Nisqually Land Trust Conservation Easement APPROVED!

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On Saturday, December 11, the Presbytery of Olympia voted to approve going forward with a conservation easement for Sound View Camp. This is a really big and positive step forward to ensure that the land on which our camp sits will be preserved and properly stewarded.

MOTION: The Sound View Task Force recommends that the Presbytery of Olympia accept the Nisqually Land Trust’s offer to purchase a conservation easement on the Sound View property and authorize the Stated Clerk to sign it when finalized. November 20 was the “first read” of this proposal

The motion passed 51 to 0.

Although details need to be finalized, this easement purchase price will be a little under two million dollars. In return, the Sound View property will have restrictions that will discourage, or make impossible practices that would harm the area and sensitive ecosystems - including selling the property for development. The easement would be passed on to any subsequent owner.

For Sound View, the easement will be a continuation of the environmental practices we have set already in motion, including:

  • Moving program areas away from sensitive areas of camp,

  • Running boating activities at higher tides to protect marine life from being trampled,

  • Offering outdoor environmental education (OEE) for school groups and integrating OEE into all we do,

  • Keeping guests housed in managed areas of camp with no plans to build new lodging in environmentally sensitive areas,

  • Managing woodlands and planting trees,

  • Partnering with user groups and others to work together to steward the property.

The use of the funds from the purchase of this easement have not as yet been determined by the Presbytery of Olympia. It is the hope of the Sound View Board and director that the funds will be placed into a significant endowment to create reserve funding for perpetuity. With this, the land, the facilities, and the program will thrive for generations to come.

It is our intention to hold a town hall meeting in February to answer questions about the easement and our proposed scenarios for the funds. If you are interested in attending, please send an email to info@soundviewcamp.com and we will send you a zoom link to the meeting when it is scheduled..

THIS IS GREAT NEWS!