Watmough Thursday, February 23rd 9 AM - 3PM
If you're looking for a fun activity over mid-winter break, this is it! The day will be like our crew days in the summer. We'll meet in the parking lot (let us know if you need transportation!) at 9 AM and gather supplies to hike out the site. There will be a project overview, safety meeting, and trail work until lunch. We'll do some more trail work after lunch, sprinkled with some enviromental ed and then pack up to return by 3PM. The day really flies by.
LICC will provide training, tools, gloves, hot beverages, and snacks. Participants should wear warm clothing, boots, and bring raingear if you have it. Also bring your own lunch and water bottle. Youth participants are eligible for a service stipend. Please let us know if you can attend, and if you need transportation. Email L.I.C.C.team@gmail.com
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
News: Important Public Lands Meeting
The Long Road to Permanence: Protection for BLM lands in the San Juan Archipelago
U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Senator Maria Cantwell will hold a public meeting to discuss progress made so far in our efforts to secure permanent protection for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in the San Juan Archipelago. Senator Cantwell will discuss legislation introduced this past September to establish the San Juan Islands National Conservation Area. The public is welcome to attend.
When: Saturday, February 18, 2012
Time: 10:30am
Location: Anacortes Senior Center – Great Room
1701 22nd Street, Anacortes
RSVP: RSVP to DOI_Events@ios.doi.gov by 12:00pm (PST), Friday, February 17, 2012.
Consider representing LICC (as well as our wonderful public lands) at this meeting!
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Some background on the effort:
In the late 1980s a group of Lopez Island residents formed the Friends of Chadwick Hill to prevent the logging of a local landmark which ultimately led to the protection of Chadwick Hill and Watmough Bay.
The effort also built a long and supportive relationship with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which manages about 1,000 acres spread across the San Juan Islands. BLM currently manages 450 acres of its lands in the San Juans as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. These lands are not currently threatened but are not under permanent protection. A few other sites are co-managed with Washington State Parks, but the remaining acreage currently has no specific planning or protection.
Lopez residents Asha Lela, Cynthia Dilling, Bob Myhr and other original members of the Friends of Chadwick joined with new supporters to form Islanders for the National Conservation Area. They spent the last three years striving to make the protection of the BLM lands in the San Juans permanent by having these lands officially designated and managed as Conservation Lands at BLM through congressional legislation.
Asha and her fellow committee members participated in public events like the County Fair and Farmers Markets gathering endorsements for protection. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Senator Maria Cantwell and Congressman Rick Larsen have held local listening sessions to discuss the community’s goals. Efforts reached a major milestone in September when Representative Larsen and Senator Cantwell introduced bills in Congress to officially designate the BLM lands in the islands as the San Juan Islands National Conservation Area.
That legislation requires the BLM to manage its lands for conservation and recreation and directs the BLM to work closely with the community to build a management plan for those lands. The legislation doesn’t call for any additional acquisition of land and explicitly limits its impact to land owned by the BLM, with no impact on surrounding private lands.
Those bills are now awaiting action in Congress. Many local individuals and groups have sent letters to Washington, D.C. supporting Representative Larsen's call for a hearing on the bill in the House Natural Resources Committee. Senator Cantwell is working to schedule a hearing in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Interior Secretary Salazar, who spoke with supporters last spring, included the San Juan Islands National Conservation Area in his list of 18 "crown jewel" conservation priorities for Congress to pass.
While the committee is pleased with our delegation’s support of the bills, getting the legislation passed into law will be challenging in the current congressional climate.
Asha Lela and other supporters are going to the other Washington in March. They plan to meet with congressional staff and officials at the BLM to help move things forward on the Conservation Lands designation. The contingent will push to ensure that political stalemates on other issues don’t get in the way of the San Juan Islands’ needs. The group is very clear on the goal they are pursuing - "permanent community-driven protection for the BLM lands in the San Juans."
And the other Washington is coming to us this Saturday for a public meeting. We encourage islanders to attend the meeting and voice support for permanently protecting the BLM lands in the San Juans.
For more information on the San Juan Islands National Conservation Area effort, including maps of the BLM lands and the text of the legislation, visit www.SanJuanIslandsNCA.orgor email info@SanJuanIslandsNCA.org.
