Programs: Land protection:our efforts to protect land in 2017 resulted in 10 completed projects, including nine (9) conservation easements and one facilitated fee land acquisition. In addition, we transferred a 37-acre waterfront property at barnum point to island county parks, repaying our bridge loan to the conservation fund. Much of our conservation easement work was focused in central whidbey island and involved connecting and filling gaps in previous protection work in ebey's landing national historic reserve. Five of the nine conservation easements are the final property connections needed for the proposed walking ebey's trail network. An additional donated conservation easement protected important forest and wetland habitat amongst previously protected lands in central ebey's. Two conservation easements in monroe landing protected scenic farmland situated prominently across penn cove from coupeville. The donated 140-acre raven's forest forever conservation easement in the south whidbey forest complex priority area connected three existing conservation lands creating a contiguous 380-acre block of protected forest. We removed two houses and all the other site preparation and cleanup for the east tract at barnum point for transfer to the county. We also did all the grant, real estate, and other work necessary to assist island county to acquire the four west tract parcels in 2018, including working to secure an emergency conservation futures grant for county parks to purchase west tract lot 1. We actively worked on protecting another 25 properties, many to close in 2018, and applied for 9 grants (one was withdrawn and 7 of the remaining 8 are likely to be secured totaling $2. 6 million).
stewardship:extensive wetland restoration work was completed, including removal of over 100 acres of noxious weeds from the crockett lake wetland complex. We also completed native plantings in the crockett lake wetlands and admiralty inlet preserve native prairies, totaling more than 40,000 plants. We completed two new trailhead parking areas at trillium community forest and glendale beach. The only possible wheelchair trail loop was constructed at trillium community forest. We prepared barnum point for public access and completed the site management plan. We removed invasive species, garbage, maintained public trails, signs and fences, and inspected all land trust fee-held properties. We completed annual monitoring on all 50 conservation easement properties. 200 volunteers completed 4,176 volunteer hours through work parties and independent projects.
community outreach:we produced and distributed four printed newsletters and five informational publications designed for public education. We also sent 31 e-news emails with conservation updates, held two property celebrations, organized 21 public tours, presented to more than six community groups, tabled at seven public festivals and events, published a 2018 calendar to sell at more than 26 local retail locations, and were mentioned in at least 17 local newspaper articles.
accreditation: in 2016 we re-applied for accreditation with the land trust accreditation commission, an independent program of the national land trust alliance. This was our first renewal since becoming accredited in 2012. As part of the renewal, we were required to submit updated policies and procedures, as well as detailed documentation on select projects. These submissions are used to illustrate our compliance with the standards and practices established by the land trust alliance, show that we adhere to our own policies and procedures, and emphasize our commitment to protecting important natural places and working lands forever.
