THE SAN JUAN PRESERVATION TRUST

Land Bank closed on Watmough Bay property

posted 09/08/2007
San Juan County Land Bank successfully purchased a 7.3-acre property along Watmough Bay for $1,150,000 today. The action marks the successful conclusion of a joint effort between the Land Bank and the San Juan Preservation Trust. The Preservation Trust will use private funds it has raised to purchase a conservation easement on the property for 50 percent of the purchase cost. This partnership, which also succeeded last year in protecting Turtleback Mountain on Orcas Island, will ensure that the property remains undeveloped and publicly accessible in perpetuity.

"Watmough Bay is a regionally significant place for many reasons, " stated Lincoln Bormann, Land Bank Director. "Ecologically, it is a pristine location where we still find Chinook salmon amid the eelgrass, where a rare freshwater marsh feeds the marine environment. Culturally, the site has been used potentially for thousands of years. It is an icon for Lopez."

The Preservation Trust led an intense effort to raise $650,000 for the project in just over two months. The effort successfully concluded last week. "The outpouring of support from the community was unparalleled," said Tim Seifert, Executive Director of the Preservation Trust. "It shows just how deeply the people of Lopez and the Islands feel about this special place."

The Watmough project will conclude when Tex Gieling, a neighbor, donates a portion of her property to the Land Bank and the Preservation Trust at the end of the year. "At that point, there will be no more threat of development on the Bay, " Bormann concluded. "Watmough will remain forever wild. "

A pending development application on the site would have allowed the removal of 60 percent of the trees, including some that are at least 400 years old. This development would have included the construction of a house on the slope overlooking the public beach, rocky cliffs, and sensitive wildlife habitat that have already been protected by the Land Bank and the federal Bureau of Land Management.

Island Community keeps Watmough wild

San Juan Preservation Trust’s $650,000 Fundraising Campaign Succeeds

posted 08/31/2007
The San Juan Preservation Trust has raised the $650,000 needed to purchase and protect a 7-acre property that was susceptible to development inside Lopez Island’s Watmough Bight. This acquisition ensures that Watmough Bight will remain an undeveloped conservation area accessible to the public for generations to come.

"The island community responded in a big way in a very short period of time," said Sven Haarhoff, director of charitable giving for the San Juan Preservation Trust. "The overwhelming support of this conservation project from throughout San Juan County – and beyond – underscores the importance of this dramatically beautiful, ecologically sensitive, and much loved bay. Thank you to everyone who took part in making this land conservation project a success."

The San Juan Preservation Trust contributed $150,000 from its reserves (Funds previously donated by members of the Preservation Trust) and raised an additional $500,000 from more than 650 individuals, families and businesses. The San Juan County Land Bank, a public agency, contributed $575,000 to the $1.225 million project. The Land Bank will own and manage the Watmough Bight conservation area while the Preservation Trust will hold a conservation easement to ensure it remains in its natural state and publicly accessible in perpetuity.

"Much of the success of this project is due to the amazing generosity of Tex Gieling, a neighbor who owns the remaining private property inside the bay," explained Tim Seifert, executive director of the San Juan Preservation Trust. "Tex made this an attractive two-for-one deal by donating her land adjacent to the 7-acre property, giving the public even more acreage to enjoy. Her gift will be appreciated by the community for generations to come."

"Once again the Land Bank and the Preservation Trust have worked together to protect a spectacular property that will be available for public enjoyment," said Lincoln Bormann, director of the San Juan County Land Bank. "It is a great legacy for the Islands."

Tremendous Community Effort on Lopez While people from across San Juan County contributed to the Watmough campaign, it was the Lopez Island community that mobilized all its resources to conserve an area that is of tremendous importance to many Lopezians.

“It took everything from childrens’ lemonade stands, teen dances, and young ladies selling friendship bracelets at the Lopez farmer’s market to benefit concerts, wonderful matching gifts and generous five-figure donations to make this campaign a success,” said Charles Givens, co-chair of the campaign. “I am really proud to be part of this community.”

About the Campaign to Keep Watmough Wild County planning and development officials were prepared to approve an application to develop the 7-acre parcel adjacent to the beach at the head of Watmough Bay. That plan called for the removal of 60 percent of the trees on the property, including some that are at least 400 years old. It also called for the construction of a house on the slope overlooking the public beach, rocky cliffs, and sensitive wildlife habitat that have already been protected by the Land Bank and the federal Bureau of Land Management

Watmough Campaign Passes $400,000 Mark

New $25K Matching Grant Designed to ‘Finish the Bight’

posted 08/28/2007 The San Juan Preservation Trust reports that it has raised more than $400,000 of the $500,000 it needs to raise from the island community to help purchase and protect a 7-acre property susceptible to development inside Lopez Island’s largely protected Watmough Bight.

