By Jan | Published: January 10, 2012 – 8:21 pm

Whidbey Island, WA– Beachcombers and birdwatchers can now enjoy longer west-side beach walks on nature-rich Sunset Beach thanks to a private donation to the Whidbey Camano Land Trust. The Land Trust announced today that the donation of over 16 acres of undeveloped tidelands will link two existing publicly-owned tideland tracts and create a continuous 2.2 mile public access resource.

Long time Oak Harbor resident, Beatrice Morgan, donated 19 undeveloped tideland lots that extend more than a quarter mile along the Strait of Juan de Fuca near West Beach and Fort Nugent roads.

In the early 1970’s, her now deceased husband, Hubert, designed and developed the nearby Sea View subdivision along West Beach Road. As part of his design, Morgan separated the 16.5 acres of tidelands from the residential lots on the west side of West Beach Road. After his death in 2003, Beatrice Morgan held onto the strip of beach access land but late last year, with the help of her son, Robert, decided to donate it to the Land Trust.

“We bought that land around 1954 and Hubert developed some of it but he left the beach and bluff untouched,” Beatrice Morgan said. “We used to take our two young grandsons to enjoy that land years ago, but we haven’t visited it in years. I’m glad that the public will be able to use it.”

“This west-facing beach access will provide the general public with a new place to paddle surf, fish, kayak and, if they dare, to polar bear swim at a place where they can transition to and from a public beach,” said Island County Commissioner Angie Homola, in whose district the donated land is located. “I am sure people will forever appreciate this tremendous gift. We are fortunate to have such a thoughtful and generous person in our community.”

The important stretch of land has beach and steep feeder bluffs that are home to a variety of sea and shorebirds. The land is situated about a half mile northwest of the Land Trust’s Del Fairfax Forest Preserve. It can be accessed about one mile north along West Beach Road. Public ownership will ensure future generations of beach walkers and naturalists will not be blocked from the area by owners who may not want the public on their private tidelands.

Securing public access to tidelands is a high priority for the Land Trust because it provides more opportunities for the public to experience the range of habitats found on the County’s islands, said Land Trust board member Dyanne Sheldon.

“This generous donation assures that current and future generations will always have access to this remarkable beach,” Sheldon said. “The shoreline’s steep bluffs are a distinct and fragile habitat, and we want to remind beach walkers to ‘tread lightly’ on their visits to help keep this delicate habitat intact and functioning as a place for all to enjoy.”

About a third of Island County’s 214 acres of marine shoreline is publicly owned and accessible by the public.

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