By Jan | Published: April 26, 2012 – 7:52 pm

Across the landscape of Coupeville to the highest points on Pennington Hill, the invasive, toxic Spurge laurel (Daphne laureola) is invading our gardens, hedgerows, and forests.  It is also known as Daphne-laurel, laurel-leaved daphne, olive-spurge, wood laurel, copse laurel.  Click here for a photo.

Like Scott’s broom, it is very aggressive and has potential for great environmental harm.  It can, and has elsewhere, completely displaced other understory plants like ferns, woodland flowers, Salal, and Oregon grape, etc,. creating a monotonous monoculture.  Its aggressive nature and toxicity qualify it as a noxious weed in Washington State.  The berries, leaves and bark are poisonous to humans, cats and dogs.  Handling the plant can cause contact dermatitis.  In adjacent counties (Snohomish, Pierce, Thurston, Skagit and San Juan) it is already listed as a class “A” noxious weed.  This requires property owners to remove the plant.  It is in the process of being listed in Island County’s Noxious Weed list. 

General description

Spurge laurel is a shade-tolerant, long-lived evergreen shrub from Europe and the Mediterranean region that has escaped from gardens and naturalized in woodlands and other shady places. Spurge laurel can grow in a wide range of conditions, but it thrives in full to partial shade and well-drained soils. Its blue-black berries are attractive to birds and rodents, which are responsible for its propagation.  It can also spread by root sprouts.  Large plants can reach 8 or 10 feet tall and have a deep taproot making them very difficult to pull.

Eradication

Autumn is the best time to cut the larger plants at the base and treat the stump with Triclopyr or Glyphosate (Round-Up) directly applied with a 1” sponge brush.  Plants up to three years old can be controlled fairly effectively (up to 95% mortality) with a weed whip or similar tool by cutting the plant close to the ground level.  Due to the plant’s ability to sprout from suckers, it is advisable to apply herbicide to stems immediately following cutting.  Other techniques are being evaluated.

Caution: Due to the irritating toxins in the sap, fruit and leaves, you must wear gloves.  It is critical to remove plants before they fruit.  In the spring, seedlings and young plants can be hand-pulled.  Larger
plants can be pulled with a weed wrench or similar tool, but all of the root should be removed to avoid re-growth from root sprouts.  After pulling, the area should be monitored for new seedlings and covered with a deep mulch.

Disposal

Plants can be brought to any Island County Solid Waste Disposal site and disposed of for free.  They do not need to be bagged.  You can also bag them and toss them in the trash.

More Information

You can read more in the written findings of the WA state Noxious Weed Control Board or you can contact your county noxious weed coordinator.

Whidbey Audubon Society and the Whidbey Environmental Action Network have prepared an action plan, which includes mapping this threat and organizing volunteer eradication teams.  If you know of plants and or are interested in participating in eradication efforts, contact WEAN:  wean@whidbey.net or Gary Piazzon at 678-5131  piazzon@comcast.net.

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By Jan | Published: April 24, 2012 – 11:57 pm

Whidbey Island, WA – Visitors to the Trillium Community Forest this week will park their vehicles on a new lot built to provide more parking adjacent to the existing public access point, the Whidbey Camano Land Trust announced today.

 “This is a fantastic upgrade of the community’s access.  Thanks to the Land Trust for its continuing stewardship of the Community Forest,” said Bill Oakes, Island County Parks and Public Works Director.

The new 14-vehicle lot replaces a four-vehicle parking area and will be available for public use during daylight hours only.  The parking area is located at Pacific Dogwood Lane and State Highway 525 on the northeastern corner of the 654-acre Community Forest.  According to Pat Powell, Land Trust executive director, the access road leading to the new lot was designed to fit into the existing landscape as well as limit tree removal.

Sixteen volunteers joined staff recently to complete work on the new parking lot at the Trillium Community Forest. They installed an entrance sign, moved the kiosk to its permanent home, built a fence, and created 14 parking spaces. Pictured above are John Cannon, Ted Ravetz, and Land Trust board member Grant Heiken.

“As the weather improves, we believe more people will want to use the Community Forest’s wonderful trails for walking and biking,” said Powell. “We built this parking lot to allow the public more access so they can enjoy what they have helped to save.”

Due to highway safety concerns, the new parking area will not be open to horse trailers or vehicles over 22 feet in length.

“Future plans call for raising funds to acquire a property on Smugglers Cove Road to create another parking area that will accommodate horse trailers,” Powell said, adding that, “It is a high priority to find an appropriate place for equestrians to access the Community Forest.”

