Jefferson Land Trust

09/04/2026

If you've noticed clusters of bright yellow, daisy-like flowers blooming along roadsides and open spaces this summer, there's a good chance you've spotted tansy ragwort.

Tansy ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) is a non-native plant that’s classified as a Class B noxious w**d and is on the Washington State Department of Agriculture's prohibited plants list. It’s commonly found in open, disturbed areas and can be identified by its dark green, ruffled rosette leaves in its first year. Left unchecked, it can crowd out native plants and impact habitat quality for wildlife.

The good news? Tansy ragwort is relatively easy to pull by hand because of its shallow roots. But by late summer, timing matters: plants may already be producing seed. If you pull a flowering plant, remove as much of the root as possible and carefully bag the seed head for disposal in the trash to help prevent seeds from spreading.

Like so much of land stewardship, managing problem plants is about persistence. Each instance that we’re able to address before it spreads helps give our native species a stronger chance to thrive.

09/03/2026

This fall, a new AmeriCorps member is joining the Land Trust education team to help connect local students with the lands, waters, and wildlife of Jefferson County.

To help them get settled, we're looking for leads on a rental for one adult and a friendly dog, with a move-in date by October 16. Ideally housing is priced at under $1200/month.

If you have a rental — or know someone who might — we'd love to hear from you. Please contact us at [email protected].

Sometimes the biggest way to support conservation is simply helping the people doing the work find a place to land!

09/02/2026

It’s official: Jen Kidder has started!

After months of anticipation (and a literal passing of the baton at LandFest), we’re delighted to officially welcome Jen as Jefferson Land Trust’s new Executive Director.

Jen stepped into the role on August 17, and she’s starting exactly as she said she would: by listening and learning. She’s been getting to know the people, places, and projects that make up the Land Trust’s work, touring protected properties, sitting down with staff, supporters, and volunteers, asking lots of questions, and getting acquainted with the many initiatives underway across the organization.

There’ll be plenty of time for what comes next (and plenty to keep Jen busy!). For the moment, we’re just over the moon to have her here.

If you see Jen around town, out on the land, or at an upcoming community event, please say hello and help us give her a warm Jefferson County welcome!

08/28/2026

Looking for local natural places to explore during these last weeks of summer? Consider visiting one of the Land Trust’s public preserves!

Today’s featured destination: Chai-yahk-wh Preserve, located in the heart of Marrowstone Island.

A peaceful retreat of towering Douglas-firs, Western redcedars, wetlands, and high forested bluffs, Chai-yahk-wh Preserve offers nearly a half-mile of easy walking through a quiet, light-filled forest. Along the Greg Lailsh Memorial Trail, you'll find seasonal wildflowers, towering sword ferns, and an outdoor learning space where local students connect with nature through hands-on exploration.

The preserve protects 51 acres of mature forest and two wetlands that help recharge groundwater for neighboring homes, farms, and forests. Keep an eye (and ear!) out for Swainson's Thrushes, Pileated Woodpeckers, red-legged frogs, Columbia black-tailed deer, and other wildlife that depend on this habitat corridor that stretches from the shoreline much of the way across the island.

This special place was protected in 2018 after neighbors recognized its conservation value and rallied behind a community campaign to purchase the property. In just four months, more than 250 donors helped make that vision a reality, ensuring this mature forest and wetlands would remain protected by the Land Trust for generations to come.

The preserve's name, Chai-yahk-wh (derived from the S'Klallam word čáy̕əqʷ), means "to be in the forest up away from the water." It was chosen in collaboration with S'Klallam language experts and beautifully reflects the character of the preserve.

The preserve is open year-round from dawn to dusk. The trailhead is located off Flagler Road, just past WSU’s Twin Vista Ranch. A small parking area is available at the entrance. Please avoid parking along East Marrowstone Road.

08/26/2026

Curious about what our field crew has been working on this summer?

As you might imagine, the rhythm of land stewardship changes with the seasons. The hot, dry months when plant growth slows are what make summer an ideal time for many behind-the-scenes projects that help keep Land Trust preserves healthy, accessible, and ready to welcome visitors.

This summer, the team has been installing beaver-exclusion fencing around young conifers at a salmon restoration site, replacing the roof on the historic cabin at Bulis Forest Preserve, building boot brush stations, improving trails and signage, maintaining restoration plantings, and removing invasive w**ds along the Duckabush River.

Before long, fall rains and returning salmon will usher in the next season of stewardship. Until then, summer offers one last window to tackle the projects that are best accomplished under sunny skies!