"By September 1 we expect to have raised $450,000," said Sven Haarhoff, director of charitable giving for the San Juan Preservation Trust. "After that, we’ll have to sprint as hard as we can to secure the last $50,000 needed to reach our goal by the September 7th deadline."

In an effort to aid this final push, two families with strong ties to Lopez have offered a final $25,000 dollar-for-dollar matching grant. They say they hope this challenge grant will encourage the island community to make the donations that will "Finish the Bight"(the campaign’s slogan) by the fast-approaching deadline. The Watmough campaign is also getting widespread support from other islands in the county, from the Seattle area, and even from the Port Townsend sailing community.

The Preservation Trust and the San Juan County Land Bank formed a partnership earlier this summer to conserve the property on Lopez Island’s southeast coast. Keeping the pristine, popular, and ecologically sensitive Watmough Bight undeveloped and open to the public requires a $1.225 million fundraising effort. The Land Bank has committed $575,000 to the project, and the San Juan Preservation Trust will contribute $150,000 of its funds. The Preservation Trust has been raising the remaining $500,000 from private individuals, families and businesses.

Young Adults Raise More than $13,000 for Watmough Campaign This week's young adult-organized “Fight for the Bight” event raised just over $13,000 with a concert, a silent auction, a "man auction" and a beauty pageant. "A huge thank you goes to Nicolaj Lasbo, his brother Sebastian, and Nicole Malinoff as well as their friends and family for pulling off this spectacular teen benefit," said Charles Givens, co-chair of the Campaign to Keep Watmough Wild steering committee. "What they were able to pull off is truly amazing, and the community is grateful for their efforts."

About the Campaign to Keep Watmough Wild Local planning and development officials were prepared to approve an application to develop the 7-acre parcel adjacent to the beach at the head of Watmough Bight. That plan called for the removal of 60 percent of the trees on the property, including trees that are at least 400 years old. It also called for the construction of a house on the slope overlooking the public beach, rocky cliffs, and sensitive wildlife habitat that have already been protected by the Land Bank and the federal Bureau of Land Management

Recognizing the significance of Watmough Bight to the natural and cultural heritage of Lopez Island, Imogene “Tex” Gieling, a neighbor who owns the remaining private property within the bay, has offered to donate adjacent land to the public. This gift, along with the purchase of the property under threat, would keep Watmough Bight free of development and accessible to the public.

How to Help Finish the Bight To support the Campaign to Keep Watmough Wild, send tax-deductible donations to the San Juan Preservation Trust, Box 327, Lopez Island, WA, 98261. Make checks payable to the San Juan Preservation Trust/Watmough. To make secure online donations, go to www.sjpt.org. For each contribution of $100 or more, supporters may receive a campaign ball cap with the Watmough logo on the front and “Finish the Bight” on the back. For more information about this project, please contact Sven Haarhoff of the San Juan Preservation Trust at 360.378.2461.

$120,000 matching grant for campaign to keep Watmough wild;
Deadline To Raise $500,000 From Island Community is September 7

Steve Horn photograph of Watmough Bight

posted 08/13/2007
Six Lopez Island families are offering to match every individual donation made to the Campaign to Keep Watmough Wild, up to a total of $120,000 dollars. This means that each dollar donated will earn an additional dollar from the matching grant. Qualifying donations include new gifts made to the campaign and payable before the September 7, 2007 deadline.

"Together, these six families will contribute a one-to-one match for all contributions made to the effort to prevent development inside Watmough Bight," said David Perera, co-chair of the campaign steering committee. "It is this kind of generosity that will help us reach our $500,000 goal by September 7th of this year."

"All of us love Watmough Bight and hope that this $120,000 challenge grant will encourage people on Lopez, and on all of the San Juan Islands, to help us protect this incredibly peaceful, beautiful, popular, and ecologically sensitive place from being ruined,” said Lopez resident Mike Halperin, who represents one of the families offering the matching grant. “Several years ago, the Lopez community worked very hard to protect much of the land around the bay for the public’s enjoyment. Today, it is our turn to protect the remaining properties that are vulnerable to development."

The matching grant participants are: David and Shari Ashbaugh; Peter and Betsy Currie; Mike Halperin and Jodi Green; John and Patsy Sangster; and two anonymous families.

About the Campaign to Keep Watmough Wild
The San Juan Preservation Trust and the San Juan County Land Bank have formed a partnership to purchase and conserve a 7-acre property that is susceptible to development inside the largely protected Watmough Bight on Lopez Island’s southeast coast.