The Trillium Community Forest, the largest remaining contiguously-owned forest on Whidbey Island, was acquired by the Land Trust in late 2010 after a successful community fundraising effort.  It is open during daylight hours for hikers, bikers and equestrians.  Dogs must be kept on leash.  An off-leash dog area is located just a few miles north at Greenbank Farm.

Visit www.wclt.org to learn more about the Whidbey Camano Land Trust, the Trillium Community Forest, and other important lands protected, cared for and restored by the Land Trust.

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By Jan | Published: March 27, 2012 – 7:41 pm

Harry’s Forest Tour a Huge Success!

We had such a tremendous response to our tour of the private forest on April 4, that we had to add another time slot. Luckily, Harry Case was willing to do another tour, so we were able to accommodate over 40 people!
Harry has lovingly managed his 176-acre forest for over 60 years.  In 2008 he permanently protected it for future generations by donating a conservation easement to the Whidbey Camano Land Trust.  This forest is located near both Putney and Saratoga Woods. Read his story here.  And read the story on the tour from The Herald.

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By Jan | Published: March 12, 2012 – 6:34 pm

Whidbey Reads – Sno-Isle Libraries’ annual reading program to bring Whidbey Island residents together to read and discuss books —  is in its final week.  Crow Planet  by Lyanda Lynn Haupt is the chosen book for this year.  The author uses her study of crows in an urban setting to point out and discuss concerns about nature and our place in it.

The Land Trust kicked off the program with tours of several preserved sites on Whidbey on March 3rd.  Board member Dyanne Sheldon continues our involvement by facilitating a discussion on April 23 about how this writer’s reflections on urban crows relate to our lives on Whidbey.  Fellow board member, Leigh Smith, joins her in the discussion along with Frances Wood and Donna Keeler.

Join the discussion and the fun by picking up your copy of Crow Planet from your local library.  Read here for a complete schedule of events.

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By Jan | Published: February 29, 2012 – 12:43 am

It was a magical evening and a sold-out crowd on March 10 at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in Langley. BirdNote presented an evening of BirdNote stories about Whidbey Islanders who care about wild birds and their habitats. Two individuals featured have close ties to the Land Trust — Cheryl Lowe and Mark Sheehan.

The program started at 7:30 pm at WICA with an art show and reception prior to the show at 6 pm. The program that followed showcased the sound-rich BirdNote radio stories accompanied by impressive bird photography, jazz, and fine art.

Kudos to everyone who helped put on such a smashing success!  Click here to learn more about BirdNote.

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By Jan | Published: February 28, 2012 – 10:57 pm

February 24, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Danielle Rideout, 360-222-3310

Greenbank, WA – The Whidbey Camano Land Trust announced today that it has been accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the national Land Trust Alliance. The Whidbey Camano Land Trust joins an elite few with this official recognition of excellence. Of the 1,700 land trusts located around the country, just 158 have achieved this seal of distinction.

“Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever,” said Commission executive director Tammara Van Ryn. “The accreditation seal lets the public know that the accredited land trust has undergone an extensive, external review of the governance and management of its organization and the systems and policies it uses to protect land.”

“The Board and Staff of the Whidbey Camano Land Trust knew accreditation would be an important mark of distinction – one demonstrating our professionalism, excellence, and solid foundation for the future,” said Patricia Powell, executive director. “What we didn’t expect were the innovations that came out of the process and how exciting and rewarding the work was as it came together.”

The Land Trust began the accreditation process in 2009, but the work really accelerated in 2010 when the application was being compiled. This was just as the Land Trust embarked on the intensive $4.2 million private fundraising campaign to save the Trillium Community Forest, the largest contiguous piece of private land in Island County.

“Becoming accredited is a real achievement and honor for us. To be recognized nationally as a top-tier Land Trust is a tribute to our Board and Staff. It also verifies the support and trust we so generously receive from our members, volunteers, and the entire community,” said Tom Cahill, Land Trust president. “The process required a great deal of time and effort, but we knew it was important. It enabled us to find ways to do our work more effectively and efficiently, which enhances our ability to protect and steward the land—forever.”

Conserving land helps ensure clean air and drinking water, places to grow food, scenic landscapes and views, recreational places, and habitat for the diverse species of life on earth. Across the country, local citizens and communities have come together to form land trusts and protect forever the places they love.

Community leaders in land trusts throughout the country have worked with willing landowners to save over 47 million acres of farms, forests, parks, and places people care about most. Strong, well-managed land trusts provide local communities with effective champions and caretakers of their critical land resources and safeguard the land through the generations.

