Samish Island - Skagit Land Trust

[48.566780,-122.503950]

Property Type: Easement, Trust-Owned
Date Added: 2019

Samish Island
97 acres
Open to the Public, Featured Property
Bird & Wildlife Watching
Hiking & Walking

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Conservation Story

The Samish Island Conservation Area is made up of the end of the isthmus that connects Samish Island, and the forested view for islanders and visitors. The creation of the Samish Island Conservation Area is a testament to the community’s love and support for this unique area. Over the course of four years Skagit Land Trust (SLT) was able to purchase 34.25 acres of the forested uplands known as the Samish Flower Farm, and then 50 acres at the entrance to Samish Island.

More than 500 families, businesses, and organizations donated towards the purchase of this Conservation Area, in addition to grant funding. Without conservation ownership, the Conservation Area could have been cleared and subdivided into numerous smaller lots. The protection of these 97 acres ensures that the land will remain forever undeveloped.

In addition, 14 adjacent acres were donated as a conservation easement in 1995 and 2004 by the Squires family. This area formerly hosted a large great blue heron nesting site.

Site History and Ecology

The Samish Island Conservation Area has ecological qualities that are increasingly rare in Puget Sound. The Conservation Area protects wetlands and freshwater emergent wetlands, a large sand and gravel beach adjacent to Padilla Bay tidelands, and over 24 acres of complex mature forest, with trees that are over 130 years old. The maturing forest encompasses both sides of Samish Island Road, and provides nesting, roosting, perching, and foraging habitat for a variety of raptors such as the Bald Eagle, Osprey, Cooper’s Hawk, and owls, as well as migratory songbirds. It is used as a staging and feeding area for herons that nest nearby. The property also features 1,600 feet of natural shoreline on Padilla and Samish Bays.

*Madrona and Oceanspray on the hillside of Samish Island Conservation Area.*

The marine shoreline along the Samish Island Conservation Area is part of Padilla Bay, which hosts the second largest eelgrass meadow in the western United States. These meadows provide important ecosystem functions, including foraging areas and shelter to young fish and invertebrates, food for migratory birds, and spawning surfaces. Herring, crab, and juvenile Chinook salmon rely on these eelgrass beds. In turn, resident Orca Whales rely on the Chinook for a substantial part of their diet.

The Samish Island Conservation Area is also adjacent to the SLT’s Samish Island great blue heron colony, which was established in the 1930s. While the rookery was abandoned by the herons in 2017, they can return to former nesting sites even after many years, and herons still use this area for foraging and roosting. By protecting this land, we ensure that additional nesting trees are available to the herons as well as ensuring a protected buffer area to prevent disturbances.

Read about our ongoing restoration project at the Samish Island Conservation Area.

Access

The Samish Island Conservation Area is home to an upland, forested trail through the ‘Flower Farm’. Across Samish Island Road there is another trail with benches that takes you to the beach. There are two parking spaces on the upland part of the Conservation Area. Please be courteous of the neighbors who share the driveway.