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 and over 1,800 feet of natural shoreline with prime nearshore habitat for juvenile salmon and the forage fish critical to salmon recovery.
In 2022, the Land Bank and the San Juan Preservation Trust joined forces to purchase the defunct Glenwood Inn Resort. Among the Land Bank’s highest priorities was restoring the ecological integrity of the property through re-establishment of wetlands, removal of thousands of invasive plants, and extensive ongoing revegetation with native species. To date, the Land Bank has removed 13 structures and hundreds of tons of debris, established parking and trails to support low-intensity recreational access, and planted close to 7,000 native plants and shrubs.
Highlights from opening day included preserve tours, dogs on leash walking their humans, beachcombing and Orcas Preserve Steward, Peter Guillozet, celebrating the accomplishment with his mom.