San Juan County Conservation Land Bank
San Juan County, 1990: Land development and tourism were on the rise, and the county’s population was rapidly growing. Facing the loss of places they loved, a diverse group of locals sought a way to save treasured lands and maintain quality of life.
Their vision led to the creation of the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank. The Conservation Land Bank was charged with conserving exceptional places in the islands, guided by local input. A one-time 1% real estate excise tax paid by purchasers of property at closing was created to fund the program. In this way the community could protect those special places that brought them here.
This community investment has paid off in spades. Islanders and visitors alike enjoy the benefits of protected farms, forests, shores, and scenic vistas, and access to a remarkable array of public lands.
Conservation Land Bank Preserves
Preserves are lands that the Land Bank has purchased outright to care for in perpetuity. Preserves often provide public access in the form of rustic trails, shoreline access, or wildlife viewing areas. Preserves also help protect the wonderful array of plants, animals, and habitats that make the islands unique.
There are two types of preserves. We have lands that are open for the public to enjoy and we also have preserves that are closed to the public to maintain their natural and historical qualities.
Check out our interactive maps
News & Updates
Field Notes | Fall 2024
July into October was chock-full of “firsts,” work parties, and wildlife sightings across Land Bank preserves. The Land Bank teamed up with local non-profits to host five inaugural series’: Camp Eagle Rock “Walking Wednesday” held [...]
When Will the Watmough Head Addition Be Open to Public Access?
In spring of 2022, your Land Bank stepped up to purchase the last unprotected parcel along Watmough Bay. Watmough Head, as it’s locally known, fit perfectly into the larger portfolio of nearly 400 acres of [...]
We Celebrated National Public Lands Day at North Shore Preserve!
Last month your Conservation Land Bank celebrated National Public Lands Day with over 100 community members at North Shore Preserve. Located near the northwest corner of Orcas Island, the 58-acre preserve offers forested uplands, wetlands [...]
VOLUNTEERS
A COMMUNITY THAT COMES TOGETHER
Volunteers are an engaging group of friends and neighbors who assist staff by monitoring properties, participating in work parties and special events, and sometimes organizing and leading educational field trips.
Volunteers monitor preserves by visiting a Land Bank preserve on a regular basis. They have the opportunity to become intimately familiar with a particular preserve. Work party volunteers help with projects such as pulling noxious weeds, trail building and habitat restoration.