October 1, 2025 – Crescent Beach and Turtleback Mountain Land Bank preserves are once again open to the public. The trail through Crescent Beach opened on Friday, September 26, 2025, and the south entrance of Turtleback Mountain Preserve opened on Saturday, September 27, 2025. Significant improvements were made to forest health and public access during these temporary closures. And there are more ecological and recreational advancements on the horizon.
Our next step in the Crescent Beach Forest Health Project is to plant roughly 10,000 native trees and shrubs this winter. Recent work within the 32-acre project area reduced fuel loading, competition among trees, and invasive species. It also created openings in the forest canopy to provide more resources for residual trees, and for future trees and shrubs, to grow. We are grateful for the $148,000 grant award that helped us accomplish this initial work. The upcoming re-planting effort will be another milestone in achieving our long-term goal to enhance the diversity and resilience of this beloved natural area.
The South Entrance Rehabilitation Project at Turtleback Mountain Preserve increases the number of parking spaces from 12 to 20, includes one paved ADA van space, and adds parking stops and a wooden fence to the seasonal overflow lot. As outlined in the 2022 Stewardship and Management Plan (SMP), the next steps in this project will be to plant Garry oaks and then to design and develop a new accessible loop trail in the lower field, adjacent to the parking area.
It’s been a busy summer on Orcas Island! In addition to these two projects, the Land Bank recently completed a shoreline restoration project at Judd Cove Preserve, closed on a new property along East Sound, and will soon replace the decades-old, failing septic system at Coffelt Farm Preserve. Together, these five projects encompass many elements of our mandate; target goals established in the 2024-2030 Strategic Plan; and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to our mission: “to protect and steward the islands’ natural and cultural heritage and provide access to nature close to home.”
We hope you enjoy the improvements! Please join us for a planting party, and reach out with any questions, comments or concerns to Outreach/Volunteer Coordinator Tanja Williamson at tanjaw@sjclandbank.org.