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Related stories
List of stories about San Juan Preservation Trust
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Watmough Head
shoreline protected
posted 12/20/00
Thirteen acres of woodlands, grasslands, and rock outcroppings on the south end of Lopez Island are now protected from development. Bill and Marty Holm donated a conservation easement to The San Juan Preservation Trust to preserve 1300 feet of natural shoreline at Watmough Head.
The Holm property is part of the rugged and wild "southeast crescent" of Lopez that stretches from Watmough Bight to Iceberg Point. The area includes the
federal Bureau of Land Management Point Colville and Chadwick Hill Areas of
Critical Environmental Concern.
"What really excites me," says Marty Holm, "is looking across the open area
and seeing the subtle and dramatic colors of light in the sky, reflecting
on the water and the windshaped trees. It's constantly changing."
"We thought about protecting this amazing place with a conservation
easement for some time, but never got around to it," she continues. "Our
wake up call came a short time back when we found ourselves at a place on
San Juan Island where we had camped and kayaked years ago. The trees there
were replaced with houses, and the area is completely changed. We couldn't
imagine this happening to our place on Lopez so we contacted the
Preservation Trust. We feel really good about having protected our land
and hope others will consider doing the same."
A place for wildlife preserved near Orcas ferry landing
posted 12/20/00
John and Annette Mazzarella purchased ten acres of open land with meadows
and a series of rocky outcrops and a small plateau where madrone are
scattered through a mossy open area next to their home on Orcas Island.
Then they donated a conservation easement to the Preservation Trust to
assure preservation of the wildlife habitat. Kingfishers frequent the
pond, raptors hunt over the meadows, and native wildflowers are found at
the edge of the woods.
The property is near the Warm Valley Farm Land Bank easement and the 27
acres of Krieger conservation easement previously donated to the
Preservation Trust. The Mazzarella easement allows two homes, and sets
aside eight acres as totally natural.
"There are all sorts of groups speaking for people's interests but not many
advocates for wildlife or just preserving beautiful areas that people don't
use," says Annette. "This is a place of quiet beauty. It's wild and
wonderful, and we plan to leave it just as it is."
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San Juan Preservation Trust
"We are extremely grateful the Holms and Mazzarellas for their donated
conservation easements," says Trust President Judy Moody. "They make
valuable additions to our conserved lands and protected habitat in the
islands."
With these conservation easements, The San Juan Preservation Trust now has
conservation agreements on more 8000 acres of private land throughout the
San Juans. The Trust sponsors periodic trips to visit much of this
privately-owned acreage. The Trust manages these conservation interests
through its stewardship program, funded, in part, by annual member
donations and gifts to The Trust Stewardship Fund. For more information,
contact Orcas Island Trustee Alan Davidson or Lopez Island Trustee Mitchell
Hoyt, or the Trust office at Box 327, Lopez Island, WA 98261 or 360.468.3202.
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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