Shoreline Conservation Collaborative

The Shoreline Conservation Collaborative is a coalition of fourteen groups, including the North Olympic Land Trust of Clallam County and the Jefferson Land Trust of Jefferson County.  The goal of this organization is to permanently protect 150 shoreline properties and restore an additional 30 shoreline areas during the next decade.  This coalition was created by Hannah Clark, who said:

“Our members saw a significant opportunity to work together to protect Puget Sound.  The shoreline of Puget Sound may look pristine and accessible, but is neither.  This unique and irreplaceable natural treasure has been in decline for years, with thousands of acres altered, contaminated or destroyed, and less than 12 percent open to the public to enjoy.”

Erik Kingfisher, president of Washington Association of Land Trusts and stewardship director of Jefferson Land Trust, said:

“By having a collaborative, this community of organizations working together on the shoreline, it helps us to bring in the context of a regional significance.  We all love to spend time on our wild and undeveloped beaches — it’s part of what makes this such an amazing place to live.  The shorelines are also magnets for development, and there are some shorelines that are simply more important for people, wildlife and clean water than they are as potential development properties.  All of the projects we’ll be working on are arranged voluntarily.  We work with willing landowners on a voluntary basis to acquire and/or restore properties.”