U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Senator Maria Cantwell will hold a public meeting to discuss progress made so far in our efforts to secure permanent protection for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in the San Juan Archipelago. Senator Cantwell will discuss legislation introduced this past September to establish the San Juan Islands National Conservation Area. The public is welcome to attend.
When: Saturday, February 18, 2012
Time: 10:30am
Location: Anacortes Senior Center – Great Room
1701 22nd Street, Anacortes
RSVP: RSVP to DOI_Events@ios.doi.gov by 12:00pm (PST), Friday, February 17, 2012.
Consider representing LICC (as well as our wonderful public lands) at this meeting!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some background on the effort:
In the late 1980s a group of Lopez Island residents formed the Friends of Chadwick Hill to prevent the logging of a local landmark which ultimately led to the protection of Chadwick Hill and Watmough Bay.
The effort also built a long and supportive relationship with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which manages about 1,000 acres spread across the San Juan Islands. BLM currently manages 450 acres of its lands in the San Juans as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. These lands are not currently threatened but are not under permanent protection. A few other sites are co-managed with Washington State Parks, but the remaining acreage currently has no specific planning or protection.
Lopez residents Asha Lela, Cynthia Dilling, Bob Myhr and other original members of the Friends of Chadwick joined with new supporters to form Islanders for the National Conservation Area. They spent the last three years striving to make the protection of the BLM lands in the San Juans permanent by having these lands officially designated and managed as Conservation Lands at BLM through congressional legislation.
Asha and her fellow committee members participated in public events like the County Fair and Farmers Markets gathering endorsements for protection. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Senator Maria Cantwell and Congressman Rick Larsen have held local listening sessions to discuss the community’s goals. Efforts reached a major milestone in September when Representative Larsen and Senator Cantwell introduced bills in Congress to officially designate the BLM lands in the islands as the San Juan Islands National Conservation Area.
That legislation requires the BLM to manage its lands for conservation and recreation and directs the BLM to work closely with the community to build a management plan for those lands. The legislation doesn’t call for any additional acquisition of land and explicitly limits its impact to land owned by the BLM, with no impact on surrounding private lands.
Those bills are now awaiting action in Congress. Many local individuals and groups have sent letters to Washington, D.C. supporting Representative Larsen's call for a hearing on the bill in the House Natural Resources Committee. Senator Cantwell is working to schedule a hearing in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Interior Secretary Salazar, who spoke with supporters last spring, included the San Juan Islands National Conservation Area in his list of 18 "crown jewel" conservation priorities for Congress to pass.
While the committee is pleased with our delegation’s support of the bills, getting the legislation passed into law will be challenging in the current congressional climate.
Asha Lela and other supporters are going to the other Washington in March. They plan to meet with congressional staff and officials at the BLM to help move things forward on the Conservation Lands designation. The contingent will push to ensure that political stalemates on other issues don’t get in the way of the San Juan Islands’ needs. The group is very clear on the goal they are pursuing - "permanent community-driven protection for the BLM lands in the San Juans."
And the other Washington is coming to us this Saturday for a public meeting. We encourage islanders to attend the meeting and voice support for permanently protecting the BLM lands in the San Juans.
For more information on the San Juan Islands National Conservation Area effort, including maps of the BLM lands and the text of the legislation, visit www.SanJuanIslandsNCA.org
Watmough Trail Work Party
Watmough Thursday, February 23rd 9 AM - 3PM
If you're looking for a fun activity over mid-winter break, this is it! The day will be like our crew days in the summer. We'll meet in the parking lot (let us know if you need transportation!) at 9 AM and gather supplies to hike out the site. There will be a project overview, safety meeting, and trail work until lunch. We'll do some more trail work after lunch, sprinkled with some enviromental ed and then pack up to return by 3PM. The day really flies by.
LICC will provide training, tools, gloves, hot beverages, and snacks. Participants should wear warm clothing, boots, and bring raingear if you have it. Also bring your own lunch and water bottle. Youth participants are eligible for a service stipend. Please let us know if you can attend, and if you need transportation. Email L.I.C.C.team@gmail.com
If you're looking for a fun activity over mid-winter break, this is it! The day will be like our crew days in the summer. We'll meet in the parking lot (let us know if you need transportation!) at 9 AM and gather supplies to hike out the site. There will be a project overview, safety meeting, and trail work until lunch. We'll do some more trail work after lunch, sprinkled with some enviromental ed and then pack up to return by 3PM. The day really flies by.
