San Juan Preservation Trust purchases
10-acre parcel in Eureka neighborhood
posted 03/22/02
The San Juan Preservation Trust and Eureka Drive neighbors on San Juan Island recently collaborated to raise the funds necessary for the Trust to purchase a 10-acre woodland parcel in the Eureka neighborhood. The parcel adjoins 31 acres of woodlands previously protected by a mix of conservation easements and a Trust nature preserve. In addition to expanding protected habitat to 41 acres, the property preserves part of the scenic wooded corridor along Eureka Drive and is contiguous with forested portions of surrounding lots.
"The Trust recognized the conservation value of expanding this protected woodland and provided leadership and fundraising support to a broad group of neighbors," says Scott Spadafora, a Eureka neighbor. "We’re delighted by the neighborhood’s response," said Gretchen Lambert, who with her husband Charles donated one of the Eureka Drive conservation easements two years ago. "I hope our success will motivate more neighbors to consider working together to protect land."
Neighbors in the islands frequently work together to conserve land by donating conservation easements on individual contiguous properties. Like large tracts in single ownership, these "composite" protected areas offer habitat for wildlife and preserve the forested areas and open space that distinguish the San Juan Islands. Entrance Mountain on Orcas and the John Geary Preserve along Burrows Bay on Fidalgo are examples of protected areas that began with neighbors making coordinated donations of conservation easements or land to the Trust.
"When the donation of a conservation easement on a parcel with high conservation value is not available, as was the case with the Eureka Drive property, the purchase of the parcel may be an appropriate alternative," said Mike Cooper, Manager of Planned Giving and Outreach for the Trust. "In such cases, the strong support of the neighborhood is the cornerstone of success."
Since 1979, The San Juan Preservation Trust has worked to preserve wildlife habitat, open space, and scenic landscapes in the San Juan Islands by supporting voluntary conservation and encouraging the careful use of land. The Trust is a non-profit organization supported by over 1,600 members. To learn more about the Trust’s programs, please contact the Trust at 360.468.3202 or on the internet at www.sjpt.org.
Six fir-covered acres protected in
San Juan Island's Eureka Drive Neighborhood
posted 1/5/01
Thanks to the foresight and generosity of neighbors in the Eureka Drive
community north of Friday Harbor, The San Juan Preservation Trust was
recently able to purchase and permanently protect six acres of fir
woodlands on San Juan Island.
"The opportunity was brought to our attention by adjoining landowners who
had placed conservation easements on their properties and were excited
about the potential for extending that protection," explains Trust
Executive Director Bob Myhr. "The parcel was on the market and slated for
logging and development. Once we saw the qualities of the land and how it
fit with the contiguous easement-protected land, we moved ahead to
negotiate a purchase." Members of the Eureka Drive neighborhood had
previously donated conservation easements to the Trust, protecting 31 acres
of old growth woodlands and shoreline.
Landowners in the area recognized how preservation of this parcel would
benefit their neighborhood and came forward to support the Trust
acquisition with donations to Trust's Land Acquisition Fund. Gretchen
Lambert, who along with her husband Charles owns property directly north of
the preserve, is delighted with the outcome. "Having this land as a
preserve ensures wildlife habitat, watershed protection, less local traffic
and the ongoing beauty of that forested hillside," she reflects. "Those are
all values we believe in and want to support."
As with other Trust-owned lands throughout the islands, the Eureka Preserve will remain "forever wild" -- a refuge for wildlife and flora. The San Juan Preservation Trust now holds 147 easements and owns 32 preserves on 15
islands.
Bob Myhr
Executive Director
The San Juan Preservation Trust
Box 327
(3157 Fisherman Bay Road)
Lopez Island WA 98261-0327
Voice: 360-468-3202 Fax: 360-468-3509
e-mail: sjptrust@rockisland.com
web page: rockisland.com/~sjptrust/
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