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PRESS RELEASE

Permanent Access to Lower Kristoferson Creek Assured in Land Sale

For Release – February 01, 2007
Whidbey Camano Land Trust
Contact: Pat Powell, Executive Director, (360) 222-3310

Greenbank, WA

The Whidbey Camano Land Trust today announced that 2.5 acres of high priority salmon and wetland habitat along the lower reach of Kristoferson Creek on Camano Island has now been permanently protected thanks to a partnership with Island County and a cooperative landowner.  The result is permanent, safe and convenient public access to the creek for educational opportunities and public viewing. 

Island County purchased the property after approving the Whidbey Camano Land Trust’s request last year for $125,000 in Conservation Futures funding.  Since then, the Land Trust has worked closely with the seller, Lawrence Baum, to negotiate a bargain sale. 

The property has been on the Land Trust’s radar screen for two years.  “Our natural resource mapping work in 2004 identified Kristoferson Creek as one of the highest protection priorities on Camano Island,” said Land Trust Executive Director Patricia Powell. “Not only that,” she added, “the land boasts fish and wildlife habitat, wetlands, creek access, rare native species, and community open space.”  The creek is Camano Island’s only salmon-bearing stream.

Thanks to the County’s purchase, the site will provide 245 feet of protection along both sides of Kristoferson Creek off Sapphire Drive.  Island County Parks Superintendent and Conservation Futures Program Manager, Terri Arnold, noted that this purchase is “another great case of Conservation Futures funds providing public access to land with important habitat and educational value.”

The Friends of Camano Island Parks (FOCIP) and other volunteers, including school children, will help with native plant restoration and installing low-impact public access facilities such as a trail and viewing platform.  FOCIP project leader, Barbara Brock, commented, "It's exciting to be able to begin making this resource accessible to the public.  Planning is well underway for the initial trail work, with the first work party scheduled later in February."

The project was supported by Utsalady Elementary School, Friends of Camano Island Parks, Camano Action for a Rural Environment (CARE), and other citizens.  “This purchase wouldn’t have been possible without strong partnerships.  It took the participation of a willing landowner who sold his property at a lower-than-appraised market value, the actions of concerned Camano citizens who contacted the County Commissioners in support of the project, and County Commissioners who saw the value of using Conservation Futures funds to purchase the site,” Powell said. 

Now that these 2.5 acres are protected, Powell added that the Land Trust hopes to have the opportunity to work with other willing property owners to protect more land along the stream as a future phase of the project. 

The lower portion of Kristoferson Creek has been identified as containing very important fish and wildlife habitat and includes a healthy Class A wetland.  Estuaries with a supportive creek system, such as Kristoferson Creek, contribute the greatest amount of biodiversity for all wildlife and are very important for flood control and water quality purposes. 

The Whidbey Camano Land Trust will host a “Camano Celebration” on February 8, 5:30 – 7:30 pm at Four Springs Preserve.  The event marks the permanent protection of 2.5 acres along Kristoferson Creek and the Land Trust’s recent purchase of 3,160 acres of Livingston Bay tidelands.  The event is free and open to the public, but RSVP is required by February 5 to 360-222-3310.