Note from Jen Pennington: If you have property in Washington, learning from our local foresters is a great way to really understand your land and how to manage trees, wildlife, and even take advantage of tax incentives. Having taken the course a few years ago, (see the article,”Becoming a forest steward“) this was the best, most inexpensive class with knowledge that will last you a lifetime. The classes don’t come to Whidbey that often, so take advantage of it now.

Wind Damage Workshop

November is here. This means it’s time for our annual parade of late fall storms, some of which can pack some powerful and destructive winds. We are offering a workshop for woodland owners on how to reduce the risk of wind damage to trees and properly clean-up tree damage after a storm to prevent further problems.

The workshop will be held from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Wednesday, November 16th at the Pacific Rim Institute near Coupeville on Whidbey Island. Topics covered will include trees and power lines, management techniques for wind-firm forests, forest health issues with wind, and how to properly care for trees both before and after the storm. The workshop will be taught by experts from WSU Extension, the Washington Department of Natural Resources, and Puget Sound Energy.

Cost is $20 per person or $25 per couple. Registration information is available at http://snohomish.wsu.edu/forestry/wind11.htm or by calling 425-357-6017. Space is limited, and pre-registration is requested.

Forest Stewardship Coached Planning

The flagship, popular and powerful program is coming to Whidbey Island in January. This 10-session practical, hands-on course will guide you through the development of your own stewardship plan with “coaching” from the top natural resource professionals in the state. In the process of creating a forest plan unique to your property and objectives, you’ll go in depth with us both in the classroom and in the field covering a wide range of forestry topics. Things we’ll cover in detail include ecology, silvics, soils, wildlife, forest health, fire, applied silviculture, water resources, aesthetics, regulations, special forest products, working with contractors, and more. The class includes nine evening classroom sessions, a Saturday field trip, a personal site visit to your property from a professional forester and/or wildlife biologist, and a forest stewardship notebook packed with information.

Your completed forest stewardship plan may qualify you for significant property tax reductions, as well as qualify you for a whole range of cost share and other assistance programs. It will also provide you with a road map for maximizing your enjoyment of your land and minimizing the costs of ownership. The class is open to all, regardless of how many acres you own or what your ownership objectives are. Space is limited, and registration is open for both classes:

The class will be on Wednesday evenings starting January 18th at the Pacific Rim Institute near Coupeville. Registration is open and the class is already beginning to fill. Details and registration information are available at http://snohomish.wsu.edu/forestry/CP12Coupeville.htm or by calling 425-357-6017. This class is made possible in part by a grant from the Whidbey Island Conservation District.

2012 Native Plant Sales

Whidbey Island:
March 2 and 3, 2012
Pre-Order 11/15/2011 – 1/30/2012
http://whidbeycd.org/plantsale.aspx
360-678-4708

Photos by Robert J. Pennington

Often when you see people giving donations to plant trees, or saving a forest sometimes it’s never really as close or as significant when it’s right in your own backyard. This is the case with Trillium Forest located on Whidbey Island in Washington. The 664-acre property is the largest piece of privately owned property in Island County. Before it went into foreclosure it was originally divided into 124 plots and approved for development. This property is literally less than 3 miles from where my husband and I are in Greenbank, and just north of Freeland. In a rural setting, this is your backyard.

A nine-inch Northwestern Salamander on a Red Alder log. Whidbey Is. Photo by Robert J. Pennington.

Earlier this year the Whidbey Camano Land Trust was given the option to purchase the property and raise $4.2 Million. If successful, the WCLT would work to turn it back into recreational trails for hikers, birders, horseback riders, etc., and help restore the health and wildlife of a forest that had been logged back in 1988.

If the funds cannot be raised, the property will be divided and sold privately. Originally the Land Trust had until June 10th to raise the funds. As luck would have it they received an extension until September 10th.

So here we are on September 1st, just ten days away and I feel like I’m watching a horse race between thousands of people trying to save a forest and a financial institution. (I promised myself, I wouldn’t go there). Because I am familiar with the work the Whidbey Camano Land Trust does, it boggles my mind to see them spearhead what would seemingly be an impossible mission. As of this writing they need just $900,000. $300,000 has already been promised, leaving $600,000 left. From their newsletter posting today, “To help raise the remaining $600,000, an existing donor has made a pledge to match, dollar for dollar, the first person to donate $100,000 between now and September 10. After the Land Trust raises $600,000, a second anonymous donor will contribute the remaining $300,000 needed to complete the campaign.” That’s not much considering where they started, but it’s a still a big stretch in 10 days.

Curled fern. Whidbey Is. Photo by Robert J. Pennington

While it does comes down to money, it’s about so much more than that. It’s about watching people from all over Island County and beyond, work together to save this giant piece of land. You cannot walk into a local store, cafe, or lumberyard without seeing donation jars with “Save the Forest Now” buttons and postcards on them. Hikers, joggers, birders, photographers, horseback riders, and other groups lead talks and rides through the property. Even small schoolchildren are not spared, helping raise funds and teaching people about why we need to Save the Forest Now.

