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Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust 

Description

The Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust is an island-based nonprofit that acquires, manages and conserves land on Vashon-Maury for the purpose of preserving wildlife habitat, natural resources and open space. We also provide community education and opportunities for passive recreation for the Island's 11,000 residents and many visitors.

Mission Statement
It is the mission of the Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust to conserve land to protect the natural ecosystems and rural character of Vashon-Maury Island for the benefit of wildlife, the public, and future generations.
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Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust
PO Box 2031 
Vashon 
WA
98070-2031 
(206) 463-2644 

Mr. Tom Dean 
Executive Director 

Programs

Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust Programs

Land Conservation
In its 23 years, the Land Trust has been active in establishing protection for over 1,600 acres of natural land and open space on the Island, including nearly 5 miles of shoreline, over 5 miles of riparian preservation, and one of the very few remaining intact sphagnum bogs in lower Puget Sound. Our efforts are focused on sensitive or critical areas that provide wildlife habitat, high aquifer recharge levels, or natural ecosystems such as creeks, ponds, forests, shoreline and watersheds.

Land Stewardship
The Land Trust is responsible for the management, restoration and monitoring of the Island's preserved land. We partner with the local park district and King County on stewardship projects such as stream restoration, invasive weed removal, reforestation and trail maintenance.

Conservation Education
The Land Trust conducts classes and programs on an array of conservation topics covering forest management, native species and stewardship planning, water issues, salmon identification, and youth environmental education. We also offer an annual series of property tours to familiarize community members with the Island's publicly accessible parks and nature preserves.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

Expansion of existing preserves has been a major focus of the Land Trust's recent efforts. The latest acquisitions have added acreage and new trails to Island Center Forest, have extended protection of critical salmon-spawning habitat along Judd Creek in the Paradise Valley Preserve, and include the monumental success of protecting the 250-acre former Glacier mine site on Maury Island and turning it into a King County park adjoining the Dockton Forest property.

The Land Trust's Shinglemill Creek trail remains extremely popular, providing a way for Islanders and visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. The only backcountry-style experience on the island, this forested public trail passes by stands of old, second-growth trees and runs along salmon-bearing Shinglemill Creek to its dramatic delta as it flows into Puget Sound at Fern Cove. Trail planning and construction has been a recent focus of the Land Trust's efforts on the Island. We are currently working with King County on both a new trailhead from town into Island Center Forest and on a multi-use trans-Maury trail that would connect Dockton Park & Forest/Glacier site to the Maury Marine Park.

General funding is needed to support our ongoing work and programs. Member support is critical to our operations. Joining the Land Trust can be done on our website www.vashonlandtrust.org or contact us - info@vashonlandtrust.org.

Evaluation

Vashon contains half of the marine shorelines in King County, and nearly all of the un-armored shorelines in the County. As such, it presents one of the best opportunities to conserve intact and functioning shoreline habitat in King County and thereby contribute to the overall health of Puget Sound. The Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust works to purchase and preserve/restore these lands.

Proven Success
Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust (VMILT) has been working since 2000 to acquire a shoreline site on Maury Island owned by the Glacier Northwest Mining Company. This effort, the Maury Island Conservation Initiative involved a strategic partnership between VMILT, Cascade Land Conservancy and King County. VMILT has been actively involved in efforts to secure the necessary funding for the purchase. They are now very close to completing the purchase.
In 20 years of operation they have created 26 preserves made up of nearly 1,200 acres.

Use of Best Practices
They have refined their planning process to complete a ranked inventory of potential shoreline conservation projects for the entire Island, so that they might be most strategic in their efforts.
Also, while the recession made many parts of their operation more difficult, it did put them in a buyer’s market for the first time in their history. Many property owners have been anxious to sell, and VMILT is one of the few currently active buyers of raw land. They now have the challenge of raising adequate funds to purchase these valuable preservation lands simultaneously.

Collaboration
The Land Trust routinely partners with the Vashon Parks District and King County Parks. They fundraise jointly with both organizations for land acquisitions, and they own and manage preserves jointly with both. Other key partners include Cascade Land Conservancy, Preserve Our Islands, People for Puget Sound, Washington Environmental Council, Puget Sound Partnership, and the Departments of Natural Resources and Ecology.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
3/10/2009 $10,000.00support general operating expenses.
3/22/2007 $15,000.00support general operating expenses.
12/16/2004 $10,000.00support general operating expenses.

Financials

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