Press Release Archive
Access our recent press releases, or reach back in time to review older news stories.
2009
October 20: Economic Stimulus Money Awarded to Local Land Trust- The Whidbey Camano Land Trust recently received a $200,000 American Recovery and Restoration Act (ARRA) grant from the Coastal Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for restoration of the federally threatened and state endangered golden paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta) and associated native prairie on its Naas Natural Area Preserve. more
September 25: Land Trust Protects Important, Historic Farmland- Another 249 acres of historic and prime agricultural land in Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve will remain available for farming, thanks to the Whidbey Camano Land Trust and a group of willing property owners. more
September 16: Land Trust Honors Citizen Conservationists- The Whidbey Camano Land Trust will honor ten “Citizen Conservationists” at the Land Trust’s 25th anniversary celebration next month. more
September 16: It All Started Here: Land Trust Celebrates 25 Years Where it Began- “We wanted to save our land forever…and we needed a land trust to do that.” With those words, Albert Heath expressed a profound yearning to preserve the scenic views along the trail next to his land on Ebey’s Bluff. more
July 15: Choose Your Conservation Hero - Do you enjoy walking through Saratoga Woods, South Whidbey State Park, or Deception Pass State Park? Are you thankful you can enjoy scenic views along Livingston Bay and Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve? All these places include lands protected by the Whidbey Camano Land Trust, but they would not have been saved without the help of courageous individuals – our true conservation heroes. more
July 7: Come Watch the Paint Dry - You’ll have a chance to do that when plein air artists show their talents at the Whidbey Camano Land Trust’s “Art Celebrates Conservation” garden party and art auction July 19. more
June 3: Your Land Trust Passport to Summer Fun! - The Whidbey Camano Land Trust turns 25 years old this year and the public is invited to join the celebration by participating in a “passport” program that offers a chance to win an all-day cruise along the coasts of Whidbey and Camano Islands. more
May 11: Land Trust looking for students to record local history - The Whidbey Camano Land Trust invites Island County middle and high school students contribute to its first-ever traveling exhibit – Landkeepers: Our Historic Island Families. more
April 30: Deal Protects Ebey’s Reserve Farmland - More than 80 acres of rich farmland in Ebey’s Landing Historical Reserve will be preserved for agriculture through a creative transaction announced today by the Whidbey Camano Land Trust. more
March 18: Donation Protects “Harry’s Forest Forever” - “Thanks for making my lifetime dream come true!” Those were the amazing words Harry Case wrote on a card he gave the staff of the Whidbey Camano Land Trust after he donated a conservation easement on 176 acres of forest on South Whidbey Island. The donation, valued at more than $1.5 million, gave up future development rights on the property. more
February 20: Land Trust Protects Critical Heron Habitat - The Whidbey Camano Land Trust has acquired a conservation easement on 36 acres of critical Great Blue Heron nesting habitat at the Davis Slough Heronry on Camano Island. more
2008
December 5: Land Trust Protects Deer Lagoon Farmland on Whidbey - The Whidbey Camano Land Trust today announced it has acquired a conservation easement on 54 acres of productive farmland next to Deer Lagoon on South Whidbey. more
October 9: Land Trust Hosts Open House on Camano Island - Between 2:00 and 4:00 pm on Sunday, October 26, the Whidbey Camano Land Trust will hold an open house at the Four Springs Preserve on Camano Island. The Land Trust will share information with Camano area residents about how and why the Land Trust conserves land as well as invite people to help protect precious places on Camano. more
September 24: Controlled Burn Due for Naas Preserve - The Whidbey Camano Land Trust is planning a controlled burn on a small portion of the Naas Natural Area Preserve south of Coupeville to help restore prairie habitat needed by the rare golden paintbrush plant. more
May 20: Public Tours Available for First Time on Native Prairie Site - On Saturday, May 31st, the Whidbey Camano Land Trust is offering the public a guided tour of the prairie restoration efforts at its Naas Natural Area Preserve located in Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve near Coupeville. more
April 11: Land Trust Begins Prairie Restoration in Ebey’s Reserve - It’s not every day that a land-conservation organization cuts down trees, but that’s what the Whidbey Camano Land Trust is planning to do. more
March 23: Land Trust Accepts Kristoferson Creek Donation Salmon habitat on Camano Island was saved thanks to a donation of 7.5 acres along Kristoferson Creek. more
January 25: Art To Benefit Nature The Whidbey Camano Land Trust and Gallery by the Bay in Stanwood collaborate to spread the word about land conservation and protecting wildlife habitat. more
2007
December 28: Land Trust Awarded Salmon Habitat Protection Funds – The Whidbey Camano Land Trust has been awarded $1.23 million from the Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB) for three projects that will assist salmon habitat protection in Island County. more
December 19: Long-time Coupeville Resident Saves Land in Ebey’s Reserve – John Moon protected his historic farmland by donating a conservation easement to the Whidbey Camano Land Trust. more
