Skagit Update
Spring 2002
Trust receives major grant form Salmon Recovery Funding Board
Annual Meeting held at Maple Hall in LaConner March 21, 2002
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By Denise Crowe, Education & Outreach Director, Friends of the Forest
My introduction to the forestlands of Fidalgo Island was in the mid 1980's, near Heart Lake. I learned the City of Anacortes owned over a thousand acres of forestland and other parts were a state park. I thought, "A miracle of natural beauty."
However, the forest was at risk. Logging to pay for forest management had become city policy, threats of development and resource extraction loomed. The forest was viewed as a liability by many, a drain on city coffers, an excess when we already had so many parks. Starting in the early 1990's a citizens group, the Friends of the Anacortes Forest Community Lands (ACFL), was instrumental in educating the public about the state of the forest. The result: logging was halted and an alternative source of revenue for maintenance was established. After years of work, a comprehensive arrangement was set up between the Friends of the ACFL, the city and Skagit Land Trust as principle partners in the current Conservation Easement Program (CEP) to permanently protect the forestland and pay for its management.
The total area of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands alone is now 2,800 acres. This includes the recent addition of the Heart Lake State Park area and all water surfaces. At least 500 acres of the Anacortes forestlands were already protected through deed restrictions. Currently, an additional 430 acres have been permanently protected through the conservation easement program, with easements held by Skagit Land Trust. Roughly, 1,270 acres remain in need of CEP protection.
Many other parts of Fidalgo Island have also been protected in recent years. Many landowners have voluntarily participated in protecting Fidalgo Island land by donating easements or land to the Skagit Land Trust or other agencies. Other parks or protected land on Fidalgo Island include: Deception State Park (1233 acres), Washington Park (220 acres), Cap Sante Park (15 acres), Skagit County's Sharpe Park (75 acres), South Fidalgo Bay (450 acres), four important private parcels totaling 45 acres protected under easements and ownership by Skagit Land Trust, and 46 acres by the San Juan Preservation Trust. These natural park and preserve holdings on Fidalgo Island total 4,884 acres.
This amazing success story here on Fidalgo Island has been made possible by the dedication, cooperation and hard work of many individuals, organizations and city and government agencies. Fidalgo Island is on the edge of the West, the end of the road. It inspires a conscious commitment to preserve and protect and enjoy it. What used to be viewed as a liability has come to be known as a community treasure, a living source of beauty and energy for all of our island's
inhabitants.
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Six years ago, George and Sue Mehler placed a Conservation Easement on 11 acres around their Anacortes home. They have just permanently protected, with another easement, the balance of their 22 ½ acre property.
The first easement, signed in 1995, protects a lovely wooded tract, extensive garden, productive orchard and their house site.
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| Deep in the woods of the Mehler property in Anacortes. |
The new easement covers the rest of their woods plus acres of open land. The existing trees there may never be harvested, although downed trees may be cut for firewood to be used on site. No structures other than one house may ever be built there-the house must be located along the south or west of the newly protected property.
The woods are home to such species as Douglas fir, western red cedar, big leaf maple, willow and alder. These acres provide great habitat for a wide variety of animals. The Mehler family has seen deer, coyotes, raccoons, squirrels, and lots of birds, including quail, owls and, from time to time, hawks.
"The Trust is very grateful to George and Sue for donating this second easement to us and permanently protecting their property, which they obviously care so much about," Trust president Andrea Xaver said.
The Mehlers acquired their property over a 28-year period, starting when they bought their 1906-built house on 32nd Street in 1970. They purchased the woods in 1975 and the latest one acre in 1998. They and their three children always enjoyed the outdoors and consider this property as part of that experience.
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Grandparents, George and Sue Mehler with their six-month old grandson, George, in March 2002. |
"They grew up enjoying this property as much as we did," according to Sue Mehler. "They roamed through and played in the woods, helped clear and maintain the trails, planted trees and grew to know the wildlife. And they want to keep the property intact forever just as much as we do."
Their grandson, six-month old George, is the latest Mehler to enjoy this property. "He'll grow to love it as much as the rest of us do," his proud grandfather feels sure.
Together the two easements will ensure that these 22 ½ acres within Anacortes's city limits will remain, with the exception of two houses, open and undeveloped while the property around it will undoubtedly be sub-divided and developed. The Anacortes Comprehensive Plan encourages retention of open space and conservation of wildlife habitat.
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Late last year Skagit Land Trust completed the largest land transaction in its history. The project consists of more than 900 acres of important fish and wildlife habitat in five parcels that were purchased from the Kimberly Clark Corporation (K-C). Completing the initial land transaction is often only the first step in a land protection project, and this is certainly the case with the 'K-C Project.' The Trust is busy with the numerous details related to recovering the significant expenses and repaying the debt incurred by the Trust to make the project possible.