If saved, I have no doubt this forest could become one of the best teaching grounds and case studies in the U.S., both environmentally and socially. It can even provide inspiration for more successful transactions while leaving an important legacy for generations to come. The reach of what happens in the next few days goes far beyond the waters around an island in Puget Sound. If it can happen here, the lessons learned can teach others everywhere not just how to save a piece of land against the odds and in a recession, but how to bring a much larger community together, regardless of politics, religion or economic status.

So now it’s down to the wire and I’ve got my money on “Trillium” comin’ up on the outside, yelling, “Go baby! Go!” A photo finish for the ages.

Offset your carbon footprint! Find out more about this property and how you can donate, check out the status on the Whidbey Camano Land Trust’s site: www.SaveTheForestNow.org

Or contact the WCLT at:

Whidbey Camano Land Trust
765 Wonn Road, Barn C-201
Greenbank, WA 98253

by Sherrye Wyatt

They say bold moves make history. After a 25-year legacy of successfully pioneering the protection of natural places, working farmlands, and other significant lands, the Whidbey Camano Land Trust is about to make history once more.

The Trillium property from the south © 2010 Veronica von Allwörden

The Land Trust recently purchased an option to buy the largest parcel of forest land under single ownership on Whidbey Island. The group has until June 10, 2010, to raise the $4.2 million required to purchase and permanently protect the 664 acres and has launched a community-wide effort to raise the money. Local organizations and individuals are joining the cause and announcing their support daily as they race to raise enough money in time.

After the property has been purchased, it will be open for use as a community natural area, with the Land Trust holding a conservation easement. A management plan will then be developed that allows reasonable recreation, such as hiking, biking and equestrian use, while taking into account the needs of the forest’s flora and fauna.

“Protecting the 664 acres will allow it to return to a healthy forest that provides wildlife habitat, public recreational opportunities, and a place where current and future generations can experience nature,” says Pat Powell, executive director of the Land Trust.

The forest, often referred to as the Trillium property, has a dramatic and sometimes emotional history. Located on the south end of Whidbey Island, between Freeland and Greenbank, the forest was owned and periodically logged by timber companies for decades, much to the distress of many islanders. Most recently, the property was subdivided into approximately 124 housing lots and soon after fell into foreclosure.

Save the Forest Now Campaign

“This is the last chance to save this remarkable property. If our efforts to raise the money fail, individual lots will be sold and developed over time,” says Powell. “If that happens, our opportunity to protect it will be lost forever. We are looking for key individuals with the financial means to join the community in helping save the forest now.”

When forest land is converted to residential use, much of the wildlife habitat disappears and never returns. Roads create barriers to wildlife movement and homeowners replace trees and native understory with buildings, lawns, and driveways. Water is then directed to culverts and ditches rather than slowly seeping back into the aquifer.

The property is particularly important because of its size. The larger the tract, the better able it is to provide habitat for species that need large areas. If the area is broken into smaller pieces and houses are built, habitat will be fragmented and will support less wildlife. This ecological disruption is irreversible. If the property is developed, Whidbey Island will lose a large wildlife habitat and corridor with a rich diversity of species.

The forest includes parts of three watersheds. The largest watershed flows into Mutiny Bay. Two smaller watersheds drain to the west, one at Bush Point and one that flows through South Whidbey State Park. There are wetlands and small streams distributed throughout the more than one square mile of land, all critical to support the many wildlife species found there.

“It’s important to plan for smart growth,” says Powell. “Whidbey Island will continue to develop, but we need to focus development in the right places, where infrastructure like roads and utilities are already in place, not in one of the last, best, large, forested properties on the island.”

The site can sustain both human recreation and habitat for wildlife. Narrow trails and quiet recreational use do not disturb small birds and other wildlife in the same way that roads, cars, houses, and lawnmowers do. There is already a limited network of established roads and trails within the boundaries of the property. These can serve as the primary system for trails.

According to local realtors, South Whidbey Island currently has more than four-and-a-half years’ worth of vacant (undeveloped) land on the market. To add up to 124 more lots into this depressed real estate market could drive the prices of the existing lots down even further and is unlikely to result in new construction jobs.

Is the Land Trust worried it might be difficult to raise so much money so quickly, especially during this current economic climate?

“We are actually encouraged by the positive response we’re already getting. People love this place. One reason we all live here is because we still have forests like this one, surrounded by water and mountains. Besides, miracles happen every day, especially on Whidbey Island,” says Powell.

To contribute or to learn more about how to get involved in the campaign, call (360) 222-3310 or visit www.savetheforestnow.org. You may send your donation to the Whidbey Camano Land Trust, Attention: Save the Forest Now, 765 Wonn Road, Barn C-201, Greenbank, WA 98253.

Shoes crunch in the gravel as Harry Case and his grandson Shawn Connor head up the forest road. A hairy woodpecker drums on a nearby Douglas fir, but Harry’s eye has landed on something else: alders sprouting in a strip of bare earth on the road shoulder.

