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THE SAN JUAN PRESERVATION TRUST |
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San Juan Preservation Trust receives $100K gift for endowment fundposted 05/16/2006
The Neukom Family Foundation was established by William H. Neukom, former executive vice president of law and corporate affairs at the Microsoft Corporation and chairman of Seattle-based law firm Preston Gates & Ellis. Endowment funds enable non-profit organizations to invest and generate funds that can be used in perpetuity to support the organizations. To become a member of the Preservation Trust, visit http://www.sjpt.org/support/. About the San Juan Preservation Trust Lopez couple are Trust's Volunteers of the Year
Cherill and Dave Perera were named Volunteers of the Year by the San Juan Preservation Trust. They are pictured here at Fisherman Bay on Lopez Island. posted 05/01/2006
The Pereras have helped the Preservation Trust plan and stage outreach events and they help out regularly with special mailings. Dave serves as a fieldwork volunteer helping with restoration projects on various Preservation Trust-protected properties. Since 1999, Cherill has served as coordinator for a trumpeter swan survey on behalf of the Preservation Trust, the Trumpeter Swan Society, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. She now spends 200 hours a year overseeing 80 volunteer data collectors and writing reports. Cherill also works in the Trust’s Lopez office on a weekly basis. Three more acres of Iceberg Point preservedposted 04/03/2006
Including the new three-acre Thomas Preserve, more than three-and-a-half contiguous miles of protected shoreline grace Iceberg Point. The entire southern shore of the peninsula now enjoys protection that will forever preserve its rugged landscape and natural heritage. The Thomas Preserve is a jewel boasting 1,000 feet of shoreline and a healthy native grassland remnant. Because of its small size, remote location, and difficult access, this property will not be open to the public. Instead, it will be managed solely for the benefit of its native inhabitants. "Our family has always treasured the San Juans, and this gift is our way of giving something back to the islands," said Mort Thomas. "We are also so very pleased to be able to continue the history of the preservation of this shoreline." The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Coast Guard own and manage – as an Area of Critical Environment Concern – 93 acres on the western half of the peninsula. The Reeve family of Lopez Island has protected 124 acres of shoreline and uplands on the eastern half with conservation easements held by the Preservation Trust. More information on the San Juan Preservation Trust’s protected properties is available on the Trust's Web site.. Preservation Trust launches membership driveposted 12/06/05
Annual membership contributions account for most of this private land conservation organization’s operating funds, and they sustain its successful land acquisition, conservation education, and stewardship programs. The Preservation Trust invites all islanders to join the Preservation Trust or to renew their memberships by making secure online donations at , or by sending their tax-deductible contribution to:
"During the past 26 years we have protected more than 10,000 acres in these magnificent islands," said Tim Seifert, executive director of the San Juan Preservation Trust. "We thank all of our members for their commitment to protecting our islands, and for helping us to establish an important legacy for future islanders. However, despite our successes, there is much left for us to do." "We cannot continue important land conservation work without the ongoing financial support of islanders," said Sven Haarhoff, the Preservation Trust’s director of outreach and development. "The natural attributes that attracted most of us to these islands are under tremendous pressure from population growth and resulting land development. Without diligent conservation efforts, our most cherished island places will disappear." In 2005, the Preservation Trust added another 436 acres to its portfolio of protected properties, including a 322-acre working farm on Orcas Island, a 34-acre mountaintop on San Juan Island, 30 acres of old growth forest on Shaw Island, and 30 acres of scenic pastureland on Lopez Island. About The San Juan Preservation Trust Founded in 1979, the San Juan Preservation Trust is a private, non-profit 501C (3) land trust dedicated to preserving and protecting open spaces, scenic views, forests, agricultural lands, habitats, watersheds, riparian corridors, wetlands, and shorelines in the San Juan Archipelago. The Preservation Trust has permanently protected more than 10,000 acres, including 22 miles of shoreline on 17 islands, through acquisition and voluntary conservation agreements. Financial support comes from private contributions made by more than 1,500 individuals, families and businesses. To contact the San Juan Preservation Trust, call 360-468-3202, or visit . To make a secure online donation, visit www.sjpt.org. 400 donate to save Crow Valleyposted 09/07/05
