SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. October 1, 2024 – The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank is initiating a forest health project in collaboration with the Islands Conservation Corps at Beaverton Marsh Preserve this October. This project is geared towards reducing risk of catastrophic wildfire, increasing the diversity and structure of wildlife habitat, and sequestering carbon through production of biochar.
Located on the south facing side of the uplands adjacent to Beaverton Marsh and approximately 5.5 acres in size, this project will create and enhance connectivity between two primary mature forested areas within the preserve. Originally converted to agricultural use in the late-nineteenth century the acreage was let to go fallow sometime in the 1980’s. A dense stand of Douglas fir colonized the site resulting in a forest with little to no understory and unhealthy trees.
Thinning will allow more space for trees and create openings for light to reach plants in the understory. Slash from the thinning will be used to create conservation burn piles to maximize charcoal production as a means to improve soil health and sequester carbon. Additional material will be piled to create habitat structures for birds, small mammals, and insects. Firewood-size material cut near the road will be donated to the Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center for distribution to community members in need.
Project work is anticipated to occur over a two-year span, kicking off with four to five days of thinning between October 2024 and February 2025.
If you have further questions or would like to learn more, please contact San Juan Island Preserve Steward, Doug McCutchen at dougmc@sjclandbank.org.
Media Contact:
Tanja Williamson Outreach/Volunteer Coordinator, tanjaw@sjclandbank.org, 360-370-7655
About San Juan County’s Conservation Land Bank
San Juan County’s Conservation Land Bank, funded by a 1% real estate excise tax paid by purchasers of property at closing, acquires and preserves areas in the county that have environmental, agricultural, aesthetic, cultural, scientific, historic, scenic, or low-intensity recreational value. The Land Bank offices are located at 328 Caines Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about San Juan County’s Conservation Land Bank, visit www.sjclandbank.org.
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