possibility of the land being divided and sold as five separate estates. The fee purchase will allow the Land Bank to lease the property for agriculture and further restrict development potential.
  
  Additionally, fee ownership will allow for public access, including a potential connector between Turtleback and Fowler's Pond and for environmental and agricultural education programs.
  
  " TheLand Bank agrees to keep as a place of agricultural activity for the next 50 years. There will be housing for the farm manager and worker housing and a life estate for the Coffelts,"Bormann said, "It also almost connects us from Turtleback to Judd Cove."
  
  
• $500,000 for acquisition of fee title of four acres at Judd Cove belonging to Mike Carlson. This will provide public access to the waterfront and allow ecological restoration of the site. The property is largely cleared field and includes 140 feet of low bank waterfront. It also controls the tidelands for half the cove. The owner has a bedland lease from the Dept of Natural Resources.
  
  According to the report: Acquisition of this property will fulfill some of the original goals in acquiring properties above Judd Cove. Currently Land Bank holdings do not allow public access to the shoreline or provide much protection to the intertidal zone. Ownership of this property will provide both of these.
  
  In addition, there is great restoration potential on the property for the degraded freshwater wetlands and in the eelgrass area currently impacted by the dock and log dump operations. Also Judd Cove in a restored state may create additional herring spawn habitat.
  
  Acquisition of this property would further the potential of a pedestrian connection from Turtleback, across Crow Valley and to the shoreline of Judd Cove as well. Lastly the property has a good example of a limekiln which could become an educational resource for the island.

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