A grass-roots local steering committee has been hard at work for over a year to obtain “National Conservation Area” (NCA) status for the 1100 acres in the San Juan Islands owned by the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM.) These lands include Patos Island, Turn Point, Iceberg Point and Watmough Bay, as well as many smaller islands, rocks and reefs. NCA status requires an act of Congress, but once obtained, would protect the lands in perpetuity. (Although the Lopez properties currently have some protection within the BLM, it could be eliminated by policy changes, and the majority of the lands have no protection at all.)
The NCA process requires a grass-roots initiative, (the work of the committee,) endorsement by the SJ County Council (obtained earlier this year,) and support of our local Congressman, Rick Larson, who is very enthusiastic about the project. However, there is still much work to be done before actual legislation can be put before Congress.
Currently the greatest need is for San Juan individuals and organizations to write letters of support to Congressman Larson, stating how they use and enjoy the BLM lands, and why they think the NCA status is important. The NCA website: http://www.sanjuanislandsnca.org/home, has much more information, as well as ideas for both written and email letters to Larson’s office. The need is immediate. Legislation has already been drafted, which Larson hopes to introduce this year, but a strong show of local support is critical to its success. Please take a few moments today to check the website and write a short letter!
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