OLYMPIA, WA — Sunday night was the Nisqually Land Trust’s Annual Membership Meeting and Salmon Bake. If you are not familiar with the land trust, they have been purchasing property along the Nisqually River for preservation since 1989. Their focus is to protect the water, wildlife, natural areas, scenic vistas of the Nisqually watershed.

The Nisqually Land Trust was also celebrating the fact that they have just been awarded accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. The evaluation was extensive and this puts them in a better position to raise funds needed to purchase properties.

Several of the board member for the NLT have been with the group since the beginning. They were introduced when the meeting started, but first there was the standard meal of barbecued salmon with secret sauce prepared by David Trout. This was accompanied by green beans, salad, garlic butter, sourdough bread and an assortment of beer and wine. For dessert, huckleberry or chocolate ice cream and a big thank you cake were on the menu.

The event is located at the Oddfellows Park on the shores of Puget Sound looking across the water toward the Nisqually Reach. It is a beautiful setting and a great place to have the picnic.

Many of the members present are also contributors, people who have sold their properties to the NLT or people who have volunteered at the various planting or land cleanup events throughout the year. In March, the NLT has an annual auction to help raise money for  land purchases. With the new accreditation, corporate donations will be easier to come across as well.

Part of the discussion was the breadth of the Land Trust’s following. It is not only a respected model for preservation in the United States, but is looked up to by other  countries around the world. Because of the work of this group, much of the South Puget Sound region where the Nisqually River flows, has been restored or preserved in its natural state. For the sake of our future wildlife and water quality, this group has done some very important work.

This just printed in the NLT’s thank you letter dated 9/17/2013:

“Just ten years ago, pink salmon (or “humpies,” as they’re also known) were thought to be extinct in the Nisqually watershed, or nearly so. But this year – even as you read this – we are in the middle of a Nisqually pink salmon run that is expected to hit 750,000 fish.

That’s right: from near-extinction to three-quarters of a million fish. You help make conservation successes like that happen – with your support, your voice, your sweat equity. Congratulations. And, again: Thanks!

Sincerely,

JW Foster, Joe Kane”