He’s pleased, but points out, “I didn’t plant those.” Harry and his grandson did plant some 700 other trees they are babying in wire cages for deer protection. “Those alders are just coming in every place,” he says. “I won’t discourage them. They’ll be big trees in 40 years, which is good. Shawn will be 70,” he adds, throwing Shawn a deadpan glance.

“We used to call alder a weed tree. Not any more. It’s used for furniture – fine furniture. Takes any kind of stain. It’s the only tree that is worth anything in the present market.”

Annette and Harry Case with Harry's grandson, Shawn Connor

Harry has stewarded these woods for 62 years, selectively logging and managing them for forest succession and diversity. He has strong feelings about the right way to do it, having gotten entangled as a young man in logging slash while hiking the Suiattle watershed in the Cascades. “I decided once and forever to obtain a piece of forest land never to be logged that way,” he says.

Harry was 18 when his dad came across this parcel near South Whidbey’s Saratoga Woods in a tax sale in 1946. “I bought it cheap,” he says. “You couldn’t buy it now, if you could find it.”

Harry and Annette are in the final stages of completing a conservation easement that will permanently protect the Incredible Forest, giving up development rights worth perhaps $1.5 million. Harry has harvested more than a million board feet of timber. “The Land Trust did a timber cruise and it turns out I have over five million now, so that’s what I call an increased yield. I have enough value in the timber. That’s what enables me to tie up the development rights. We’re never going to starve.”

Land Trust conservation partners and members already have contributed more than $40,000 of the estimated $60,000 needed to fund the transaction – for the timber cruise, fair market appraisal, land and wetland surveys, forest management plan, baseline survey, legal costs and staff time.

Pat Powell, Land Trust executive director, says the Case easement marks a big day for the Land Trust. “This is our biggest protection project of the year and the first conservation easement we have ever completed on a working forest.”

And she’s thrilled. “This will maintain and enhance the forest cover and promote species diversity by allowing the forest to grow to a mature condition with old-growth characteristics,” she said.
The easement also upholds Harry’s longstanding values and vision. “I’ve carefully done my own forestry work and it’s been a huge success,” he says. That may be an understatement from a man who was not trained as a forester but spent his career as a trombonist with the Seattle Symphony.

What was he thinking, this Seattle musician pursuing a secret life two days a week, camping, harvesting timber with a chain saw and planting his own trees?

“It’s really refreshing out here,” he says, watching a squirrel pilfer suet he’s hung on a nearby tree. “It’s quite complementary – coming here to get away from that high-pressure music. This is a different scene. I came here every time I could find two days to log.” Harry did all the stand improvement himself, carefully using a small tractor to tow out selected logs until the trees got too big for his equipment a few years ago.

The land has given Harry a good second income, peace of mind, physical exercise and a place to bond with his grandson as they observed the forest’s changes together. Shawn makes the point without even trying. “I was just eating a bunch of red huckleberries. What a great year. The red ones are about done but the evergreen huckleberries are just loaded.”

As a child Shawn joined his grandfather on trips to this forest and now is preparing to steward it into the future. He went from catching frogs and salamanders to an education in forest ecology at the University of Washington’s College of Forest Resources.

“This is like having your own garden to play in,” Shawn says. “You read things in books and then go out and apply them in the real world. Here you see the actual application – a unique experience.”

Along the way he became a teacher in some ways to his grandfather.

“There is an ecological crisis as we speak,” Harry says. “We are digging a grave for civilization with all this carbon dioxide in the air. I wasn’t thinking a whole lot about it until six or seven years ago when Shawn came home with the data.” One of Harry’s goals is to help offset the devastation of the world’s rain forests. Preserving trees is one way to practice carbon sequestration.

“There is a lot of carbon tied up in these trees. You wonder where a tree comes from? It takes carbon from the air. Trees are mostly coming out of the carbon in the air – an amazing process.” Shawn points out, “And oxygen is the byproduct.”

Harry adds, “If we are going to save the environment, little people are going to have to do something. The government isn’t going to do it; they’ve done zilch.”

He becomes emotional when he talks of the support Annette and Shawn have given him. “Annette, what are you doing?” he asks, summoning her from the RV he calls their portable cabin.

She’s smiling proudly. He gives her a big hug. Then another to Shawn.

“I want to say that Shawn and my wife have made it easy for me to do this. If they had not been on my side and seen my vision, I probably would not do the Land Trust thing. Shawn is going to forego 34 lots worth $100,000 apiece for saving the world. We’re going to try to save the world.”

“Starting with a postage stamp,” Annette adds. But then she notes that some other chunks of the South Whidbey forest are also protected by Land Trust efforts, and adds: “I like to see that on the map, see that it’s coming together almost all of a piece now.”

Harry is studying the ground at their feet, where last year they disturbed a small patch of earth to clear a pad for their RV. It’s a carpet of tiny alders.

“Well, there’s your lawn,” he declares with a smile.

Many thanks to The Whidbey Camano Land Trust for permission to reprint this article in Ecozome.

Harry Case, our local hero, is also one of five finalists for the Cox Conserves Heroes award! Vote for Harry before June 19th.