Land around Wilbert Trail is up for sale

Published 12:00 pm Wednesday, July 19, 2006

An ancient forest on Whidbey Island that has been the site of a standoff between environmentalists and loggers is once again under threat.

Although the forest itself, called the Wilbert Trail, is protected under the jurisdiction of Washington State Parks, the private property surrounding it is up for grabs.

“For sale” signs were recently posted on the seven acres surrounding the old growth forest on three sides; one sign is just several feet away from an ancient cedar tree.

“Hikers were shocked to see real estate signs posted this weekend along the trail,” said Patty Anderson, manager of South Whidbey Island State Park.

The property for sale abuts the Wilbert Trail property on three sides (the fourth side runs along Smugglers Cove Road). Inside, the nearly mile-long Wilbert Trail penetrates into the heart of an old growth stand popular with hikers. Firs older than 200 years are a common site along the route.

Now, some are hoping money can be raised to preserve the private property next to the trail.

“The private property is essential to saving the integrity of the forest. To open it up for any development or logging would be a crying shame,” Anderson said.

“The property owner has been working with Parks for more than a year. They have bent over backwards to help make it work,” Anderson added.

Money is the issue, however. State park officials want to protect the property, but the parks system does not have the funds to buy the property.

“We are interested in the property, but would need a funding companion,” said Bill Koss, director of planning for Washington State Parks.

Koss said parks could probably fund half the purchase.

There are some “in holding” funds, but not enough for the full purchase.

Another problem: A small portion of the Wilbert Trail crosses onto the private land.

Officials would like to resolve the issue by either purchasing an easement or rerouting the trail.

Ron Admiral, an agent for Coldwell Banker in Langley, said the property is currently listed for sale.

“The asking price is $383,000,” Admiral said.

“The seller really hopes the buyer will be somebody that wants to preserve the property. It adjoins the state park property and also has some old growth trees,” Admiral said.

Admiral said that the seller’s father was involved in the original effort to save the forest in the mid-1970s. The land was owned then by the University of Washington and managed by the state Department of Natural Resources.

In August 1977, more than 100 local protesters — some from a group called Save the Trees — stopped loggers from clear cutting the property, and it eventually became a park.

Sue Ellen White, who was part of the Save the Trees group, remembers that it was the first time in documented history where protesters faced off loggers to stop them from clear cutting.

“It is an iconic piece of property,” White said.

“To develop the adjoining piece would destabilize the old growth forest,” she added.

The early fight over the forest led to a change in logging practices in Washington state.

“The 15-year fight for the old growth forest led to changing forest practices in the state of Washington,” White said.

The fight eventually ended up in court, and a state Supreme Court decision followed that required “environmental impact statements” on all sales of timber land.

South Whidbey Island State Park is a 347-acre camping park with 4,500 feet of saltwater shoreline on Admiralty Inlet. The park features include an old-growth forest, tidelands for crabbing and clamming, campsites secluded by forest undergrowth and views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains.

The only other public place on the island where it is possible to see a large number of old growth trees is at Deception Pass State Park.

Gayle Saran can be contacted at 221-5300 or gsaran@southwhidbeyrecord. com.