Submitted by San Juan County.

The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank is excited to announce the acquisition of a 23.8-acre waterfront property located on Orcas Island’s East Sound. The property on Dolphin Bay Road hosts 1,300 feet of undeveloped shoreline, including a 260-foot pocket beach, a small intermittent stream, open fields and forest.

“We are grateful to the seller for his forethought and patience as we worked through the purchase and sale agreement of this gem,” said Brian Wiese, Land Bank commission chair. He added, “The property lies within a high priority area for salmon recovery, hosts multiple forest species including yew and cedar, and adds another public access point to saltwater.”

Public shoreline access is particularly scarce on Orcas Island, with none along this section of East Sound. This acquisition, and its 260-foot pocket beach, will provide visitors with a new view and access point, as well as a resting spot for kayakers and paddleboarders. Stay tuned for future public scoping meetings to help inform the Stewardship and Management Plan before the preserve opens to the public.

The addition of this preserve will be the sixth Land Bank property with shoreline access on Orcas Island. Others include Crescent Beach, Judd Cove, Deer Harbor, and North Shore Preserves and East Sound Waterfront Park, co-managed with County Parks.