Most significantly, the Trust is in the process of selling some 600 acres of the K-C property that is located along the Skagit River to the U.S. Forest Service. This land will be managed under the Skagit Wild and Scenic Rivers Program.
Both the Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy recognized the importance of protecting these properties last year when they became available, but neither agency could move quickly enough to satisfy the seller's timeline. With a commitment from the Forest Service and a loan from The Nature Conservancy, Skagit Land Trust was able to move quickly enough to secure the property. Now, thanks to our elected representatives, money has been appropriated through the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund for Skagit River acquisitions.
The Trust hopes to complete this transfer to the US Forest Service by the fall of this year.
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Andrea Xaver |
Skagit Land Trust's 10-year anniversary was celebrated by a special event on May 3rd at Hillcrest Lodge in Mount Vernon. It was well attended by many members and others who have supported the Trust over the past 10 years.
We were privileged to have the 3 visionary and dedicated Skagit Land Trust founders, Harold Christenson, Gene Murphy and Keith Wiggers, with us that evening to share their experiences. They recalled how they had started with 31 charter members, a pledge of a conservation easement on 7 acres…and no budget. They knew that soon the Trust would look like it does now with protection on nearly 3,000 acres, a substantial budget, and an active board, staff and many volunteers to help carry out their vision. The founders received a well-deserved standing ovation and the admiration of all who attended.
The evening's program also paid tribute to the individuals who have given so remarkably to the Trust to make it the success it is today - from generous support by steadfast members, major donors and foundations, as well as private landowners giving voluntary conservation easements and land donations, plus local organizations with whom we have formed protection partnerships.
Lee Mann donated a stunning photograph of Mt. Baker, for our raffle. Jackie Anderson held the winning ticket. The crowd danced to great rhythm and blues music played by Nick Vigarino's Meantown Blues Band. Sponsors for the evening's activities were Skagit State Bank, First American Title Insurance Company, Dr. Jay Ham, Georgia's Fine Catering of La Conner, Lee Mann Photography, Skagit River Brewing Company, and Andrea Xaver.
It was wonderful to be in the company of those who share the same appreciation of this county's great places. I'm so grateful to the founders and all of you who continue the support of Skagit Land Trust.
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Another 50 acres of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands have just been permanently protected with Conservation Easements. That makes a total of 430 acres of that unique and beautiful City property that cannot be commercially logged, mined, sold, leased or transferred out of public ownership.
These easements are held by Skagit Land Trust, which is responsible for insuring that the terms of the easements are observed.
The Friends of the Forest, the local Forest Lands interest group, will kick off its annual "Forest Forever" campaign on May 1. Its focus this year is on completing protection of Fidalgo Ridge, immediately to the east of popular Whistle Lake. Thirty acres there are already under easement protection and there are another 70 acres yet to be protected.
The City puts an easement on one acre of its Forest Lands for every $1,000 donated to its Forest Lands Endowment Fund. Interest from this fund can be used to help manage the 2,800 acre property.
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Skagit Land Trust recently received a $998,750 grant from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB) to use in acquisition of important fish habitat along the Skagit River between Sedro-Woolley and Concrete. The Trust used a previous grant from the SRFB to identify important properties in this area and is now in the process of approaching landowners willing to sell. Acquisitions of property will take place over the next two years.
The Trust's successful grant application was made possible through the support of many partners in the conservation community of Skagit County. Staff from the Skagit Watershed Council, The Nature Conservancy, Skagit Systems Cooperative, Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group, US Forest Service and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have reviewed the proposal and continue to give much appreciated assistance. It is hoped that through these types of partnerships the funds allocated for salmon recovery will be used most efficiently and effectively.
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In Brief . . .
In March, Brenda Cunningham gave a presentation about the Trust's Middle Skagit Project to
Shoreline Community College students at an event hosted by Arn and Fran Thoreen of Day Creek. The Thoreens open their house to the students every year and guide a float trip down Ross Slough to give them some hands on experience about the Skagit River and environmental management.
In March, Martha Bray gave a presentation at a workshop for Small Forest Landowners sponsored by
Washington Department of Natural Resources. The workshop was well attended and focused on options for small forest landowners under new more restrictive forestry regulations. The Trust can work with a forest landowner to develop a "working forest" Conservation Easement that may provide some income tax and estate tax relief while protecting the conservation values on the land.
In April, Martha Bray, Brenda Cunningham, Ralph Heft and John Milnor attended the annual
Land Trust Alliance Northwest Conference in Leavenworth, WA. The three day conference offered excellent workshops on a variety of topics important to land trusts, including: land and conservation easement management; real estate transactions; board and staff roles and responsibilities and case studies of important conservation projects.
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Braving remnants of the first storm of spring, about 50 people attended the Trust's annual meeting at Maple Hall in La Conner on March 21, 2002.
