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Naas Natural Area Preserve
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Status |
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Protected in 2005
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Location |
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Central Whidbey Island
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Acreage |
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33 acres
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Public Benefits |
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Undeveloped coastline, rare remnant prairie, endangered plant species, scenic vistas, public access and trails, wildlife habitat, in Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve
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Description |
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The Naas Natural Area Preserve contains a remarkable remnant of our nation’s natural heritage. It is one of the last 11 places in the world where golden paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta), a showy yellow native plant on the verge of extinction, still survives in the wild. Located within Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, this property provides spectacular views of Admiralty Inlet and the Strait of Juan de Fuca against a backdrop of the rugged Olympic Mountains.
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PROJECT STORY
Saving Shoreline, Prairie and Endangered Plants at Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve
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In November 2005 after two and a half years, more than 125 private donors, three government grants, hours of negotiations with multiple parties and removal of 262,000 pounds of lead-contaminated soil, the Whidbey Camano Land Trust became the new owner of an important and dramatic piece of coastal bluff called the Naas Natural Area Preserve. The extraordinary piece of waterfront land sits inside Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve on central Whidbey Island. As a result of this acquisition, the rare golden paintbrush -- a showy native plant on the verge of extinction -- now has a decent shot at recovery. More than two-thirds of a mile of shoreline and one of the last pieces of pristine coastal bluff on Whidbey Island now go undeveloped. Scenic vistas remain and delicate coastal prairie flowers such as golden paintbrush, camas and chocolate lilies are being preserved.
Golden paintbrush once grew in prairies as far south as Oregon's Willamette Valley and as far north as Vancouver Island, B.C. Now, only two sites remain in B.C. and nine sites in Washington State, including five on the few remnant coastal grasslands on Whidbey Island. The remaining populations are mostly confined to properties less than one acre in size. The Naas Preserve, however, contains 25 acres of historic prairie soils, making it one of the best hopes for recovery and one of the three largest habitat areas for the endangered plant.
Unfortunately, at one time it was also one of the most desirable building parcels on the island, legally divided into five lots for residential development. The Whidbey Camano Land Trust began negotiations with former landowner, Seattle Pacific University, and secured an option to buy the property in 2004. By 2005, in partnership with the Washington Department of Natural Resources, three very competitive government grants had been awarded for protection of the property.
Most of the funding for purchase came from the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Recovery Lands Acquisition program. The federal grants required a $1.58 million match – a steep fundraising goal for a local non profit. However, the Land Trust is no stranger to tough land deals. By closing, we had raised all funds needed for acquisition and were within $17,000 of meeting our total fundraising goal which includes funds for recovery and stewardship.
Management of the property provides great potential for restoring the golden paintbrush to a viable population size and its former health and vigor. Attention is now focused on restoring the native prairie in the Naas Preserve. We are doing this in partnership with our members, volunteers, The National Park Service, DNR, The Nature Conservancy and USFWS, among others.
The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) holds a conservation easement on the property, insuring that the pristine coastal bluff will go forever undeveloped. This site is one of 50 Natural Area Preserves in Washington State, all of which undergo a rigorous screening process.
The site is accessible for educational and scientific uses. Research, with an emphasis on information needed for recovery of golden paintbrush, will be encouraged. Management focuses on restoration of the site, increasing population numbers to a stable level, and reintroducing plants (both paintbrush and other coastal prairie species) into suitable habitat on the site. Prior to acquisition, the site had been used for general environmental education purposes, and it remains open for such use as long as it does not negatively impact restoration efforts.
How to Help
Interested in donating money to help in the restoration and permanent stewardship of this site? Tax-deductible contributions can be sent to “Naas Preserve”, Whidbey Camano Land Trust, 765 Wonn Road, Barn C-201, Greenbank, WA 98253 or accepted securely on-line. All funds will be restricted for use at the Naas Natural Area Preserve and used to steward and restore the natural features of this property.
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