The conservation easement, the most cost-effective tool available to protect private land, will permanently protect the natural and scenic values of the farm, retain the property on the tax roles, and encourage current and future landowners to invest in maintaining the land as a working farm. The property, which is zoned R-20, could have been subdivided into 16 lots. In February, the Preservation Trust set out to raise $980,000 to cover the cost of the conservation easement ($865,000), the long-term stewardship and monitoring of the property ($65,000), as well as taxes, legal fees and fundraising costs ($50,000). As of September 5, concerned families, individuals, and businesses had pledged or donated a total of $770,000. The shortfall will come from the Preservation Trust’s acquisition fund, which is supported by Trust members who earmark contributions for just this purpose. "We did it," said Sven Haarhoff, Director of Outreach and Development for the San Juan Preservation Trust. "The island community came together in a short period of time to protect a San Juan County treasure enjoyed by every Orcas Island resident and visitor. We can all rest assured that this part of Crow Valley will retain its rural character and scenic splendor for generations to come." To learn more about the Crow Valley Campaign, visit www.savecrowvalley.com About The San Juan Preservation Trust Founded in 1979, the San Juan Preservation Trust is a private, non-profit 501C (3) land trust dedicated to helping people protect forests, working farmland, wildlife habitats, wetlands, and shorelines in the San Juan Islands through private voluntary action. The Preservation Trust has permanently protected nearly 10,000 acres of natural land, including 22 miles of shoreline on 17 islands, through acquisition and voluntary conservation agreements. Financial support comes from private contributions made by more than 1,400 members. To learn more about the San Juan Preservation Trust, call 360-468-3202 or visit www.savecrowvalley.com. Campaign to protect Crow Valley enters final monthAugust 7 Crow Valley Hoedown Kicks off Public Fundraising Campaign posted 08/04/05
"So far, the Preservation Trust and our steering committee of Orcas Islanders have raised just under $600,000 to purchase a conservation easement that will protect the beautiful and ecologically important 322-acre JB Farm," said Sven Haarhoff, the Preservation Trust's Director of Development and Outreach. "We have received tremendous support from the Orcas Community for this important land conservation project," said Tim Seifert, Executive Director of the Preservation Trust. "Now, we are inviting all islanders to participate in an effort that will protect one of the most beautiful and important properties in the entire county." The Preservation Trust's goal is to raise $980,000 by August 31st. Larger contributions to the campaign may be spread over several years. Crow Valley Hoedown and Live Auction Music and Live Auction
For More Information, or to Make a Donation Campaign to Save Crow Valley Passes $500,000 Markposted 07/08/05
The conservation easement – a legal contract between the landowner and the Preservation Trust – places permanent legal restrictions on the use of the property that will forever protect this magnificent farm from its otherwise inevitable subdivision and development. Left unprotected, Orcas islanders may very well see the eventual development of 16 "ranchettes" – a rural subdivision – each with its own house, fences, driveways, septic systems, and auxiliary outbuildings. "Thanks to our hard-working steering committee of Orcas islanders, and dozens of generous people who want to preserve the many conservation values of this land, we’re more than half way to our goal of raising $980,000, and protecting one of the most beautiful, historical, and ecologically important places in the San Juan Islands," said San Juan Preservation Trust Development Director Sven Haarhoff. The property has been appraised at $2.6 million, and is zoned R-20, meaning it could be subdivided into 16 lots. The appraised value for a conservation easement is $1,165,000, but the current landowner has offered to sell the easement to the Preservation Trust for $865,000 – a discount of $300,000. Additional funds are being raised to cover the costs of long-term stewardship of the property, and various transaction costs associated with the project, including legal fees, excise taxes, and fundraising costs. Inviting Orcas Islanders to Help Save Crow Valley The Preservation Trust and its Crow Valley Campaign steering committee of Orcas islanders invite the public to participate in this important land conservation and community benefit project. For more information about the project, call the Preservation Trust at 360-468-3202, or visit www.sjpt.org. Contributions to the Campaign to Save Crow Valley can be sent to the: Online contributions can be made at savecrowvalley.com. Large contributions can be spread out over several years. About The San Juan Preservation Trust Founded in 1979, the San Juan Preservation Trust is a private, non-profit 501C (3) land trust dedicated to helping people protect forests, working farmland, wildlife habitats, wetlands, and shorelines in the San Juan Islands through private voluntary action. The Preservation Trust has permanently protected nearly 10,000 acres of natural land, including 23 miles of shoreline on 17 islands, through acquisition and voluntary conservation agreements. Financial support comes from private contributions made by more than 1,400 members. To contact the San Juan Preservation Trust, call 360-468-3202. Sares Bluff saved by public/private campaignposted 05/10/04
"Our fundraising effort was a testament to the power of persistence," said Tim Seifert, Executive Director of The San Juan Preservation Trust. "The Fidalgo community rallied around this project when we needed them most." Bob Vaux, the Director of Skagit County Parks & Recreation, is thrilled with this new addition to the county’s network of accessible open space. "We have permanently protected one of the jewels of Fidalgo," he said. "By leveraging our government grants with The Preservation Trust’s fundraising efforts, this project has been a model for effective public-private cooperation." Skagit County Parks and Recreation will be announcing a ribbon cutting ceremony for the general public to be held at the newly-expanded Sharpe Park later in the summer. Skagit County Parks and Recreation provides a broad array of regional recreation opportunities, including youth and adult sports as well as community enrichment programming. Skagit County’s 1,700 acres of parks stretch from Guemes and Fidalgo Islands to Marblemount, and include open space, trails, campgrounds and ballfields. San Juan Preservation Trust is the oldest private, non-profit conservation land trust in Washington and works with landowners in voluntary transactions to conserve areas of natural and scenic significance across the San Juan Islands. Preservation Trust celebrates silver anniversary April 17posted 04/15/04