08/24/2026

Port Ludlow friends, we hope you’ll drop by the South Bay Club this Friday to say hello!

Jefferson Land Trust will be at Port Ludlow Connects on August 28, joining more than 60 local nonprofits, clubs, classes, and community organizations for an afternoon devoted to discovering what’s happening in and around Port Ludlow.

Stop by our table to meet some of the Land Trust team, learn more about the places we’re working to protect and care for across Jefferson County, and find out about ways to get involved, from volunteering and exploring local preserves to supporting conservation efforts close to home.

Friday, August 28 from 4–6 pm
South Bay Club
120 Spinnaker Pl, Port Ludlow

Whether you’re new to the area or have called Port Ludlow home for years, we’d love to see you.

08/20/2026

Land conservation begins with a conversation.

Earlier this year, we reached out to 125 landowners in priority areas of the Quimper Wildlife Corridor to share information about the project, and see if some might have an interest in partnering with us. About one in four responded, with many eager to explore conservation options for their property.

We’re thrilled to share that those discussions are turning into action, with 21 properties now moving through our conservation process! Some have already been purchased, others are under contract, and still more are progressing through appraisals, negotiations, and other steps that bring them closer to permanent protection.

We're grateful to the landowners, community supporters, and funding partners who are helping create a healthier future for people and wildlife in Jefferson County, one parcel at a time.

Want to find out more? Read the full story about the momentum that’s building around the QWC project here:

Earlier this year, the Land Trust reached out to 125 landowners with undeveloped properties in priority areas of the Quimper Wildlife Corridor, many of whom had never been contacted before. According to Conservation Coordinator Marlowe Moser who’s overseeing this project, roughly one in four respo...

08/18/2026

For many years, community members have gathered at this 80-acre preserve along North Jacob Miller Road to lead a concerted attack against non-native holly. Since then, our Preserve Stewards have been working hard at identifying new patches, and it’s time to rally the troops again!

The focus of next Tuesday’s work party is on hand-pulling and cutting holly in this mature forested preserve crisscrossed with user-generated trails. We'll also tackle some trail trimming to keep the paths looking good!

Quimper West Preserve is part of the 3-mile long "Quimper Wildlife Corridor" that’s protected by Jefferson Land Trust, the City of Port Townsend, and Jefferson County to support wildlife movement, wetlands, water quality, and bird habitat.

08/14/2026

Looking for local natural places to explore this summer? Consider visiting one of the Land Trust’s public preserves!

Today’s featured destination: Duckabush Oxbow and Wetlands Preserve, located just south of Brinnon.

A hidden gem, this preserve runs along the north side of the Duckabush River, where mature second-growth forest overhangs a shoreline that rises steeply from the water's edge. The main trail leads through an open elk meadow before dropping down into the trees and following the river to the oxbow pond — a quiet backwater that connects with the river during winter floods and serves as a refuge for juvenile salmon waiting to make their journey to the sea.

This stretch of the Duckabush supports spawning and rearing habitat for chum, pink, coho, and chinook salmon, as well as steelhead and cutthroat trout. If you visit during spawning season (typically September through mid-November), you may witness salmon returning to the river where their lives began. Wildlife enthusiasts will want to keep a close eye on the riverbank during their visits: elk, black bear, bobcat, beaver, river otter, mink, and coyote all leave their tracks along this stretch of river.

The preserve was permanently protected in 2015, consolidating three separate properties into a single corridor of forested river habitat. It's part of more than 3,000 acres of permanently protected land in the Duckabush River Valley, a vital link between the Olympic Mountains and the marine waters of Hood Canal.

The preserve is open May 1 through November 30, dawn to dusk. No amenities on site (closest public restrooms are at Dosewallips State Park). Dogs are welcome on leash.

Directions: 1001 Duckabush Road, Brinnon. From Port Townsend, take Highway 20 south to Highway 101, continue south to Brinnon, then turn right onto Duckabush Road. The gravel parking area is about a mile down on the left, beneath the power lines. Space for up to 5 cars, please don't park along Duckabush Road or in neighboring driveways.

08/12/2026

There’s a whole lot of exploring going on this summer!

This season marks Jefferson Land Trust’s first-ever summer nature camps, giving local kids more opportunities to get outside, follow their curiosity, and build a stronger connection with the natural world. Throughout eight weeks of programming this summer, campers are spending their days learning and playing outdoors, guided by our education team and summer camp interns.

We’ve still got a few weeks of adventures ahead, but we couldn’t resist sharing a peek at the fun so far. After a lot of dreaming and planning, we’re beyond excited to see this new addition to our youth education programs taking root.