Jefferson Land Trust

Jefferson Land Trust Helping the community preserve open space, working lands and habitat in Jefferson County, Washington.

Chimacum Ridge Community Forest harvest update! The selective thinning project is moving along well, and the crew has no...
06/04/2026

Chimacum Ridge Community Forest harvest update!

The selective thinning project is moving along well, and the crew has now shifted to the second harvest area.

Good news for visitors: trail access has expanded. While the north section of the Loop Road Trail remains temporarily closed for safety, visitors can walk around the south end of the loop and use a detour trail to reach the viewpoints on the north end of Chimacum Ridge.

If you plan to visit the forest over the weeks ahead, please pay close attention to posted signage and trail closures, especially while equipment is operating.

If all continues to go smoothly (and the machinery cooperates!), active thinning work is expected to wrap up by the end of this week, with the broader harvest operation potentially completed by the end of next week.

We appreciate the patience — and curiosity! — of visitors to Chimacum Ridge as this important work continues.

Small stretch of land, big win for salmon!Last month, Jefferson Land Trust, the North Olympic Salmon Coalition, and comm...
06/04/2026

Small stretch of land, big win for salmon!

Last month, Jefferson Land Trust, the North Olympic Salmon Coalition, and community partners gathered in Irondale to celebrate the permanent protection and restoration of two parcels along lower Chimacum Creek that support spawning habitat for Hood Canal summer chum salmon.

After years of changing ownership and uncertainty, the land was permanently protected in 2025 through a combination of purchase and donation.

Since then, our partners at North Olympic Salmon Coalition have been hard at work removing trash, stabilizing steep slopes, and replanting native trees and shrubs to help restore cool, shaded stream conditions where salmon can thrive.

This project is a reminder that conservation often happens parcel by parcel, partnership by partnership, and that even small footprints can result in big strides forward.

Photo credit: Emma Weaver

Are you the go-to person everyone relies on to know what’s going on? The one who keeps things organized, makes people fe...
06/02/2026

Are you the go-to person everyone relies on to know what’s going on? The one who keeps things organized, makes people feel at home, and helps everything run a little more smoothly? If that sounds like you, let’s talk!

Jefferson Land Trust is hiring an Office Assistant to support the day-to-day work that keeps our Uptown Port Townsend office humming — from answering phones and coordinating event RSVPs to helping staff, volunteers, and visitors stay connected and informed.

This is a term-limited position running June-December 2026, offering 30-40 hours per week at $21/hour.

If you enjoy organization, collaboration, and being part of a kind and friendly team, we’d love to hear from you.

Learn more and apply at saveland.org/jobs

Priority consideration will be given to applications received by June 14, 2026. The position is contingent on funding and will remain open until filled.

The days are getting longer, and our social calendar is filling up! Keep an eye out for the Jefferson Land Trust team ou...
06/01/2026

The days are getting longer, and our social calendar is filling up!

Keep an eye out for the Jefferson Land Trust team out in the community this season, starting with a couple of our favorite local events happening in June:

🏳️‍🌈 Port Townsend Pride — June 6
🐟 Solstice Salmon Day at Finnriver — June 21

Stop by our booth to say hello, learn about our work, and find out how you can get involved. Hope to see you out there.

In late April, members and supporters of the Jamestown and Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribes traveled to Chimacum Ridge Commu...
05/29/2026

In late April, members and supporters of the Jamestown and Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribes traveled to Chimacum Ridge Community Forest to harvest cedar bark from trees chosen for a selective thinning project. The bark will be used to teach Indigenous weaving traditions in schools and other community settings.. The bark will be used to teach Indigenous weaving traditions in schools and other community settings.

The harvest is part of an ongoing relationship between Jefferson Land Trust and the S’Klallam Tribes, including collaboration on conservation efforts and work to help protect Tamanowas Rock in Chimacum, a sacred place for local Tribes. Because the bark was gathered from trees already selected for thinning, the visit also created an opportunity to put forest resources that might otherwise go unused toward cultural teaching and practice.

At Chimacum Ridge, cedar harvesting is one example of the many ways this community forest is intended to serve the people connected to it. Alongside public access, habitat restoration, education, and sustainable forestry, the forest can also support cultural practices that have shaped this region since time immemorial, creating space for knowledge and traditions to be shared across generations.

