In 2014, the Land Trust began work to protect 21 acres that hosts a stream and forested wetland in the Island’s central core. The Carlson Conservation Easement was officially recorded in December 2015, thus adding and protecting a critical piece to over 200 acres of already protected ecologically sensitive land.
The Carlson conservation easement was graciously donated to the Land Trust by the current landowner William C. Carlson of Olympia. The Carlson property has been in family ownership since current landowner Dr. Carlson’s great grandfather, Andrew Miemois Anderson, filed for homestead ownership of the property on November 10, 1883. Miemois Creek, which runs through the property to Manzanita Bay, is named to honor the family and legacy.
Why this property?
The decision to permanently protect the property was both to preserve a healthy ecosystem and also the heritage of the property. “In protecting this land from
development, I wanted not only to protect the forest and creek, but also to allow future generations of our family to be able to get a sense for what the homestead was like when Andrew Miemois Anderson arrived,” says Dr. Carlson.
The easement protects over 21 acres and hosts a biologically significant fish-bearing stream, Miemois Creek, and its associated riparian habitat, forestland, and wetlands along with foraging and nesting habitats for many diverse species of native plants and wildlife.
“The Carlson property is a gem–not only is the property a family legacy property rich with Island history–but one that is beautiful and rich with special habitat attributes,” says Brenda Padgham, Conservation Director at the Bainbridge Island Land Trust. “Working with Bill Carlson, a tree physiologist who knows his land well, to permanently protect this property, was a wonderful project. Conservation easements like this are so important to fulfilling our conservation goals on the island, and we are grateful for the generosity of Bill Carlson to voluntarily protect this property for our Island.”
The Carlson Easement is the 47th donated easement since the Land Trust’s inception in 1989. “The foresight and generosity of Dr. Carlson epitomizes the conservation gain that can be achieved by the partnership of a private property owner and the Land Trust — for the benefit of all,” says Jane Stone, Executive Director of the Bainbridge Island Land Trust.
While the private easement is not open to the public, the community can enjoy the public Forest to Sky Trail, constructed and maintained by the Bainbridge Island Metro Park and Recreation District. The trail traverses through the southern portion of the conservation easement. Visitors can access the trail, which connects the West Grand Forest and Battle Point Park, directly west of the West Grand Forest parking area on Miller Road.