"We were the very first regional conservation land trust to be incorporated in the state of Washington," said Tim Seifert, The Preservation Trust’s Executive Director. "Our founders took action when it became evident that The Nature Conservancy had fulfilled its preservation work in the islands." Bald eagle nesting habitat on Dodie and Ernest Gann's property in San Juan Valley on San Juan Island would become the first of over 200 land transactions completed by The Preservation Trust during its first 25 years, including 162 conservation easements and 35 Trust-owned preserves that together have permanently protected over 9,500 acres of land and 21 miles of shoreline on 17 different islands. During this time, The Preservation Trust has had 67 volunteer trustees and 21 employees, grown its membership to 1,500 supporters from around the world, and is recognized as one of the most successful land trusts in the country. The Annual Meeting will be the first of several celebrations planned over the course of the year, including special 25th Anniversary events on San Juan, Orcas, Lopez, and Waldron. A full schedule of events and outings, including more information on the Annual Meeting, has been posted on The Preservation Trust’s web site www.sjpt.org and is available to members in the Spring 2004 edition of Land & Legacy, its quarterly newsletter. The San Juan Preservation Trust works cooperatively with private landowners to permanently protect open space, agricultural lands, habitats, wetlands and shorelines throughout the San Juan Islands. Henry Island isthmus permanently protected
Photo by Jim Nowadnick posted 06/20/03
The project includes two inter-related components: The outright purchase of a 21-acre meadow, marine shoreline and forested upland, and the purchase of a conservation easement on the adjoining 21-acre salt marsh isthmus. By combining these land conservation methods, 42 acres of exceptional open-space and wildlife habitat will be permanently protected. The property is bounded on the north by Nelson Bay, on the east by Mosquito Pass, and on the south by Open Bay - three bodies of water providing over 4,100 feet of marine shoreline. There has been longstanding local and state interest in preservation of the Henry Island isthmus. As a natural system, the area displays both high quality and high diversity, including a shallow mud-bottomed bay, inter-tidal zone, coastal beaches, salt-grass meadow, natural dunes, and dry coniferous forest. The rare accretion beach is described in the 1999 Priority Habitat Assessment for San Juan County as one of the most important sites of this type in Washington State. A natural area assessment conducted by The Nature Conservancy identified the area as "highest priority" for conservation, and described the salt marsh and mud flats on Open Bay and Nelson Bay as "probably the finest examples of their kind in San Juan County." Henry Island Enclave, LLC purchased the property in 1999 and was preparing to divide it into smaller residential lots. A plan to build a 300-foot dock to support these smaller lots had received preliminary staff approval from the San Juan County Planning Department and was awaiting final approval from a hearing examiner in March when the Land Bank and The Preservation Trust stepped in to protect the property. Utilizing an early commitment of $475,000 from the Land Bank, The Preservation Trust undertook an aggressive community campaign to raise the additional funds. "Our fundraising effort was nothing short of remarkable," said Tim Seifert, Executive Director of The Preservation Trust. "Despite a challenging economy and an accelerated time schedule, we managed to raise the remaining $475,000 from private sources in less than four months. With a few notable exceptions, almost all of our financial support came from the friends and families of Henry Islanders." Dennis Shaffer, Director of the Land Bank, expressed his excitement over the potential of this partnership for future land conservation transactions in the San Juans. "The Land Bank and The Preservation Trust are becoming a significant conservation force in our islands by leveraging public and private financial resources. Bringing these two successful land conservation organizations together for projects like the Henry Island Isthmus greatly enhances our ability to preserve the most special places in the San Juan Islands." About the San Juan County Land Bank About The San Juan Preservation Trust |
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Previous stories about San Juan Preservation TrustSeifert named as executive director The San Juan Preservation Trust reviews 2001 activity at annual meeting San Juan Preservation Trust purchases 10-acre parcel in Eureka neighborhood San Juan Preservation Trust completes 22nd year San Juan Preservation Trust 2002 events Seven-acre conservation easement donated on Lopez Paul Allen’s foundation gives $300,000 to Trust’s Waldron Island preserve Gift to The San Juan Preservation Trust Preserves Wildlife Habitat on
Sinclair Island Society surveys swans Six fir-covered acres protected in San Juan Island's Eureka Drive Neighborhood Watmough Head shoreline protected A place for wildlife preserved near Orcas ferry landing Osprey habitat preserved on San Juan Island Demopoulos Marsh on Guemes Island preserved |
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