San Juan County has just concluded a 50-year lease with the Department of Natural Resources on the Odlin South school trust land on Lopez.

The state paid DNR $1,096,000 through the “Trust Land Transfer Program” for the lease.  These funds will be in turn used for school capital projects around the state. There was no cost to the county in the transaction.

The lease was negotiated by the San Juan County Land Bank. The property will be managed by the San Juan County Parks Department.

“County residents have worked hard to protect this property,” said Lincoln Bormann, land bank director. “Through their efforts we not only secured this lease, but one for Lopez Hill in 2009 and funding for the National Park Service to acquire Mitchell Hill on San Juan Island in 2010.  It is an amazing accomplishment for a small county.”

Dona Wuthnow, parks director, added, “the Odlin South lease is a great addition to Odlin Park. It protects the watershed, buffers the park from potential development and creates additional opportunities for walking trails.”

Heather Arps, a community organizer who has worked to preserve Odlin South said that hearing about the lease made her week.

It’s been a long two years of working and waiting and I am delighted with the progress,” she said. “I do still have my eye on outright purchase and I will continue to try and make that happen. Many thanks to all who helped bring this project this far.”