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09/13/2006: "1200 Rally Last Saturday To Save Turtleback Mt"

With 120 volunteers helping to stage a fundraising event for the preservation of Turtleback Mountain, the goal of raising enough money to save over 1.500 acres from potential development took a gain step forward last Saturday. An estimated 1,200 plus supporters attended a fund raising rally, and with almost one person for each acre, close to $200,000.00 was raised. This amount will now be matched by Sue Cooley and Bob Cooley-Gilliom of Stuart island, who have pledged to match donations up to a total of one million dollars.



The San Juan Preservation Trust, The Trust for Public Land, and the San Juan County Land Bank held the "Rally for Turtleback Mountain" on Saturday, September 9, on the Coffelt Farm in Orcas Island's Crow Valley. The rally was part of the Campaign to "save Turtleback Mountain from Development" and provide the public with access to its many treasures. Karin Agosta, Planning Commission Chair, and an President of the Board of Trustees of the San Juan Preservation Trust, said she was impressed, not only with the number of contributors who showed up, but by the broad cross section of those supporters who attended. She said that every sector of the county seemed to be represented in their willingness to help preserve the land.


Country Barbeque, Music, and Art Auction
Local island establishments provided salmon, burgers, salad greens, vegetarian plates, deserts, beverages, and more for a delicious country barbeque.

Musical entertainment was provided by Martin Lund's "Orcastra," which includes The Olga Symphony; singer-guitarist Gene Nery; Orcas Idol winner Jenole Peacock; singer-songwriter Mandy Troxel, and others.

An art auction featuring Turtleback Mountain-inspired works by popular local artists, including Peter Fisher, Shawna Franklin, James Hardman, Frank Loudin, Crow Valley Pottery, David Ridgway, and others was held. In addition, The Complete Far Side limited-edition book and lithograph set containing every Far Side cartoon ever syndicated and a limited-edition lithograph print, both signed by Gary Larson were auctioned. Michael Rivkin, artist and co-owner of Crow Valley Pottery, served as auctioneer.

More than $3 Million Left to Raise to Save Turtleback
(Myhr displays his new "Turtleback Hat" to his fellow Councilmen)
To conserve Turtleback Mountain, the partnership of conservation organizations still must raise more than three million dollars by November 15th of this year – the deadline for purchasing the property from the Medina Foundation, a Seattle-based philanthropic organization. The goal for the Campaign to "Save Turtleback Mt: $5.3 Million by November 15" . To date, just over $15 million have been committed from private and public sources, including $10 million from the San Juan County Land Bank.

A Conservation Priority
For several decades, Turtleback has been considered the most significant unprotected property in the San Juan Islands. With native grasslands, Garry oak savanna habitat, an unusually large mixed-species forest (including old growth), ancient European markers and possible Native American cultural sites, high public recreation potential, important hydrological (surface, groundwater, and marine) influences, and an expansive undeveloped ridgeline visible from throughout the islands, Turtleback is a signature wild landscape within our rapidly-changing archipelago.