||| FROM BETH ST. GEORGE |||
My name is Beth St. George and I have lived on Lopez Island full-time for ten years. I visit at least one of the nine Land Bank properties weekly to bird and nature walk, to find solace and wonder. I lead bird walks and collect data for community science projects such as the Audubon Christmas Bird Count and Cornell Lab’s eBird project at many Land Bank preserves.
On a personal note, the first Lopezian my deceased husband, David St. George, and I met when we moved to Lopez Island was former Land Steward Tim Clark. We were hiking on Lopez Hill. Tim welcomed us and became a friend. David was the Lopez County Parks Manager from 2014-2022 and played a large role in caring for Hummel Lake and Fisherman Bay Preserves. I can’t imagine not being able to visit these places where David and I spent so many joyful hours together. I commend Tim and current steward, Amanda Wedow, for their stewardship.
I consider these lands sacred places for all beings, both human and non-human. The Lopez Preserves (Channel, Fisherman Bay–The Spit, Fisherman Bay-The Tombolo, Hummel Lake, Lopez Hill, Spencer Spit, Upright Head, Watmough Bay, Weeks Wetland) give we humans so much – clean air and water, fascinating flora and fauna, solace and quiet, to name but a few – and take nothing. It is our duty to care for and preserve these sacred lands. They are as valuable to me as my body, mind, and spirit.
Please support the Land Bank Renewal when you vote this November. For more information, visit renewourlandbank.com
Just to clarify, whether or not we renew the land bank tax, the existing properties and easements will continue to be publicly owned.
Thank you for that heartfelt letter, Beth. You are talking about what the Land Bank does, and gives us, every day.
And, my friend, Ken, you are hopefully right; but while we, the public may continue to own them, they may not be proactively managed as they are now. While the Land Bank’s REET revenues decrease in this economic climate, we are spending increasing amounts of our income–currently almost 60%, or about $3 million / year–on stewarding the Islands’ natural lands resources for wildlife habitat, climate resilience and recreational access. Continuing to grow this investment in stewardship and use matching funds to get resource grants, will require renewing theREET. https://www.renewourlandbank.com/faqs And remember–renewing the Land Bank REET also ensures continuation of our Affordable Housing REET. Let’s take a walk in the preserves soon!