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04/01/2006: "SJ Preservation Trust Opens SJ Office"

(Trustee Karin Agosta -center, in red- thanks members and supporters for their efforts)

In 1979 a handful of county citizens from the islands came together to create something that had never been done in Washington, they formed a private not-for-profit land trust dedicated to protecting and preserving aspects of the land, and a quality of life, that was increasingly being impacted by an influx of people moving to the islands. The well known irony of being attracted to something can destroy it, was not lost on those who had the foresight to --not complain, not demand the government "do something"-- simply roll up their sleeves and set to work forming an organization that would allow themselves, and their neighbors, to preserve and protect their property from negative impacts of development, while still allowing development. In the words of the Trust, it is "a private, non-profit, conservation organization dedicated to helping people protect the wildlife, scenery, and traditional way of life of the unique San Juan Islands through the preservation and careful use of land".

It was a slow start, a small patch of land next to Sportsman's Lake, and some acreage in the San Juan Valley were the early successes. That was, as they say, "then", and now the Trust has a 21-member volunteer Board of Trustees that by the end of 2005 has helped land owners place 173 conservations easements on a total of 9,277 acres of land, and has obtained 38 preserves totaling 838 acres. They have done so as a private, non-governmental organization. Still not impressed? How about this fact. the Trust has also helped landowners protect a total of 23.24 miles of waterfront. No county employees involved, no taxes collected.

On Tuesday the Trust opened a new office on San Juan Island, and while the celebration of the opening was ostensibly for the opening ceremony, one could not help but observe that they were also just plain happy and rightfully proud of their accomplishments, and were celebrating more than the opening of another office, on another island.

If you would like to become a part of the Trust, there are a number of ways to do so, and a good way to start is to take a look at their webpage by clicking here http://www.sjpt.org/ , or by calling 360-468-3202.