The purpose of these Easements are to:

(1) Protect the present and future ability to use the Property for agricultural purposes

(2) Preserve the soil as a valuable resource and prevent activities that will impair the ability, now or in the future, to use the soil to produce food and fiber

(3) Enable the Property to remain in agricultural use for the production of food and fiber by preserving and protecting in perpetuity its agricultural values, character, use and utility, and to prevent any use or condition of the Property that would significantly impair or interfere with its agricultural values, character, use or utility.

The following are properties that are under conservation for this purpose:

Alamwala Property

Location:  Dahlberg and Grandview Roads, Lynden
Size:  90.93 acres
Public Access:  No (private property)
Easement granted:  June 2006
Easement type:  Agricultural Protection Conservation
Grantees:  Whatcom Land Trust and Whatcom County

     This 91-acre parcel, known as the Townline Berry Farm, is an active raspberry farm.  It sits in an area where there is increasingly strong pressure from residential development.  Several large homes on five-acre lots recently have sprung up near this farmland.

    Purchase of the development rights ensures that the land is protected from non-agricultural uses, although the agreement does allow for the addition of a two-acre farmstead.  There are currently (in 2007) no permanent structures on the land.  There are some forested areas at the central and western portions of the farm, which the owners may clear, to make room for more crops. There have been no observances of use by fish or wildlife that raise special concern for biological resources. 

 Dickson Property

Location:  E. Hemmi Road, Everson

Size:  39.88 Acres

Public Access: No (private property)

Easement granted:  2007

Easement type:  Conservation

Grantees:  Whatcom Land Trust

    The Dickson family has permanently protected their fertile 40-acre dairy farm on the corner of East Hemmi and Noon Road. The late Paul and Elsie Dickson had farmed on the property for the past 60 years where they raised between 40 to 50 Jersey cows.The soils throughout the farmland north of Tenmile Creek have been identified as premium agricultural soils for the production of food and fiber and are target for protection due to the threat of development throughout Western Whatcom County.  The farmstead offers spectacular views of Mt. Baker, the Twins Sisters and the Coast Range in British Columbia before emerald green pastures.  The farm is currently leased to a local farmer who raises Jersey cows on the lush pastures. The partnership with the Whatcom County’s agricultural preservation initiative has thus far resulted in the permanent protection of 370 acres, while the Land Trust holds an additional 185 acres of private farmland under conservation easement.

Location:  Harksell Road, Custer

Size:  40 Acres

Public Access: No (private property)

Easement granted: January 2008

Easement type:  Conservation

Grantees:  Whatcom Land Trust

     The 40 acre Ebe Property is located in Western Whatcom County in the California Creek watershed near Custer. Leonard Ebe Real Estate (Greg Ebe) recently purchased the property and cultivated the land with corn and seed potatoes. The property is surrounded by 5 to 10 acres parcels and Harksell Road along the southern boundary. Power lines cross the southwest third of the property.

Grosegner Property

Location:  E.  Hemmi Road, Lynden

Size:  39.4 Acres

Public Access: No (private property)

Easement granted: 2005

Easement type:  Conservation

Grantees:  Whatcom Land Trust

    The Property is located in a rural portion of Whatcom County. Dale and Elaine Gorsegner have owned the property for approximately 40 years. The property is an active dairy farm. However, increasing development in the area is illustrated by the emergence of several large residential homes on 5-acres lots in close proximity to the Property.  
    The Farmstead is 2.58 acres this includes that portion of the Property used for primarily and secondary agricultural buildings, structures and improvements and those adjacent areas where future expansion of buildings, structures and improvements are contemplated. The remaining 35.45 acres of the Property make up the Farmland. The Farmland is used primarily for grazing cows.

  Groen Property

Location:  Barnhart Road, Lynden
Size:  124 Acres

Public Access: No (private property)

Easement granted:  2007

Easement type:  Conservation

Grantees:  Whatcom Land Trust

    The Groen property is an approximately 124 acre dairy farm located in the rural western Whatcom County between Blaine and Lynden. Approximately 30 acres of the farm surrounding a tributary of Bertrand Creek have been restored through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and are excluded from this Conservation Easement.  The remaining 94.5 acres protected by this conservation easement consists of a farmstead, pastures, hay fields, and woodlands situated over gently rolling hills. The Groen family has farmed the property since the 1960s, where Steve and Sheri Groen continue to milk approximately 80 Jersey cows. The Groen property has significant agricultural value to Grantees, the people of Whatcom County and the State of Washington.

 Holz Farm Property

Location:  East Hemmi Road, Lynden
Size:  Approx. 78  acres
Public Access:  No (private property)
Easement granted:  August 2004 and September 2007
Easement type:  Agricultural Protection Conservation
Grantees:  Whatcom Land Trust

      The first purchase of farmland development rights by the Whatcom County Councilwas a forty-acre parcel of the Holz dair farm.  Three generations of the Holz family have run this property as a dairy farm.  In an area that was once very rural, it is now near several large residences that have been built on five-acre lots.   The first 39 acre conservation easement was granted in 2004, with another parcel being placed under protection three years later. 

Holz II Property

Location:  Hemmi Road, Everson
Size:  39.18 Acres

Public Access: No (private property)

Easement granted:  2007

Easement type:  Conservation

Grantees:  Whatcom Land Trust

    The Holz II property is located in Western Whatcom County in the Ten Mile Creek watershed near Laurel. The Holz family has worked their 120 acre dairy farm since the 1940s. The generally flat 39 acre property has no buildings and is currently used for hay and pasture in support of the adjacent dairy farm. Two separate 40 acre agricultural protection easements are located adjacent and south of the property. More dairy agricultural fields are located to the north and west of the property, while a blue berry farm is located to the east.

Paul Property

Location:  Haynie Road, Custer

Size:  156.93

Public Access: No (private property)

Easement granted:  2005

Easement type:  Conservation

Grantees:  Whatcom Land Trust

 
    The Property is located in a rural portion of Whatcom County. The property was originally operated as a dairy farm. The dairy was taken off in the last ten years. The property is presently leased out and used primarily to grow and store corn silage and to store manure. However, increasing residential development in the area is illustrated by the emergence of several large residential homes on 5-acres lots in close proximity to the Property.
    The Homesite is 1.93 acres and includes that portion of the Property used for residential buildings and buildings and uses accessory to residential buildings. The Farmstead is divided into two tracts totaling 6.59 acres. The Farmstead areas include that portion of the Property used for primarily and secondary agricultural buildings, structures and improvements and those adjacent areas where future expansion of buildings, structures and improvements are contemplated. Buildings in the Farmstead are located in two different areas of the property.
    The remaining 148.41 acres of the Property make up the Farmland. The Farmland is used primarily for raising corn.

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