George and Sue Mehler were recognized for their donation of a second conservation easement on their land in Anacortes. Major donors and special volunteers were introduced, including Ralph Heft and Bradford Furlong, Honorary Staff; Gene Earnest, Exceptional Steward; Mary Kay Barbieri, Volunteer Extraordinaire; Linda Kramme of the Nature Conservancy, Exceptional Conservation Partner; and Ray Taipale, for Special Recognition.
John Milnor, John Osborn, Marlene Moore, Jerry Haegele and Andrea Xaver were reelected to the Board of Directors, each with three-year terms.
Details of the purchase of the Kimberly-Clark (K-C) land were presented, along with photos of the K-C property, easement areas of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands and other recent conservation easements.
Speakers Kaye Baxter and Jeff Guidry of Sarvey Wildlife Care Center and their program on care and repair of wild animals, assisted by Freedom, the eagle and other feathered friends, were warmly received.
The Trust's Board of Directors met immediately following the Annual Meeting and elected officers for the next year, including Andrea Xaver, President, John Milnor, Vice-President, Marlene Moore, Secretary and Jerry Haegele, Treasurer.
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Last year Skagit Land Trust gave its endorsement to a joint grant proposal with Whatcom Land Trust and the North Cascades Corridor Project (a non-profit Bellingham-based citizens group) to evaluate conservation options for private land in the Chuckanut Foothills. The proposal was made to the Paul G. Allen Forest Protection Foundation to develop a 'Cascades-to-Chuckanut Conservation Strategy.'
Whatcom Land Trust was recently notified that the Foundation is awarding $50,000 toward the project.
This project is a great opportunity to take a comprehensive look at one of the last large expanses of relatively undeveloped lowland forest in the Puget Sound region. It will also be a giant leap forward for Whatcom and Skagit Land Trusts to work together on a larger regional scale-the two trusts will cooperate to plan across county boundaries. The purpose of the project is to document important ecological characteristics and conservation options for a 200 square-mile corridor extending from the North Cascades west to the Chuckanut Mountains and the marine coast south of Bellingham.
The Chuckanut Foothills were identified as a key area in Skagit Land Trust's recently adopted Conservation Strategy because there remains a wide green belt of open space and lowland forest between the urbanizing fringes of Bellingham and Burlington. Residential development pressures are high in parts of the area, but much opportunity remains to protect the integrity of this unique landscape.
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What is it and what does it mean to you?
There are several forms of donating to a non-profit organization which are call planned giving. They range from a simple bequest included in a donor's will to complex trusts and other deferred forms of giving. While Skagit Land Trust encourages members to consider all forms of planned giving with a qualified estate planner, the simplest and easiest way to leave a lasting legacy for the Trust is to remember us in your will.
While you may not be able to make a significant gift to us from your current income, you may have resources such as property, stocks and other assets which have increased in value over the years. Selling them now may trigger capital gains taxes as well as increase your income taxes. A bequest of some portion of your accumulated estate not only benefits our conservation efforts, it may also mean tax benefits to your estate.
In addition you may name the Trust as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy, or, as the final beneficiary of an IRA. No matter what option you chose, as in all estate planning, you should always consult with your legal advisor.
We would like to hear from you if you have already made us a beneficiary or are considering it or if you have questions. Please contact Jerry Haegele at 360-428-7878 or 360-293-8371.
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Patsy Martin joined the Trust's Board of Directors in March 1998, and is currently the Chair of the Stewardship Committee. Patsy's experience includes property management at the Port of Anacortes, environmental manager and planner at the Port of Skagit County and past president of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce. Currently, Patsy is
property manager for the Port of Skagit County responsible for leases, CC&R's, GMA liaison with Skagit County and current airport development planning, as well as continuing her work with environmental planning.
A Bellingham native, Patsy grew up in Mount Vernon and graduated from Western Washington University in 1984 with a BS degree in Geology and in 1993 with an MS degree in Public Policy.
Patsy has seen many changes in Skagit County stemming from the pressures of development and the natural growth of the community. She believes in non-regulatory and voluntary protection of land, which is one of the major reasons she joined the Trust's Board. Patsy also wants to help create living wage jobs in the county. She believes she can help balance this
interest with the need to protect the beautiful land in the county. Patsy also wants to help her two boys, Gabe, 11, and Nick, 13, learn first hand about conservation and land protection.
Patsy's husband, Dan, owns and operates Kelvin Cooling and Heating Service here in the county. Patsy, Dan and their two boys live in a new home they built in Alger just a few years ago. They are all active members of the Edison Lutheran Church.
As Chair of the Trust's Stewardship Committee, Patsy has helped establish the policies that define and govern how we monitor conservation easements for which we are responsible and maintain the land that we own. This committee also assists our staff with reviews of current monitoring work and upcoming monitoring and land maintenance projects.
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Martha Bray, Denise Crowe, Brenda Cunningham, Marlene Moore, Gene Murphy, Molly
Smith, and Andrea Xaver
Editor: Jerry Haegele