December 6: Donation extends wildlife habitat at Saratoga Woods – Langley residents Dale and Joani Boose, donated a conservation easement on land that protects views from Saratoga Woods Preserve’s ‘Pacific Yew Trail’ and Saratoga Road. The easement also permanently preserves open space, scenic values and wildlife habitat. more
September 14: Critical Land Added to Deception Pass State Park – The Whidbey Camano Land Trust, has protected a strategic 52-acre property on Hoypus Hill. The recent addition to Deception Pass State Park was the result of a close partnership between the Land Trust, Island County, Washington State Parks, the property owners and the community. more
June 29: Ebey’s Reserve Conifer Seed Orchard Sold to Longview Timberland - The sale is the final step in the Land Trust’s year-long project to keep the 38-acre seed orchard in agricultural production while permanently protecting its ecological and scenic values. more
June 26: Land Transfer Protects Part of Maxwelton Valley -The Whidbey Camano Land Trust and South Whidbey Parks and Recreation today announced that 200 acres in the Maxwelton Valley have now been permanently protected thanks to the state Trust Land Transfer (TLT) program. more
June 22: Land Donation is Gift to North Whidbey - Dr. George Fairfax of Oak Harbor donated a 50-acre property off Zylstra Road to the Whidbey Camano Land Trust in memory of his late wife, Del. more
March 29: Landowners have options - The news of a recent 40-acre forest clearcut near Honeymoon Bay cast a stark light on what can happen when landowners feel backed into a corner to log or subdivide because of daunting tax pressures. The swift clearcut last week is a glaring reminder that wildlife habitat and open space can legally disappear almost overnight if no alternative is perceived. There often is an alternative. more
March 14: Efforts Intensify To Save Critical Conservation Lands on Whidbey Island - With more than 560 acres of land at stake, the Whidbey Camano Land Trust is urging island residents to call or email their state representatives by March 25 to ask them to fully fund two important Capital Budget programs – the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program at $100 million and Trust Land Transfer program at $111 million. more
February 01: Permanent Access to Lower Kristoferson Creek Assured in Land Sale - High priority salmon and wetland habitat along the lower reach of Kristoferson Creek on Camano Island has now been permanently protected. more
January 25: Transforming the Hammons farm into a nature preserve - the Hammons Preserve is to be protected as a sanctuary where people can enjoy the views, wildlife and quiet tranquility. more
2006
December 18: Land Trust Acquires Camano's Livingston Bay Tidelands - The Whidbey Camano Land Trust today announced acquisition of 3,160 acres of tidelands in Livingston Bay, Camano Island, the largest conservation project in the Land Trust's history. more
November 09: Partners Keep Plum Creek Land from Possible Development - Unusual partnerships were formed to conserves a nationally significant property along Highway 20 at the southern gateway of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve. more
October 30: Much-Loved Wilbert Trail Saved - After more than three months of hard work and an enormous outpouring of community support, tomorrow 7.3 acres of land that includes the Wilbert Trail will be sold to Washington State Parks. more
October 11: New Conservation Tax Benefits for Landowners - the pensions reform bill, recently signed into law by President Bush, will provide substantial new land conservation tax benefits for landowners, especially farmers and ranchers. more
August 11: Fate of Threatened Wilbert Trail May Rest With County Commissioners - Less than a month ago, a “For Sale” sign went up on the Wilbert Trail. Now, the fate of the 7-acre property adjacent to South Whidbey State Park may rest in the hands of the Island County Commissioners, as they consider a proposal for $192,000 in Conservation Futures funds to help purchase the site. more
May 08: Whidbey Couple Donates Crockett Lake Land - Gene Zema and his wife, Janet, have assured protection for 40 wildlife-rich acres of their Crockett Lake property by donating it to the Whidbey Camano Land Trust. The property includes four parcels at the lake’s northwest corner near the Keystone Ferry dock. more
January 09: Grants of $1.7 million received to protect Crockett Lake and Port Susan Bay - Interior Secretary Gale Norton announced Friday that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will award $1.7 million in National Coastal Wetlands Conservation grants for two projects in Island County. more
2005
November 18: A National Treasure – Saved! - Whidbey Camano Land Trust completed purchase of Naas Natural Area Preserve. more
August 24: Naas Natural Area Preserve - Public Workshop and Hearing. more
May 06: DNR Transfer Lands - Thanks to a year-long effort by the Whidbey Camano Land Trust and Island County residents, 420 acres of at-risk forest lands are slated for conservation. more
April 18: New Director of Outreach and Development hired. Whidbey Island resident Lisbeth Cort hired as new Director of Outreach and Development. more
March 31: Efforts Intensify To Save Critical Conservation Lands On Whidbey Island. DNR lands still at risk. more
March 01: Krueger Farm Dedication and Celebration. more
2004
March 24: Whidbey Camano Land Trust to Protect Rare Native Plant Property - Seattle Pacific University signed an agreement to transfer 33 acres at Ebey's Landing. more
January 31: Purchase Protects Nearshore Habitat. The Land Trust purchased 1,200 feet of private tidelands that will be donated to Island County as an addition to a county park. more
2003
March 24: Davis Slough Heron Nesting Colony Saved. Thank you to all who made this purchase and protection effort successful. more