LICC will provide training, tools, gloves, hot beverages, and snacks. Participants should wear warm clothing, boots, and bring raingear if you have it. Also bring your own lunch and water bottle. Youth participants are eligible for a service stipend. Please let us know if you can attend, and if you need transportation. Email L.I.C.C.team@gmail.com
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Events for Saturday, December 10th, 2011
There's lotsa great stuff happening this weekend! First off, if you feel like getting up at 6 AM on Saturday morning, you will be able to see the total lunar eclipse. That is as long as we have clear skies.
After you're fully awake, you can head over to Odlin Park at 10 AM for a work party. Not sure exactly what we'll be doing yet, it will be along the lines of trail work, revegetation of the new campground, site maintenance, etc. You'll also get a chance to check out the new campgrounds. So, Odlin Park from 10 AM- 2 PM. We'll have snacks and warm beverages, but bring a lunch and wear weather-appriopriate clothing.
Next on the agenda: afternoon break. Then, head to the library from 4:30-6 PM to learn about local bats. The talk will be an intro session, and in January there will be opportunities to build bat boxes. This event is headed by Liz Needham, Kwiaht's Bat Survey Coordinator. Here's what she says:
"Curious about local bats? Then this is for you! This meeting is for anyone interested in bats, especially if you are interested in building a bat house, installing a bat house, or are willing to help others build and restore local bat roosts. Have fun and enjoy free refreshments while engaging in a worthy cause!"
Then off to dinner and feel good about a day well spent!
After you're fully awake, you can head over to Odlin Park at 10 AM for a work party. Not sure exactly what we'll be doing yet, it will be along the lines of trail work, revegetation of the new campground, site maintenance, etc. You'll also get a chance to check out the new campgrounds. So, Odlin Park from 10 AM- 2 PM. We'll have snacks and warm beverages, but bring a lunch and wear weather-appriopriate clothing.
Next on the agenda: afternoon break. Then, head to the library from 4:30-6 PM to learn about local bats. The talk will be an intro session, and in January there will be opportunities to build bat boxes. This event is headed by Liz Needham, Kwiaht's Bat Survey Coordinator. Here's what she says:
"Curious about local bats? Then this is for you! This meeting is for anyone interested in bats, especially if you are interested in building a bat house, installing a bat house, or are willing to help others build and restore local bat roosts. Have fun and enjoy free refreshments while engaging in a worthy cause!"
Then off to dinner and feel good about a day well spent!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
National Public Lands Day September 24th
National Public Lands Day
Saturday, September 24, 2011
10am-2pm
Meet at Watmough Bay
Spend the day outdoors learning about & helping your public lands. You
will have the opportunity to improve your public lands with trail
maintenance projects, engage in hands-on environmental education
programs, and participate in informative environmental and historical
talks. This is a great event for people of all ages!
Please bring water, lunch, a backpack, a great attitude, and smiles!
Be prepared for all weather.
Event sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management, San Juan County Land
Bank, Lopez Island Conservation Corps, Lopez Community Trails Network
& Whispers of Nature.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
10am-2pm
Meet at Watmough Bay
Spend the day outdoors learning about & helping your public lands. You
will have the opportunity to improve your public lands with trail
maintenance projects, engage in hands-on environmental education
programs, and participate in informative environmental and historical
talks. This is a great event for people of all ages!
Please bring water, lunch, a backpack, a great attitude, and smiles!
Be prepared for all weather.
Event sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management, San Juan County Land
Bank, Lopez Island Conservation Corps, Lopez Community Trails Network
& Whispers of Nature.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Summer Crew, Week One
Wednesday and Thursday June 29th/30th the crew is headed out to Chadwick Hill to work on the new trail built last fall by the Lopez Trails Network and LICC. Go for a hike and check out our work!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
2011 Summer Crew Dates
Just released~Summer crew applications are available at the BLM office and Lopez library. I can also email you one if you'd like. Summer crew dates will be Wednesdays and Thursdays starting June 29th! Also plan on joining us for the summer kick-off on June 23rd.
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