Forest For Sale
Forty acres of forest, with abundant wildlife and trees upwards of 100 years old, are in imminent danger in our own community.
The Juanita Woodlands, located south of the intersection of Juanita Drive and Holmes Point Drive in unincorporated King County, are held in trust by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the purpose of generating school construction funds. Economic pressures have forced DNR to put the woodlands on the market, and if we can't raise the necessary funds to save them from a private developer, the forest will come down and as many as 160 houses will go up.
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The Juanita Woodlands are one of the few remaining islands of forests amidst the rampant commercial and residential development overtaking the Kirkland-Juanita area. They are home to several species of birds, including Bald Eagle; Osprey; Great Horned Owl; Sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks; Belted Kingfisher; Stellar's Jay; Evening Grosbeak; Pileated, Hairy, and Downy woodpeckers; and the Rufous Hummingbird. Mountain beaver, raccoon, skunk, and coyote are also present. Many other bird species, such as Peregrine Falcon, Northern Goshawk, storm-petrels, loons, and grebes, may depend on the forest's resources for cover, roosting, nesting, fledging, migrating, and over-wintering, while frogs, toads, salamanders, trout, salmon, shrews, and bats may depend on it for foraging and breeding.
Local
biologist Louis Berner, in his assessment of a 10-acre section of the
property, describes a "diverse, mixed-aged forest" with abundant
over-mature trees and snags, the snags being excellent potential bat roosting
habitat. Douglas-fir, Western Redcedar, hemlock, PacificYew, Pacific White
Fir, and a variety of deciduous trees including bigleaf maple, alder,
cottonwood, madrona, and dogwood grace the landscape, creating a richly
varied canopy with an ever-changing spectrum of light. "If left to
natural processes," Berner concluded, "the forest is likely
to continue providing food and cover for many bird, insect, and mammal
species." Surrounding the Juanita Woodlands are relatively well-forested
neighborhoods, which serve to extend and buffer the woodlands themselves,
enhancing the value of the property as wildlife habitat. In addition,
the woodlands are only a quarter mile away from O.O. Denny Creek Park
and the Big Finn Hill Natural Area, which are directly connected and also
connect to St. Edward's State Park. "This high degree of connectivity,"
Berner notes, "and the combined size of the parks and natural areas
further enhances the functionality of the...property." Finally, he
emphasizes that the Juanita Woodlands are "not an isolated piece
of wild land within an urban context. Rather, [they are] an active piece
of a much larger functional system of forestlands, riparian areas, and
wildlife habitats."
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The Juanita Woodlands not only serve as a buffer between neighborhoods but they offer first-hand lessons in environmental stewardship to students and residents alike. Just as important, their conversion from canopy to concrete would create more residential runoff directly into a year-round stream coursing through a protected ravine on the property. Together, the water and ravine provide an important habitat component for many species of wildlife that is rapidly disappearing from urban areas everywhere.
The respite these peaceful woods provide from a restless world is irreplaceable. Exploring them on foot is a journey within oneself, and driving through their soothing shadow one feels protected, as their presence is as close and comforting as the shoulder of an unfailing friend. Razing this incredibly rich resource to make way for more human habitat would only secure one more brick in the wall between us and our natural heritage. Before that heritage is irretrievably lost, we must ask: How can we justify raising money to build schools for the future of our children by destroying yet another piece of the natural world that nourishes them?
There is another way. The Denny Creek Neighborhood Alliance (DCNA) created the Juanita Woodlands Project in order to establish an urban woodland preserve and natural space for the conservation of wildlife habitat and the Lake Washington watershed. DNR has granted us until the spring of 2003 to prepare a financial package to purchase the woodlands, appraised at between $5 and $7 million. Jane Hague, through a grant from the Conservation Futures Fund, has already provided $1,000,000. With the sponsorship of the City of Kirkland and Cascade Land Conservancy, DCNA is applying for additional private and government-funded grants. Land swaps, transfer of development rights, and bonds are also being pursued. The Friends of Juanita Woodlands is committed to raising $500,00 from local sources, and so far donations and multi-year pledges total nearly $360,000.
I have heard people say this is a lost cause, that the price is too high. It need not be. I for one can attest to the power of the individual. Every achievement, no matter how humble or glorious, is born in the mind of the individual, and whether it lives or dies depends only on the level of commitment and determination behind it. Congressman Jay Inslee has said, "These 40 acres have made partners of local community members and city, county, state, and federal officials; with this kind of partnership, this 40-acre parcel could also serve as a model for similar urban transition land issues across the state." With so much incentive, we must not fail.
That's where you come in. Please consider making a donation or pledge, which can be paid in annual installments over the next several years. Many people who annually donate to other worthy causes are choosing to redirect their charitable contributions for the next five years to saving the Juanita Woodlands. Contributions are tax deductible. Also, ask your company's personnel office about matching your gift. Contributions and/or pledges may be sent to the Juanita Woodlands Project, c/o the Cascade Land Conservancy. If you can volunteer your time or expertise, or wish to join the Denny Creek Neighborhood Alliance with annual dues of $25.00, please contact us at:
DCNA, P.O.
Box 2513, Kirkland, WA 98083,
phone 425-444-5064,
or email info@juanitawoodlands.org.
We only have now...or it will be too late.
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