Accredited land trusts may display a seal indicating that they meet national standards for excellence, uphold the public trust and ensure that their conservation efforts are permanent. The seal is a mark of distinction in land conservation.

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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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By Jan | Published: December 21, 2011 – 11:40 pm

December 21, 2011 — Today, the Island County Parks Department staff withdrew the request to the County Commissioners to consider allowing construction of a disc golf course in Rhododendron Forest. Thank you to those people who commented.

We want to stress that the Land Trust is not opposed to a disc golf course, but it needs to be sited in a more appropriate location. The Land Trust believes all heritage forests should be treated as the natural treasures they are.

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By Jan | Published: December 17, 2011 – 7:43 pm

The Board of Island County Commissioners is considering a proposal to construct a disc golf course in the 160 acre Rhododendron Forest. Disc golf is a sport similar to golf, except it involves discs (similar to Frisbees™) instead of clubs and golf balls. While it doesn’t require manicured greens like a traditional golf course, it is an active recreational use. If approved, such a facility will impact Rhododendron Forest’s characteristics and the old-growth trees found within it.

Importance of Rhododendron Park
Rhododendron Forest is located south of Coupeville, between State Highway 20 and Patmore Road. It is adjacent to the Rhododendron Park ball fields on Patmore Road. The Washington Natural Heritage Program identified this forest as a rare, native forest community because of the age of the trees and the diverse understory the forest supports. The Rhododendron Forest is considered Globally Imperiled and is one of only five quality examples of this native forest community remaining in Washington and the nation. Two-thirds of this forest is dominated by old-growth Douglas fir trees ranging from 270-350 years old. The remaining one-third is dominated by a stand of mature Douglas firs that are over 150 years old with scattered older trees among them.

The Disc Golf Course Proposal
The Whidbey Island Disc Golf Club is proposing construction of an 18-hole disc golf course in a 40 acre area of Rhododendron Forest. The “fairways” for each hole would run between 150 to 700 feet in length and 20 to 40 feet wide. This would require cutting trees and understory vegetation deemed as obstructions. There will be 36 concrete pads, 6 feet x 12 feet, placed on the course. The Club indicates that adding benches, a practice putting area, a concession area and a driving range/disc sports area would further increase the quality and enjoyment of the disc golf course. The Club also indicates that the course will serve a minimum of 72 people at any given time, all year around.

Land Trust’s Position
The Land Trust recognizes that recreation adds to the quality of life in our community and has many economic and health benefits. A golf disc course is a reasonable recreational opportunity. However, Rhododendron Forest is the wrong place to put such an activity. This forest is part of our natural heritage and this active and intensive recreational use will cause irreparable damage to this irreplaceable part of our Island’s natural heritage. The Land Trust has already submitted an email to the County stating this opinion.

Helpful Links:
• Read about the Ecological Values of the Rhododendron Forest
• Read the Proposal for the Disc Golf Course in the Forest
• Read Why the proposal is inconsistent with the Park Plan
• Read more about disc golf 

Voice Your Opinion
Let the Island County Commissioners know if you think the Rhododendron Forest is the wrong place to construct the disc golf course:
Island County Commissioner District 1
Helen Price Johnson: district1@co.island.wa.us, 360-679-7357

Island County Commissioner District 2
Angie Homola: district2@co.island.wa.us, 360-679-7354

Island County Commissioner District 3
Kelly Emerson: district3@co.island.wa.us, 360-679-7356

Mail:
Island County Commissioners
P.O. Box 5000
Coupeville, WA 98239

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By Jan | Published: December 16, 2011 – 10:18 pm

The Land Trust welcomes your end of year contribution.

Your IRA can help in this process. Here’s how.

So, if you’re 70½ years young, you can give a gift to a charity — like the Land Trust! — directly from your IRA using that amount to help satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD).

This means that the IRA owner who doesn’t need his or her RMD for income can direct the distribution to the Land Trust — up to $100,000/year. In addition, you wouldn’t have to recognize the distribution as income for determining Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) or any modified AGI calculations.

But don’t wait until the very last minute, because the distribution must be out of your IRA by December 31, 2011. It can take several days to process the transaction.

Please note that the money must be transferred directly from your IRA to a charity. Contact your IRA administrator now to find out what you must do to make the transfer and have them mail a check (or wire the funds) to the Land Trust.

Additional information is available on the IRS website.

As always, every contribution, in any amount, is needed and appreciated. Thank you for your ongoing support.

If you have any questions, please call Elizabeth Guss at (360) 222-3310.

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