The Trillium Property
- Status: Protection Pending
- Location: South Whidbey
- Acreage: 664 acres
Public Benefits
Wildlife habitat and travel corridors, wetlands and streams, recreational trails, community open space, aquifer protection
Description
This extensive forest has a diverse mix of Douglas-fir and alder, with scattered big-leaf maple, western red-cedar, western hemlock and sitka spruce. There’s a lush understory in much of the forest area. In sections that were logged, young trees are growing. Some areas are dominated by alder and some by conifer. There are even sections with older trees up to 100 feet tall. Most of the property is flat to rolling topography with some higher, steep slopes on the west side. There are scattered moist to wetland plant communities in low-lying areas. Currently, there is a network of gravel and dirt roads and land survey lines. Some cleared sites have wonderful views to Admiralty Inlet and the Olympics.
PROJECT STORY
The Whidbey Camano Land Trust and the community have an incredible opportunity to protect one of the largest tracts of forest and open space on Whidbey Island. This property had been subdivided with most areas planned to be further divided into dense homesite development.
The property was foreclosed and is now owned by the lending banks. This situation gives the community a one-time opportunity to protect the 664 acres for wildlife habitat and open space. If the Land Trust is successful in protecting the land, the forest will be managed to improve its health, vigor, and habitat. Besides protecting critical wildlife habitat and travel corridors, this forest is large enough that it can allow recreational uses including hiking, horseback-riding, and mountain-biking.
In order to save this valued community space and important wildlife area, the Land Trust will need to develop creative land protection solutions that will include public and private partnerships. Those partnerships could include a variety of protection options. This project is in early planning stages; stay tuned for updates.
There is a real urgency to this project right now. The Land Trust is entering into an option with the banks. This will give the Land Trust only four months to figure out how to pay for and protect the 664 acres. The banks really need to sell the property quickly, so development is still possible. By making a contribution to the Land Trust today, you can help us move forward to protect this property and other important forests on Whidbey and Camano Islands for future public enjoyment.