Local planning and development officials were prepared to approve an application to develop the 7-acre parcel adjacent to the beach at the head of the bay. That plan called for the removal of 60 percent of the trees on the property, including trees that are at least 400 years old. It also called for the construction of a house on the slope overlooking the public beach, rocky cliffs, and sensitive wildlife habitat that have already been protected by the Land Bank and the federal Bureau of Land Management

Recognizing the significance of Watmough Bight to the natural and cultural heritage of Lopez Island, Imogene “Tex” Gieling, a neighbor who owns the remaining private property within the bay, has offered to donate her land to the public. This gift, along with the purchase of the property under threat, would keep Watmough Bight free of development and accessible to the public.

Summer Fundraising Campaign has September 7 Deadline
Keeping Watmough Bight undeveloped and open to the public requires a $1.225 million community fundraising effort. The Land Bank has committed $575,000 to the project, and the San Juan Preservation Trust will contribute $150,000 of its own funds. The Preservation Trust must therefore raise the remaining $500,000 from private individuals before the September 7, 2007 closing deadline.

How to Help Finish the Bight
To support the Campaign to Keep Watmough Wild, send tax-deductible donations to the San Juan Preservation Trust, Box 327, Lopez Island, WA, 98261. Make checks payable to the San Juan Preservation Trust/Watmough. To make secure online donations, go to www.sjpt.org. For each contribution of $100 or more, supporters may receive a campaign ball cap with the Watmough logo on the front and "Finish the Bight" on the back. For more information about this project, please contact Sven Haarhoff of the San Juan Preservation Trust at 360.378.2461.

Conservation partnership seeking $1.225 million by Sept. 7
to keep Watmough Bight free of development

posted 07/24/2007
PRESS RELEASE:
The San Juan Preservation Trust and the San Juan County Land Bank yesterday announced that they have formed a partnership to purchase and conserve a 7-acre property that is susceptible to development inside the largely protected Watmough Bight on Lopez Island's southeast coast.

Local planning and development officials were prepared to approve an application to develop the 7-acre parcel adjacent to the beach at the head of the bay. That plan called for the removal of 60 percent of the trees on the property -- about 20,000 board feet, including trees that are at least 400 years old. It also called for the construction of a house on the slope overlooking the public beach, rocky cliffs, and sensitive wildlife habitat that have already been protected by the Land Bank and the federal Bureau of Land Management.

"Many islanders will be surprised to learn that the pristine solitude of Watmough Bight is under threat," said Sven Haarhoff, director of charitable giving at the San Juan Preservation Trust. "Imagine standing on the public beach, looking up to your right, and seeing a private home cut right into the adjacent hillside. The Lopez community worked very hard several years to protect much of the area for public enjoyment, but the southern shoreline remains in private hands and can be easily developed unless we work together to acquire it now."

Recognizing the significance of Watmough Bight to the natural and cultural heritage of Lopez Island, Imogene "Tex" Gieling, a neighbor who owns the remaining private property within the bay, has offered to donate her land to the public. This gift, along with the purchase of the property under threat, would keep Watmough Bight free of development and accessible to the public.

Keeping the pristine, popular, and ecologically sensitive Watmough Bight undeveloped and open to the public requires a $1.225 million community fundraising effort. The Land Bank has committed $575,000 to the project, and the San Juan Preservation Trust will contribute $150,000 of its own funds. The Preservation Trust must therefore raise the remaining $500,000 from private individuals before the September 7, 2007 closing deadline.

"Watmough Bight provides the public with one of the best opportunities in the San Juan Islands for people to experience a sense of wildness and remoteness," said Lincoln Bormann, director of the San Juan County Land Bank. "The Land Bank already protects a 70-foot stretch of beach and an adjacent 8-acre wetland, and the BLM much more. If we can successfully protect these last parcels, we will ensure the bight stays natural for the foreseeable future."

Fifteen community leaders have volunteered to serve on the steering committee for the Campaign to Keep Watmough Wild. They are: David Perera (co-chair); Charles Givens (co-chair), Bob Myhr (Honorary co-chair); David Ashbaugh; Peggy Bill; Holly Bower (Of Holly B's Bakery); David Black; Tom Cowan; Cynthia Dilling; Imogene "Tex" Gieling; Jodi Green and Mike Halperin; Nancy Greene; Cherill Perera; Dianne Pressenda; Patsy and John Sangster.

To support the Campaign to Keep Watmough Wild, send tax-deductible donations to the San Juan Preservation Trust, Box 327, Lopez Island, WA, 98261. Make checks payable to the San Juan Preservation Trust/Watmough. To make secure online donations, go to www.sjpt.org. For each contribution of $100 or more, supporters may receive a campaign ball cap with the Watmough logo on the front and "Finish the Bight" on the back. For more information about this project, please contact Sven Haarhoff of the San Juan Preservation Trust at 360.378.2461.

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