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104 North Laurel,
Suite 104
Port Angeles, WA 98362
Phone (360) 417-1815
Fax: (360) 457-1089
Email Us |
2009 – a record year!
North Olympic Land Trust protected 541 acres in 2009. We
closed on 6 projects, conserving 541 acres, a record
conservation achievement for NOLT!
As the organization enters its 20th year, all of our
supporters through two decades can feel great
satisfaction in protecting the special qualities of more
than 2,000 acres.
Twenty years. Two thousand acres! Sounds good doesn’t
it?
These are the properties added in 2009. They help make
Clallam County an ideal place to live, work and visit,
contributing to our economy as well as our quality of
life.
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| Dungeness Valley Creamery |
38
acres
|
North Olympic Land Trust
contributed to the partnership with Friends of the
Fields, Clallam County, Clallam Conservation District,
and the Brown Family that protected 38 acres of farmland
through a conservation easement on the Dungeness Valley
Creamery. Friends of the Fields provided the key
leadership in protecting this farmland.
The successful dairy, wholesale and retail business of
farm owners and dairy operators Jeff and Debbie Brown
and Ryan and Sarah McCarthey help preserve the
agricultural landscape and local food economy on the
North Olympic Peninsula.
A search of the property’s history indicates a farm has
been in continuous existence since the late 1800’s and
used for milk production during most of that time.
The conservation easement was funded by Washington
Wildlife and Recreation Program and donations from North
Olympic Land Trust’s Farmland Fund, Friends of the
Fields outstanding fundraising efforts, and other local
sources. Clallam Conservation District contributed
several critical maps for the grant application. Clallam
County provided the required governmental sponsorship.
|
| Elk Creek Salmon Habitat |
255
acres
|
Wild Salmon Center, an international
nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying,
understanding and protecting the best wild salmon
ecosystems of the Pacific Rim, transferred ownership and
management of this important fish habitat to the Land
Trust.
The Center had used its funds, along with contributions
from Forks resident Becky Dickson and a grant from
Washington State’s Salmon Recovery Funding Board, to
purchase the 255-acre property, located near Forks, from
Rayonier in 2004.
Though not a land conservation organization, Wild Salmon
Center purchased this highly productive salmon tributary
due to the imminent threat of habitat degradation and
lack of buyers at the time. They stepped up to the plate
during a time of need—knowing that they would need to
find an appropriate long-term land owner.
NOLT was chosen as the most suitable owner. “We felt it
was critical to find owners that were genuinely rooted
in the local community and were attune to local values.
NOLT was a perfect fit and we are intrigued with their
vision to manage this land for fish and people—it holds
a lot of promise.” said Devona Ensmenger of the Wild
Salmon Center.
“Land trust leaders were honored to be offered the
chance to take ownership and help provide stewardship
for this important salmon habitat.” d’Hemecourt said.
Among species in the 11 miles of Elk Creek and
tributaries that run through the property are wild coho,
steelhead, coastal cutthroat trout, and occasionally,
fall Chinook salmon.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the
Quileute Tribe have described Elk Creek as the best
intact functioning and productive salmon habitat in the
Calawah River basin. According to Quileute Tribal
surveys, 35% of the coho in the Calawah River depend
upon Elk Creek for spawning and rearing.
The property also possesses exceptional old growth
forest characteristics and critical habitat for elk,
eagles, and marbled murrelet.
North Olympic Land Trust’s goals for 2010 include
completing a management plan for the property. Potential
uses could include education programs for area schools,
continued research and carbon sequestration.
|
| Miller Wildlife Preserve |
11
acres
|
This wildlife
preserve is located off Hooker Road near Sequim, and is
primarily forestland. Helen Miller donated the
conservation easement, permanently protecting 11 acres
of habitat and one of the nicest stands of alder on the
Peninsula.
See
Summer 2009 newsletter for more details.
|
| Ennis Creek Wildlife Preserve |
10.5
acres |
This property is densely forested, with
more than 300 feet of Ennis Creek running through it.
Ennis Creek originates in Olympic National Park and is
the most significant remaining fish habitat for salmon,
steelhead, and trout traveling through Port Angeles.
According to the Clallam County Planning Department,
Ennis Creek is generally considered the healthiest of
the Port Angeles urban streams, having the largest
undisturbed upper watershed, the least development, the
greatest diversity of
existing native fish stocks, and the highest potential
for restoration and salmon recovery.
The property is located upstream of Ennis Arbor Farm,
where NOLT protects another 50 acres with a conservation
easement.
Rene Ewbank, owner of the newly protected conservation
easement, said she hopes her property always will be
available as a wildlife refuge and for food production.
The landowner’s solar-powered home is also the location
for her business, Fresh Hats: Love on Your Head, which
are sold at the Sequim Open Aire Market.
| Little River |
133
acres |
The property is located
on Little River Road, in the foothills above Port
Angeles, and 4 miles of Little River and tributaries run
through the property.
“Little River will be an important area for salmon when
the Elwha dams are removed, and this property has
excellent riparian habitat and water quality,” the
Conservation Director said. “It is especially important
to protect the mainly mature red alder and scattered
conifer trees within the stream buffer.”
That property’s owners are Robert A. Haverfield, Susan
M. Davis, Susan M. Chadd, Elaine Jaques, Michael J.
Tallmadge, Freda Tallmadge, Paul E. Knowles and Kristi
J. Knowles. They deserve special commendation for
protecting its qualities throughout their years of
ownership and then ensuring its permanent protection
through the agreement with the Land Trust, d’Hemecourt
said.
| Discovery Trail Easement |
93.5
acres |
This property protects
scenic views from Olympic Discovery Trail and Olympic
National Park. It also contains a portion of a historic
lake bed that was drained in the late 1800s for
farmland.
Conservation of the 93.5 acres helps Ruth Jenkins and
John Warrick achieve their multi-faceted vision of
preserving the property’s wetlands, streams and pastoral
character and restoring the property’s historic lake bed
and coniferous forests. The owners also are restoring a
historic home.
The property is surrounded by Nancy McLaughlin’s
Conservation Easement, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and
the trail, which eventually will stretch from Port
Townsend to the Pacific Ocean.
Posted February 23, 2010
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News:
2009 Annual Report
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