Whidbey Camano Land Trust Contact:
Chris Hilton, Land Acquisition Specialist (360) 222-3310

Island County, WA
The Whidbey Camano Land Trust today announced it has accepted a donation of 7.4 acres along Kristoferson Creek on Camano Island.

The acreage, donated by the neighboring AAA Camano Heated Storage facility, assures protection of 550 feet of Kristoferson Creek shoreline and surrounding riparian and wetland habitats for salmon, wildlife habitat, and community open space.

The project adjoins the southern boundary of a 2.5-acre property protected by the Land Trust in 2005 and now owned by Island County.  The new donation will increase the total protected area to 10 acres of excellent fish and wildlife habitat.

Drew Bowlds, owner of the storage facility, purchased the property in early 2007 from a landowner who had been in discussions with the Land Trust.  Drew was quick to agree that donating that portion of the property not needed for storage units was the right thing to do.

“We feel great about the way this has worked for everyone,” Bowlds said.  “We've gotten to build our project and donate a piece of property for conservation.  Too often it seems developers and conservation groups work in opposition to each other rather than coming together to find solutions that meet both parties’ concerns and needs.”

The Land Trust identified the lower portion of Kristoferson Creek as important for protection in its Land Protection Plan developed in 2004.  The plan was based on both scientific data and input from the community.  It offers a strategic approach to land protection, ensuring that projects offer optimal public benefit.  Kristoferson Creek was identified as significant due to the quality and health of the creek and its surrounding riparian and wetland vegetation, plus the presence of salmon in the creek.  Three species of salmon have been documented, including spawning chum salmon. Estuaries with supportive creek systems, such as Kristoferson Creek, which flows into the northern end of Triangle Cove, provide great biodiversity and are important for both flood control and water quality.

Later this year, the Land Trust will transfer the donated property to Island County but will retain a conservation easement to ensure the property is always protected for conservation purposes.

Following its successful effort to protect the Davis Slough Heron Rookery in 2003, the Whidbey Camano Land Trust has continued working with the community to conserve important lands on Camano Island. Partnering with individuals and community groups, the Land Trust has ensured permanent protection of open space, forest, and wildlife habitat. The Kristoferson Creek project is the latest partnership to protect land and wildlife habitat on Camano Island. 

“It's been a privilege to work with Whidbey Camano Land Trust on this project and one which I will not soon forget,” Bowlds said.

The Whidbey Camano Land Trust protects natural habitats and rural lands on Whidbey and Camano Islands in partnership with landowners and the broader community.  Incorporated in 1984, the Land Trust is a local, non-profit, non-political organization that assists private landowners in voluntarily protecting their scenic, wildlife habitat, natural, historic, farm, forest or shoreline properties.  The Land Trust also works with community groups to protect those places that islanders hold precious and that are important for current and future generations.  For more information, visit our website at www.wclt.org.