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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Mountain’s sale joins goals of conservation, philanthropy

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

ORCAS ISLAND, Wash. – A conservation partnership will purchase 1,587-acre Turtleback Mountain on Orcas Island for $17 million, protecting one of the largest privately owned properties in the San Juan Islands, the partnership and the seller announced Tuesday.

The seller is the Medina Foundation, which will use the money to expand its support of social and educational charities throughout Puget Sound.

The sale is expected to close later this year.

The partnership, which includes the San Juan Preservation Trust, the San Juan County Land Bank and The Trust for Public Land, is trying to raise $18.5 million to acquire the mountain and establish a stewardship fund to manage the site for public use and conservation. So far, about $12.5 million has been committed from public and private sources.

“This agreement presents a very unique philanthropic opportunity for the people of the Pacific Northwest,” said Tim Seifert, executive director of the San Juan Preservation Trust. “In addition to permanently protecting a signature Puget Sound landscape, the proceeds from the sale will be used by the Medina Foundation to provide critical human services in our region.”

“This is an excellent outcome for all of the organizations involved,” said Tricia McKay, executive director of the Medina Foundation. “We look at the sale of the Turtleback Mountain property as a way to continue to fulfill our mission to help those in need through grants to organizations that address such issues as homelessness, hunger, at-risk youth and families, and education assistance for those at risk of academic failure.”

Turtleback’s distinctive profile is visible throughout the northwest Washington island chain.