Program areas at WCLT
Land protection:our efforts to protect Land in 2022 resulted in 10 completed projects totaling 545 acres that conserved forest, farmland, wetlands and shoreline. We completed five conservation easements and five fee Land acquisitions. One notable project was the emergency acquisition of the 226-acre keystone farm and forest preserve which includes two-thirds of a mile of shoreline and is planned to be opened for public access next year. Other conserved lands included three farmland properties, ensuring over 200 acres will remain available for agricultural use. Two Land exchange projects were also completed allowing protection of 45 acres of mature forest and providing a parking lot for the admiralty inlet preserve and walking ebey's trail system. We also submitted 12 Land acquisition grants and actively worked on protecting another 13 properties, many to close in 2023.
Communications and outreach:we produced and distributed four printed newsletters and 14 additional print projects including invitations, cards, flyers and posters. Members received eleven e-news with conservation updates and 35 other e-mail communications. We put on 52 events and activities connecting people to the Land, including our sea, trees and pie bike ride, member and volunteer picnics, holiday open house, tabling events, school field trips, and educational presentations. We tabled at two public events and published a 2023 calendar sold at 16 local retail locations.
Stewardship:native plantings were maintained and additional plantings occurred at wetland, forest and prairie sites across the island. Trail expansion at our strawberry point preserve created over a mile of new nature trails for the public. Walking ebey's trail system opened with over three miles of trail in central Whidbey. New trailhead and parking lot opened for the walking ebey's trail system and admiralty inlet preserve. Major noxious weed removal occurred on all Land Trust fee properties and several conservation easements. We removed garbage, maintained and installed public trails, signs and fences, and inspected all Land Trust fee-held properties. Annual monitoring was completed on all 74 conservation easement properties. 282 volunteers completed 6,200 volunteer hours through work parties and independent projects.
Accreditation: every four years, since becoming accredited in 2012, we re-apply for accreditation with the Land Trust accreditation commission, an independent program of the national Land Trust alliance. As part of the renewal, we are required to submit updated policies and procedures, as well as detailed documentation on select projects. These submissions are used to illustrate our compliance with the standards and practices established by the Land Trust alliance, show that we adhere to our own policies and procedures, and emphasize our commitment to protecting important natural places and working lands forever.