Whidbey-Camano Land Trust

THE MISSION OF THE WHIDBEY CAMANO LAND TRUST IS TO PROTECT, RESTORE AND CREATE ACCESS TO FORESTS, SHORELINES, FARMLANDS AND OTHER HABITATS IN ISLAND COUNTY AND THE SALISH SEA, FOR ECOLOGICAL AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND THE BENEFIT OF ALL LIVING THINGS.

LAND PROTECTION:OUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT LAND IN 2023 RESULTED IN SEVEN COMPLETED PROJECTS TOTALING 603 ACRES THAT CONSERVED FARMLAND, FOREST, AND FORMER ESTUARY. OF THOSE SEVEN PROJECTS, THREE WERE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, TWO FEE LAND ACQUISITIONS AND TWO FACILITATED ASSIST PROJECTS. ONE NOTABLE PROJECT WAS THE LAND TRUST'S FIRST LAND PROTECTION ASSIST WITH A TRIBAL PARTNER INVOLVING THE FEE ACQUISITION OF 128 ACRES AT LIVINGSTON BAY BY THE TULALIP TRIBES. OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS INCLUDED THREE WORKING FARMLAND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, ENSURING 336 ACRES WILL FOREVER REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR AGRICULTURAL USE. THE LAND TRUST ALSO SECURED THE FUNDING NECESSARY TO FULLY PAY OFF THE KEYSTONE FARM AND FOREST ACQUISITION THAT WAS COMPLETED IN 2022. ADDITIONALLY, WE RECEIVED A FEDERAL GRANT TO HELP FUND THE LAGOON POINT COMMUNITY FOREST ACQUISITIONS AND ACTIVELY WORKED ON PROTECTING ANOTHER NINE PROPERTIES, WITH MANY ANTICIPATED TO CLOSE IN 2024.

ACCREDITATION: EVERY FOUR YEARS, SINCE BECOMING ACCREDITED IN 2012, WE RE-APPLY FOR ACCREDITATION WITH THE LAND TRUST ACCREDITATION COMMISSION, AN INDEPENDENT PROGRAM OF THE NATIONAL LAND TRUST ALLIANCE. AS PART OF THE RENEWAL, WE ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT UPDATED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, AS WELL AS DETAILED DOCUMENTATION ON SELECT PROJECTS. THESE SUBMISSIONS ARE USED TO ILLUSTRATE OUR COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARDS AND PRACTICES ESTABLISHED BY THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE, SHOW THAT WE ADHERE TO OUR OWN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, AND EMPHASIZE OUR COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING IMPORTANT NATURAL PLACES AND WORKING LANDS FOREVER.

STEWARDSHIP:INSTALLED NEW SIGNS AND KIOSKS AT SEVERAL PUBLIC ACCESS SITES AS WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE INTERPRETIVE MATERIAL ON OUR PROPERTIES. MONITORED, MAINTAINED, AND ENHANCED TRAILS ACROSS ALL LAND TRUST PUBLIC ACCESS SITES. CONTROLLED NOXIOUS WEEDS ON MANY LAND TRUST NATURAL AREAS WITH DEDICATED STEWARDSHIP STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS. SUCCESSFUL CONTROLLED BURN AT ADMIRALTY INLET PRESERVE TO IMPROVE NATIVE PRAIRIE ECOSYSTEMS AND PROMOTE THE PREVIOUSLY ENDANGERED GOLDEN PAINTBRUSH; AND CONTINUED PRAIRIE PLANTING AT ADMIRALTY INLET PRESERVE. NEW KEYSTONE PRESERVE UPGRADES STARTED IN SEVERAL AREAS. WE DEVELOPED AND SECURED PERMITS FOR PARKING LOT CONSTRUCTION, DRIVEWAY EXPANSION, STREAM RESTORATION AND BULKHEAD REMOVAL. COMMUNITY INPUT FOR THE KEYSTONE PRESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN WAS COMPLETED INCLUDING FOCUS GROUPS AND PUBLIC MEETINGS. STEWARDSHIP STAFF INITIATED OAK WOODLAND RESTORATION ALONG THE BLUFF TOP. ANNUAL MONITORING WAS COMPLETED ON ALL 77 CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROPERTIES. 414 VOLUNTEERS COMPLETED 6,254 HOURS OF SERVICE THOUGH WORK PARTIES AND INDEPENDENT PROJECTS.

COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH:MEMBERS RECEIVED TWELVE E-NEWS WITH CONSERVATION UPDATES AND 42 OTHER E-MAIL COMMUNICATIONS. WE PUT ON 71 EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THE LAND, INCLUDING OUR SEA, TREES AND PIE BIKE RIDE, TWO MEMBER AND VOLUNTEER PICNICS, A PROPERTY CELEBRATION, HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE, TABLING EVENTS, SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, AND EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS. WE PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED FOUR PRINTED NEWSLETTERS, INCLUDING OUR ANNUAL REPORT AND 14 ADDITIONAL PRINT PROJECTS LIKE INVITATIONS, CARDS, FLYERS, ACTIVITIES, AND POSTERS. WE TABLED AT 12 PUBLIC EVENTS AND PUBLISHED A 2023 CALENDAR SOLD AT 18 LOCAL RETAIL LOCATIONS.