Project Stories

Donations from Gene and Janet Zema

In 2006, Gene and Janet Zema assured protection for 40 wildlife-rich acres of their Crockett Lake property by donating it to the Land Trust. The $510,000 value of this land donation was used to provide the matching contribution for a federal grant secured by the Land Trust from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect additional high value conservation lands and waters at Crockett Lake.

In December 2008, working again with the Land Trust, the Zemas sold 20 acres of their remaining Crockett Lake property to Washington State Parks, donating another $85,000 of land value to make up a shortfall in grant funding. The Land Trust also contributed $20,000 to the funding shortfall using a contribution from the late Thero North.

Also in December 2008, the Land Trust reserved a conservation easement on the original 40-acres, reflecting the Zema’s desire to protect it for wildlife and compatible low-impact recreation, and transferred it to State Parks. These 60 acres are now part of Fort Casey State Parks and boast a variety of habitats including lake, mudflats, fresh- and saltwater wetlands, upland conifer forest and open fields, all providing critical habitat for more than 238 bird species and low-impact recreational opportunities to park visitors.

Dave and Thero North Bequest

Dave and Thero North loved Whidbey Island.

Dave, an avid sailor and Thero, a deeply knowledgeable birder, particularly loved the town of Coupeville and the rich habitat of Crockett Lake.

Their long friendship with Whidbey began in 1956. During summers, the Norths brought their three daughters to camp near West Beach. Year round, Thero observed the changing array of birds around Crockett Lake and at Penn Cove.
Dave and Thero wanted to ensure that the natural environment they loved would continue to provide habitat for wildlife and enjoyment for people. With this in mind, their daughters, Chris Peterson, Patricia North and Katherine North, directed a bequest to the Land Trust, in honor of Dave and Thero, for the purchase of land on the shores of Crockett Lake.

• Read January 9, 2006 Press Release, Grants of $1.7 million received to protect Crockett Lake and Port Susan Bay
• Read May 8, 2006 Press Release, Whidbey Couple Donates Crockett Lake Land

Defenders of Wildlife Gives $10,000 Grant

In 2008, the Land Trust received $10,000 dollars from the Defenders of Wildlife Living Lands program to support our work at Crockett Lake. These funds helped us develop a vegetation management plan for the property that was protected by Gene and Janet Zema. The plan, completed in 2009, identified priorities for enhancing the wildlife habitat values of the fields, forest, and shoreline of the property and provided excellent reference material for invasive plant control.

WCLT Land stewards and volunteers are now working in partnership with the staff of Fort Casey State Park to implement the vegetation management plan. To join this effort, please contact our land stewards via the Volunteer page of this site.