Dave Engle Conservation Easement

• Status: Protected in 2011
• Location: Central Whidbey Island, in Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve
• Acreage: 32.5

Public Benefits

Provides prime farming soils, scenic vistas, wildlife habitat, aquifer recharge areas, and historic sites, all located within Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve.

Description

In 2011, the Whidbey Camano Land Trust acquired a conservation easement on this 32.5 acre farmland property.

The conservation easement on the Engle property protects an important piece in the mosaic of Ebey’s Reserve farmland scenic views; it connects to hundreds of acres of farmland protected by the Land Trust and National Park Service. Adjacent to the town of Coupeville, the property has been a working farm for over a century and is entirely composed of “prime farmland” soils. The property’s proximity to the southwestern border of Coupeville’s business district made its protection a critical goal and priority for the Land Trust.

In addition to protecting critical prime farmland, the Dave Engle property lies within an important aquifer recharge area, where it is important to limit development and impervious surfaces to protect water quality. The farm fields also provide hunting ground for raptors.

With the easement in place, the property’s farmland, scenic, habitat, and aquifer recharge values are forever protected.

Directions

Private land.