Something to Celebrate!
The Lummi Island Heritage Trust has just purchased a new 120-acre parcel on Lummi Mountain. The land is nestled between the Heritage Trust’s Aiston Preserve and 40 acres of land protected by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (WADNR).
“It’s a keystone property for the Heritage Trust, and we’re thrilled to have the privilege of caring for it,” says Scott Josiah, chair of LIHT’s Board. “By acquiring this land, we preserve an intact legacy forest that is more than 70 years old—one that sequesters vast amounts of carbon, creates a large block of protected wildlife habitat, and enhances access to natural areas for Lummi Islanders.”
In its geology, topography, and forest type, this new property is similar to the Baker Preserve and requires similar land management strategies. It has swaths of coniferous trees that give way to occasional maples and madrones. There are ponds, streams, forested wetland, and numerous moss and lichen covered outcrops that are known as balds. “We’re particularly excited to investigate those,” says Elizabeth Kilanowski, chair of LIHT’s Land Protection committee. “Such landscapes are often home to both rare and threatened species.”
“Acquiring this property is a huge win for LIHT,” says Susan Hutton, executive director of the Trust. “Developing this steep, mountainous property would have been quite difficult, but the competing bid by a logging company posed a serious threat to the integrity of this mature forest. Because of the generosity of our members and donors, we were able to rapidly assemble an offer. If we had not had those resources, we would have lost this land.
“But we got it, and we’re simply over the moon about it,” she continues. “And we can’t wait for you to see it! We’ll be opening a hiking trail in the fall. Stay tuned for details, and thank you, a thousand times. Your support made this happen!”
Where is the new property?
On Lummi Mountain, south of the Aiston Preserve. This new property is immediately adjacent to Aiston and to 40 acres of DNR land, which is itself adjacent to another 160-acre DNR parcel. Together that creates a 400-acre corridor of mature forest for wildlife.
