Program Chair Teri Treat introduced our program speaker, Rich Bowers, the Executive Director of the Whatcom Land Trust. Rich, who has an extensive background with conservation and environmental groups, only recently assumed leadership of the organization. Rich provided us with an overview of the Trust, how it works and what it plans for the future.
The Whatcom Land Trust is a non-profit entity, founded 32 years ago in Lynden, for the purpose of protecting the natural values and resources important to Whatcom County. From its humble beginnings, the organization has grown – it now has eight staff members and an operating budget of about $500,000 per year. It has played a major role in setting aside, or preserving for public use, about 20,000 acres, in 87 parcels, throughout Whatcom County. It works to achieve its goals through direct purchase, conservation easements, facilitation and land trades and advocacy. The Trust works independently on some projects, but frequently works in cooperation with other County governmental and conservation non-governmental groups.
Rich highlighted three specific examples of projects the Land Trust has engineered, or played a major role in bringing to fruition. In each case, he spoke briefly as to how the projects benefit the citizens of the County.
1. The Stimpson Family Nature Reserve is a 350-acre wildlife site on the west side of Lake Whatcom that provides several miles of hiking trails. This Reserve inlcudes low-elevation old-growth forest, small water falls, vibrant wetlands, and quiet ponds. Rich reminded us that two years ago our Club invested significantly in upgrading the parking lot and restroom facilities at this Reserve.
2. The Lake Whatcom and Lookout Mountain Parks area is a large parcel (8,844 acres) recently set aside for public use. The area provides 7,000 acres of Lake Whatcom protected watershed, the potential for many miles of biking and hiking trails and is the largest local park in Washington.
3. Galbraith Mountain is a project under current review, and of great interest to the Trust. It is a 2,300-acre area that provides exceptional hiking and biking recreational opportunities and, again, would provide protection for a large area of lake watershed.
Rich pointed out that there are many benefits associated with the land protection and conservation being accomplished by the Trust. In addition to protecting and preserving land areas for public use in perpetuity, there are environmental and recreational advantages that are clear and immediate. Currently, it is estimated that recreational activities contribute $6–10 million, and nearly 4,000 jobs, to Whatcom County's economy.
The program concluded with a brief question and answer session in which Rich addressed questions related to future Governor’s Point development, the types of land parcels that are practical for Trust inclusion, a future trail around Lake Whatcom, and how the County and Trust can be dealing with invasive plant species.
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