Watmough Preserve Addition
June 2024 Update
A draft Stewardship and Management Plan will be available for public comment Summer 2024. The Addition is not open for public access. To visit the Preserve, please sign up for a work party or guided tour this summer. A new trail to Watmough Head is planned for October 2024.
Overview
Watmough Head, located on the southeastern shore of Lopez Island, was long considered as the last unprotected property on Watmough Bay, and one with immense ecological and cultural significance. In February of 2022, the Conservation Land Bank purchased the 11.6-acre property for $2.55 million. This acquisition joins a conservation area that features approximately 450 acres of protected lands and 1.67 miles of shoreline.
Significance
The Preserve features 2,053 feet of rocky shoreline and two pocket beaches, remnant patches of coastal bald/prairie, and a mixed conifer forest. This area is also designated as a high priority for salmon recovery within San Juan County. The property has scenic views of Watmough Bay, Chadwick Hill, and across Rosario strait to Anacortes and the Cascades.
The area has a long history of human habitation and influence. Archaeological research indicates that fishing, shellfish harvesting, and hunting were extensive in the surrounding area. A reef net site was located at the kelp beds between Boulder Island and the Preserve, and the uplands were utilized as a fish processing camp.
Euro-American settlement at Watmough Head is also evident. Numerous structures remain, including a homestead cabin built in 1876 by Sampson Chadwick.
Public Access
During the interim period the property is closed to public access. This allows staff and contractors to plan and prepare the property for public use. The Land Bank offers opportunities to visit the property through guided tours and volunteer events. Monthly work parties are scheduled for the 1st Wednesday of the month 10 am-12 pm. Guided tours with Land Bank staff are offered 1-2 times monthly throughout the summer.
A new trail that leads to Watmough Head is anticipated to be open this fall.
Planning Process
An Interim Stewardship and Management Plan for the Preserve was completed in August 2022. Click here to view the Interim Plan.
A primary objective of the interim period was to seek funding partnerships to offset acquisition and management costs. The Land Bank applied for two state grants and in October of 2023, the Land Bank Commission agreed to retain the property and utilize grant funding. The Land Bank is in the process of completing the grant agreement.
Preparation of a long-term Stewardship and Management Plan (SMP) is now underway. SMPs are written for each preserve and identify future management priorities for the next ten years. A public scoping meeting was held March 19, 2024, at the Lopez Center for Community and the Arts (LCCA) and attendees commented on what objectives are important and what activities should take place over the next ten years.
The name “Watmough Preserve Addition” is considered temporary. A permanent name will be adopted, in accordance with the Land Bank’s Preserve Naming Policy, prior to opening the Preserve for public access.