San Juan County Land Bank & San Juan Preservation Trust

THE LAND BANK STORY

SAN JUAN COUNTY, 1990: Land development and tourism were on the rise, and the County’s population was rapidly growing. Facing the loss of places they loved, a diverse group of locals sought for a way to save their treasured open spaces and maintain their quality of life. Their collective vision led to the creation of the San Juan County Citizens Conservation Land Bank.

The Conservation Land Bank is charged with preserving exceptional places in the islands, guided by local input. A one-time 1% real estate excise tax, paid by purchasers of property at closing, funds the program. In this way the community, through the Conservation Land Bank, has the ability to purchase and thereby protect the places that make the islands such a special place to visit, raise a family, retire.

This investment in community space has paid off in spades. Since its inception thirty years ago, the Conservation Land Bank has protected close to 7,700 acres. The portfolio includes some of the archipelago’s most celebrated places: Westside Preserve on San Juan, Turtleback Mountain on Orcas and the Fisherman Bay Preserves on Lopez.

When possible, areas with significant wildlife habitat and community value are purchased and turned into preserves. The Land Bank stewards forests and grasslands, tidelands, 12 different beaches and have designated 50 miles of trails. The Land Bank also manages over 60 conservation easements on private lands. These easements safeguard sweeping views of the sea, family farmlands and waterfowl-rich wetlands.

This is a community that prioritizes open space and strives to provide and protect farms, forests, shores and scenic vistas now and for the generations to come. Welcome!

Interested in learning more?

Visit us online at SJCLANDBANK.ORG or reach out to:

TANJA WILLIAMSON

FRAZER HOMESTEAD

PRESERVE tanjaw@sjclandbank.org T. 360-378-4402

MT. GRANT

NEWT POND

DEADMAN BAY

PRESERVE

MT. GRANT

PRESERVE

ZYLSTRA LAKE

PRESERVE

KING SISTER'S WESTSIDE

THE SAN JUAN PRESERVATION TRUST

The San Juan Preservation Trust is a private, nonprofit, nationally accredited land trust devoted to helping individuals and communities conserve land in the San Juan Islands of Washington State. It was established in 1979 by a group of island citizens. The Preservation Trust is governed by a 15- to 21-member Board of Trustees, who are legally obligated to administer the land for the purpose of preservation. Board members represent each of the four major San Juan Islands (San Juan Island, Orcas Island, Lopez Island, and Shaw Island), as well as other outer islands in the archipelago.

The organization’s 16 staff members are united by a passion and desire to protect the natural legacy of the San Juan Islands for future generations to come. The Preservation Trust offers a volunteer program that encourages active participation in efforts to conserve treasured island sites and landscapes. The organization aims to provide volunteers with an experience that is enjoyable, educational, and worthwhile.

The Preservation Trust collectively works with landowner partners and member/supporters to forever protect and care for more than 300 properties, which include 50 miles of shoreline, 25 miles of trails and 19,000 acres on 21 islands. Most of this land belongs to private landowners and is not open to the public. The map highlights nature preserves that are open for public visitation, with some limitations.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the San Juan Preservation Trust receives no tax revenue and depends exclusively on charitable donations to preserve the San Juan Islands. As an accredited land trust, the organization is committed to financial transparency and the highest standards of ethical governance. The San Juan Preservation Trust tax ID/ EIN is 91-1078355.

The mission of this Preservation Trust is to conserve, care for, and connect people with the land of the San Juan Islands. To conserve the natural beauty, essential ecosystems, and unique character of the San Juan Islands for future generations, the Trust creates legal agreements, called conservation easements, that permanently limit uses of the land in order to protect its conservation values.

To care for the lands and waters under its protection and with its partners (which include the San Juan County Land Bank), the Preservation Trust’s stewardship staff manage the retained nature preserves, monitor the conservation easements held, and renovate damaged or neglected lands that are protected by the trust. To connect people to nature, to each other, and to the Preservation Trust, they encourage collaboration, education, and outreach to further their core values. Preservation Trust Executive Director Angela Anderson says, “Successful conservation depends on active engagement with people whose lives and livelihoods interconnect with the natural areas that SJPT preserves and protects, for today and for future generations.”

For more information, visit WWW.SJPT.ORG