In 1990, citizens of San Juan County sought to protect vital water, forests, and farmland within the islands as development began to expand. This movement ultimately resulted in the creation of a 1% real estate excise tax (REET). Revenue from the tax (paid by buyers of real estate at closing) has been the primary funding source for the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank for 34 years. Citizens have voted to renew the Conservation Land Bank twice, in 1999 and 2011. The next renewal will be a measure on the upcoming November ballot.

The San Juan Preservation Trust, a nonprofit land conservation group, typically avoids political affiliations. With our private, market-based approach to protecting special places from development, the Preservation Trust’s mission and work attracts a constituency that spans the political gamut. We recognize that much of our appeal and our membership support are strengthened by standing apart from county politics. 

Despite this, the 16-member Board of Directors of the San Juan Preservation Trust, representing a cross-section of islands and political perspectives, has unanimously agreed to endorse the renewal of the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank.   

The Conservation Land Bank and the Preservation Trust sometimes get mixed up. Heck, our Friday Harbor offices are even across the street from each other! Both organizations protect land that is valuable to our island communities, but their distinction boils down to the simple difference between public and private. The Conservation Land Bank is an agency within San Juan County government that is almost entirely funded by the REET. The San Juan Preservation Trust, on the other hand, is a private organization that relies entirely on private donations of land, conservation easements, volunteer time, and dollars to protect high conservation-value locations. 

While both organizations have accomplished remarkable projects on their own, the pace and quality of conservation work are substantially enhanced anytime the two groups unite. Thanks to previous Conservation Land Bank renewals, we have been able to merge our funding sources to acquire locations that we simply couldn’t dream of preserving on our own. Beloved places like Turtleback Mountain (on Orcas Island), Watmough Bight (Lopez), Beaverton Marsh (San Juan), Sundstrom Farm (San Juan), Cady Mountain (San Juan), Mt. Grant (San Juan), and the Henry Island Isthmus, to name just a few, have been permanently conserved by this productive partnership. 

San Juan County Conservation Land Bank staff and volunteers planting native grasses and wildflowers produced at the Salish Seeds nursery at a San Juan County-SJPT joint restoration project on Turtleback Mountain Preserve | Staff Archive

“The San Juans need an ongoing concerted effort from private and public spheres to ensure the treasured qualities of the islands endure for generations to come.” says SJPT Executive Director Angela Anderson.

On the November election ballot, you will be asked to vote on the 12-year renewal of the Conservation Land Bank. On behalf of our many islands and their inhabitants—current and future, human and otherwise—the board and staff of the San Juan Preservation Trust are asking you to vote “YES” on November 5 to RENEW OUR LAND BANK! 

Click here to learn more about the Conservation Land Bank renewal campaign.