Two Conservation Land Bank preserves, Mount Grant (San Juan Island) and Turtleback Mountain (Orcas Island) will benefit from a USDA Forest Service “Landscape Scale Restoration Grant” that was secured by Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The focus of the grant is eco-cultural restoration of Garry oak associated habitats at four sites in the San Juan Islands. Ashley Blazina, Environmental Justice and Western Washington Forest Health Planner with DNR, was responsible for the successful effort in pulling together the coalition of land managers and restoration specialists to secure the grant. Partners in planning and implementation include San Juan Islands Conservation District, Washington State Parks, San Juan Preservation Trust, Samish Indian Nation, Western Washington University, and Rainshadow Consulting. In addition to participating in restoration activities, Samish Indian Nation’s Department of Natural Resources is helping guide protection and increasing the abundance of culturally important plants.
$85,000 of the grant is allocated to 15 acres of restoration work at the western edge of Mount Grant Preserve where extensive grassland-savanna habitat has been lost due to cessation of fire and the subsequent encroachment of young Douglas fir trees. Work will focus on protection of existing high-quality habitat including grasslands, wildflowers, and old growth trees. Thinning dense stands of young Douglas fir will provide opportunity to increase the abundance and diversity of native wildflowers, grasses, and establishment of Garry oaks. Conservation burns will be utilized to generate biochar as means to sequester carbon and improve soil health. All these actions will help build resilience to the impacts of climate change including the reduction the risk of catastrophic wildfire within the Trout Lake Watershed. Restoration activities began earlier this year and will continue through June 2026. Contact the Land Bank to learn about opportunities to volunteer on these projects or join a field trip.
On Turtleback Mountain Preserve, nearly $100,000 in grant funds will support thinning of small-diameter conifers that are encroaching into approximately 50 acres of Garry oak habitat on the south slope. Thinned areas and bare soils resulting from small burn piles will be seeded with herbaceous species and planted sparsely with fruit producing trees and shrubs to support songbirds and native pollinators. Land Bank staff will lead the effort with crew support from the Island Conservation Corps and the Samish Indian Nation. This work will advance objectives outlined in greater detail in the 2022 Turtleback Stewardship and Management Plan.
Across all four restoration sites, a total of 16 acres will be planted with native seeds and plants. Special emphasis will be given to Coast Salish cultural plants, including camas and chocolate lily, as well as a variety of other local wildflowers and grasses. Many of these plant materials will be provided by the Salish Seeds Project, a joint program of the San Juan County Land Bank and San Juan Preservation Trust.