What does forest management actually look like on the ground? The answer, as you might imagine, depends on the forest.Pa...
05/27/2026

What does forest management actually look like on the ground? The answer, as you might imagine, depends on the forest.

Part 2 of our Forest Stewardship series gets into the specifics, from thinning dense stands to give remaining trees room to grow, to the surprisingly strategic work of planting natives where natural regeneration is struggling.

(There's also the matter of Himalayan blackberry, which requires a seven-year commitment just to get a single tree established!)

Every forest is a bit of a puzzle. Learn more about how we approach it in our Forest Management series:

https://saveland.org/forest-stewardship-part-2-what-forest-management-looks-like/

Pictured: AmeriCorps crew member Kelly Stocker during recent thinning operations at a Land Trust preserve.

LandFest 2026 is coming, and it’s a night you won’t want to miss!Save the date of Thursday, July 23 for Jefferson Land T...
05/25/2026

LandFest 2026 is coming, and it’s a night you won’t want to miss!

Save the date of Thursday, July 23 for Jefferson Land Trust’s annual community celebration and fundraising gala, taking place again this year at the Quilcene Lantern.

Enjoy an evening of great food, live music, and a special program featuring Adrian Wolf, Stewardship Director of Great Peninsula Conservancy, and the Land Trust’s Preserve Manager Carrie Clendaniel.

Adrian serves as the regional organizer of the Listen Up Collaborative, a conservation initiative supported by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The project tracks bird species to help inform and evaluate local forest management efforts. Adrian and Carrie will speak about our seven-partner coalition that’s been receiving national attention for its science-driven approach to measuring habitat restoration success, and the ways this work is making a big impact on habitat health in Jefferson County.

After dinner, we’ll kick up our heels at a lively barn dance! The Sparklebrite Dance Band, made up of local musicians Kate Lichtenstein (fiddle), Matt Sircely (guitar/mandolin), Jack Dwyer (banjo/guitar/mandolin), and Jonas Myers (bass), will keep our toes tapping, with veteran dance caller David Thielk leading the way.

Whether you join us as a guest, volunteer, or sponsor, LandFest is a chance to come together in support of community-driven conservation.

Interested in helping out or getting your business involved? Volunteer and sponsorship opportunities are available now, email Ric at rbrewer[at]saveland.org for more details.

What's taking shape in the shop at Community Works? The talented team there is currently building MIKi, our new Mobile I...
05/22/2026

What's taking shape in the shop at Community Works?

The talented team there is currently building MIKi, our new Mobile Information Kiosk. This traveling display will allow us to bring the story of the Land Trust's conservation work directly to community events across the county, complete with a video screen, brochures, and more.

Much of the cedar used in its construction comes from a recent select cut at Chimacum Ridge Community Forest, harvested to improve forest health right here in our own backyard.

Stay tuned for the big reveal!

What a marvelous open house celebration yesterday in honor of our Executive Director, Richard Tucker, as he prepares for...
05/22/2026

What a marvelous open house celebration yesterday in honor of our Executive Director, Richard Tucker, as he prepares for his next adventure: retirement! Thank you to everyone who dropped in to share a story, smiles, and best wishes.

We’re going to miss this guy — but not quite yet! Richard will be around until the end of June, so if you weren’t able to join the celebration and would like to stop by the office for a visit, there’s still time to do so.

Chimacum Ridge Community Forest is conducting a thinning harvest in June, and we invite you to see the work in action.Jo...
05/21/2026

Chimacum Ridge Community Forest is conducting a thinning harvest in June, and we invite you to see the work in action.

Join us for a behind-the-scenes walking tour of the harvest operation, where Land Trust staff and the harvest crew will guide guests through the active work area and share the ecological and economic thinking behind the project.

Along the way, you’ll see modern low-impact forestry equipment at work and learn why these stands were selected, how selective thinning is being used to support forest health, wildlife habitat, climate resilience, and clean water flowing into Chimacum Creek, and how sustainable forestry fits into the long-term vision for this community forest.

Two tour options available:

🗓️ Thursday, June 4 from 1:00–3:00 pm
🗓️ Sunday, June 7 from 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Tours are free, but advance registration is required. Space is limited to 10 people per tour. Ages 16+. No pets, please.

Learn more and register at: saveland.org/harvest-tours

Address

1033 Lawrence Street
Port Townsend, WA
98368

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13603799501

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