February 5th, 2012 News and Events
The Campaign To Save Vendovi Island
On December 15, 2010, the San Juan Preservation Trust successfully purchased Vendovi Island, the third largest island under single private ownership in the entire San Juan archipelago.
Despite Vendovi Island’s appraised value at over $12 million, the Preservation Trust was able to purchase it at $6.4 million and then, only because of the generosity of an anonymous benefactor who stepped forward with an outright gift of $3 million and a $3.4 million bridge loan.
We have since received a $1 million challenge grant from another anonymous and very generous family who wants to see others invest with us over the next three years to acquire Vendovi.
This challenge grant will match every dollar up to $1 million only if we can meet the following schedule:
$ 250,000 before October 1, 2011: GOAL REACHED!!
$ 350,000 before October 1, 2012
$ 400,000 before October 1, 2013
= $1,000,000
A full-color brochure presents details of the conservation values, cultural history, and plans for permanent preservation and public access for this 217-acre gem of the San Juans. Print copies of the case statement are available upon request (or download a copy here). Please contact Barbara Courtney, Director of Philanthropy, at barbara@sjpt.org.
If you have questions or would like to make a donation to the Campaign to Save Vendovi, please contact our Lopez Office at 360-468-3202.
(The buzz on Vendovi Island is heating up. Here's what local reporter Tip Johnson has to say about this amazing island: or check out this overview video, created by volunteer filmmaker Geoff Schaaf, and take a virtual tour!)
Posted: Sat, Dec 10, 2011
Reestablishing Golden Indian Paintbrush on San Juan Island
Several years ago, the caretaker for a shoreline property along San Juan Island’s west side discovered a beautiful little golden flower. This flower, which was on land protected by a San Juan Preservation Trust conservation easement, appeared after a large patch of snowberry and Nootka rose was cleared from a portion of the property that exhibited remnants of native prairie. 
The wildflower was quickly identified as Golden Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta), which is currently listed an endangered species in Washington State. Working together, the landowner, the Preservation Trust, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, the Washington Natural Heritage Program and other native plant enthusiasts developed a management
plan to assure that this rare little flower, which only grows in a few places in the San Juan Islands, would be able to thrive.
And thrive it has! After several years of mowing and clearing away competing underbrush, the population continues to expand. Seed collected from the plants growing on this property have been used to propagate additional plugs. This fall, some of these plugs were returned to San Juan Island and - with volunteer help - have been planted on this (and neighboring) properties, ensuring that this delightful little denizen of our disappearing prairies maintains a footing in the San Juan Islands.
(Photos: above, right: Golden Indian Paintbrush by Kurt Thorson; above left: the paintbrush planting crew on San Juan Island)
Posted: Wed, Nov 30, 2011
Lighthawk Donates Flights to Help SJPT
Imagine a photograph that would otherwise be beautiful – the entire frame is filled with the crystal clear grey-blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico – but it features three enormous plumes of smoke from oil fires – the result of the BP oil spill. If a picture truly is worth a thousand words, then this photograph tells the story of environmental disaster. Such is what volunteer pilots and photographers do for Lighthawk, a nonprofit organization that works internationally to document the threats and the beauty of natural areas and wildlife. The San Juan Preservation 
Trust was the recipient of a Lighthawk flight mission in August. While their assignment was nothing as dramatic as photographing the BP oil spill (thank goodness), retired Alaska Airlines pilot Linda Chism and professional photographer Neal Chism (they happen to be spouses) were given a list of target areas in the San Juan Islands to photograph. Some of these areas are places already protected by the Preservation Trust; others are priorities for future protection. Linda and Neal spent several hours targeting the GPS coordinates provided by Preservation Trust staff and shot some very compelling photographs. Thanks very much to Lighthawk, and to Linda and Neal Chism for their tremendous contribution.
Visit www.lighthawk.org to learn more about this great organization. Some examples of their work are featured here. Above left, the west side of San Juan Island from the air; to the right, Pt. Disney on Waldron with Orcas in the background. More photos that resulted from our Lighthawk flight in the San Juans are posted on the SJPT Facebook page.
Posted: Fri, Nov 18, 2011