San Juan County’s Conservation Land Bank will implement temporary trail closures on Turtleback Mountain Preserve during June and July to accommodate the installation of nineteen road culverts. In response to repeated washouts during increasingly heavy winter rain events, Land Bank staff commissioned a professional culvert assessment in 2021. The culverts identified for replacement will help prevent future washouts, reduce maintenance requirements, and bring the forest road/trail network up to Washington forest road standards (WAC 222-24-0511).

The Land Bank will make every effort to minimize disruptions, but please expect temporary parking lot and trail closures to ensure public safety. Although the schedule is subject to change, they anticipate closing segments of the North Entrance trails for three to four weeks beginning June 26 and the South Entrance for up to one week beginning in mid-July. Details about the project can be found at https://sjclandbank.org/news/turtlebackculvertproject.

This project will be funded primarily using Conservation Land Bank stewardship funds with additional funding from the San Juan Preservation Trust’s Turtleback Stewardship Endowment.