North Olympic Land Trust Programs
In addition to working with landowners to create conservation easements on their land, North Olympic Land Trust owns a handful of properties that conserve vital habitat for salmon recovery. These properties are located across the peninsula and in general are open to the public.
North Olympic Land Trust is also known for its annual events including the Conservation Breakfast in March, Harvest Dinner in September and the Clallam County Farm Tours in October. The Annual Farm Tours are coordinated in partnership with WSU Extension and a number of local farms. Each year, over 1,000 people spend the day traveling from farm to farm and experience the diversity of our area's agricultural heritage.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
Since its inception in 1990, North Olympic Land Trust has helped conserve almost 3,000 acres of land across Clallam County. These conserved lands have occurred as a result of a strategic vision that promotes conservation of landscapes and corridors in which the best wildlife habitat is conserved for wildlife and the best farmland is maintained for sustainable farming.
- In 2009, North Olympic Land Trust received the 255-acre Elk Creek Conservation Area on the outskirts of Forks in Western Clallam County from the Wild Salmon Center. With extensive wetlands, springs, spring-fed channels, floodplain, and feeder streams, the Elk Creek Conservation Area is integral year-round habitat for wild coho and chinook salmon, steelhead, and coastal cutthroat trout. Sunset Magazine honored this property as part of the “Best Capital of Green” with its 2012 Environmental Awards.
- In 2010, the Land Trust merged with Friends of the Fields a local farm preservation organization, in order to better serve our joint missions of conserving local working agricultural lands.
- In 2011 and 2012, added over 200-acres acres of protected land to existing conserved river corridors along Jimmycomelately Creek (eastern Clallam County), Siebert Creek (between Port Angeles and Sequim) and the Pysht River (in Western Clallam County).
- In 2012, key properties were conserved near the mouth of the Dungeness River, filling in gaps between over 550 acres of previously protected properties vital for waterfowl and migratory bird habitat.
In the midst of these activities and more, in 2012 North Olympic Land Trust was accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission affirming that the organization employs the best of practices its efforts to conserve land on the North Olympic Peninsula into perpetuity.
Public interest in private land conservation has been increasing given the present economic condition. As such, the land trust needs financial support in order to sustain and increase our capacity to effectively and efficiently identify highest priority conservation projects and partners.