After a successful community fundraising campaign, Skagit Land Trust repaid the loan in December, 2023.

This purchase will permanently protect a highly threatened landscape featuring forestlands, wetlands and rocky balds on the edge of Mt. Vernon in Skagit County. The property is adjacent to 800-acres of protected wetlands, rare bird and amphibian habitat, and open space, including Skagit Land Trust’s 350-acre Barney Lake Conservation Area.

This 63-acre acquisition will also expand a current 13-acre county park five-fold and protect wetlands, forest, and allow native forest regrowth. The parcels that Skagit Land Trust acquired were being marketed for residential development.