North Olympic Land (dis)Trust

Organization criticized for becoming political

People are pulling their support of the grassroots organization that has preserved over 3,900 acres on the Peninsula since its inception 35 years ago.  It's not that supporters aren't aligned with the North Olympic Land Trust's (NOLT) mission to protect farms, fish, and forests. They feel that NOLT’s role in the Towne Road Levee Setback Project lacked transparency and accountability. They also worry that the organization has become politicized.

One supporter, who has requested to remain anonymous, is bothered that project partners promoted Towne Road’s relocation when funds were being solicited but then changed plans after the checks were cashed.

“I understand that once money is donated to a non-profit it is out of my hands. I have to trust the money will be used as advertised. In this case, I donated to NOLT to have land preserved based on levee and restoration plans that the county had presented and approved at the time, which included moving Towne Road up and out of the flood plain. This stopped that land from being developed but it never occurred to me that NOLT’s partner in the project would intentionally sabotage the planned movement of Towne Road.

“Reality is the purchase of the land was in the control of NOLT but the future of the road was not. It’s doubtful NOLT had any idea of the Tribe’s duplicity, but I will be more careful about which NOLT’s preservation projects I donate to in the future and I will not donate to any project that includes the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe as a partner.”

In 2020, NOLT partnered with the Jamestown Tribe to preserve farmland between the Dungeness River and Towne Road and set a goal of raising $425,000 to purchase its share of 104 acres. Over 250 community donors helped achieve that goal, and NOLT was able to preserve 64 acres. The Jamestown Tribe also succeeded in preserving its share — 40 acres of riverbank habitat.

When donors fronted money during the initial phase of the Lower Dungeness Floodplain Restoration, they did so with the understanding that Towne Road would be relocated atop the Towne Road Levee during the project’s final phase. Two years after the purchase, the Jamestown Tribe deliberately breached the old 1960s dike, and Towne Road — a road that was never to close for even one day — has been closed for nearly two years as a result. Additionally, the Tribe has been the most powerful opponent to reopening Towne Road.

The closure of Towne Road has become political. Commissioner Mark Ozias has attempted to prevent the road from reopening ten times. His actions are consistent with the desires of the Jamestown Tribe, which has been the top donor to all three of his campaigns. This politicization of Towne Road upset one generous donor of NOLT, who also requested to remain anonymous.

“I am no longer supporting NOLT, as I am disappointed with its wanting more tribal involvement stated in a correspondence to me.  I was also told when I questioned them about this that they didn't get involved with politics.  I can understand they want the money the tribe brings in, as it assures them of jobs etc.  The number working there has really increased over the last few years.  I just get the sense they can't be bothered with the average donor any longer, as they are in bed with the big money now.  That is just a feeling, not based on any particular facts.

“Yes, I as a donor am disappointed with the dike and road situation and NOLT's attitude.  They did not deliver what was ‘advertised’ then just take a stand-back position and say ‘things change, we don't get involved in politics’.  I support NOLT's generally stated objectives from the past but not the way I see things happening now.”

It’s possible NOLT didn’t know the intentions of their project partner, Jamestown Tribe, who indicated over a decade ago that they preferred Towne Road be terminated and then caused the unexpected closure of the road. Possible, but unlikely — the President of NOLT, Wendy Clark-Getzin, is also the Transportation Program Manager for the Jamestown Tribe.

Clark-Getzin joined NOLT’s board of directors in early 2018.

Last fall, NOLT President Clark-Getzin, as an employee of the Jamestown Tribe, penned a letter to the Clallam County Commissioners asking that Towne Road remain closed because it is functioning as an “outdoor classroom.”

Clark-Getzin doesn’t only represent NOLT and the Jamestown Tribe; she also serves as Vice-Chair of the County’s Trail Advisory Committee (TAC). In April, Commissioner Ozias encouraged the TAC to ask that the completion of Towne Road be paused so the entire surfacing project could be redesigned. Under Commissioner Ozias’ suggestion, the TAC motioned to halt the project. The motion passed.

Days later — against the advice of the County Engineer, County Biologist, Director of Community Development, Department of Ecology, Army Corps of Engineers, the Sheriff, two Fire Chiefs, the State’s Tsunami Program Manager, and the county's engineering consultant — Commissioner Ozias cited the recommendation of the Trails Advisory Committee to halt the completion of Towne Road. The other two commissioners opposed him.

Wendy Clark-Getzin holds leadership positions in the Jamestown Tribe, the Trails Advisory Committee, and NOLT. Two groups are staunchly opposed to reopening the road, while the other is seemingly bewildered that the road is entering its third year of closure. If Clark-Getzin had used her “extensive leadership skills and professional experience in public administration” to communicate with all the project partners she leads, much of the misunderstanding, confusion, and frustration could have been avoided.

In April of last year, NOLT held its annual “Standing Out in the Field” award ceremony. Despite the debacle between project partners Clallam County and the Jamestown Tribe that led to the unexpected closure of Towne Road, the award was bestowed upon both governments when the Dungeness River Management Team (DRMT) was announced as last year’s winner. The DRMT is a joint venture formed by Clallam County and the Jamestown Tribe to manage the Dungeness River watershed but it is not a government agency.

“I’d like to begin with the Land Trust land acknowledgment,” Lexi Wagor, NOLT Community Relations Manager, announced to a packed Dungeness River Nature Center before the 2023 award recipient was announced. “Recognizing the negative impacts of colonization on Tribes’ access to traditional lands and culture, we strive to understand this damage and support Tribes’ cultures and ways of living.”

NOLT Executive Director Tom Sanford was thankful for a recent funding increase. “Over the last year, those of you who pay close attention to your property tax bill will notice a new, very small line item on there called ‘conservation futures.’ Thank you, Commissioner Ozias and the other commissioners of the county; we now have a new tax.”

The award ceremony concluded with the NOLT Director presenting the award to the Jamestown Tribe’s Natural Resources Director, Hansi Hals, and other DRMT members. The video below shows the award ceremony and the project’s history. The closure of Towne Road is not mentioned.

Is NOLT becoming more political? Perhaps — the organization known for conserving land planned a 2021 workshop that outlined the involuntary relocation of County residents from beachfront properties to help “the ecosystem become more resilient.” The workshop determined that a “buy back” program could reimburse the evicted property owners however, attendees clarified that they would “need to make sure we're using taxpayer dollars wisely and not paying full price for parcels.”

NOLT’s reputation was built on over three decades of resourcefulness and foresight to ensure our cherished farmland doesn’t fall victim to development, but that legacy has now come under scrutiny. Even the most prestigious and admired institutions can lose support when accountability, integrity and transparency are compromised.

Update

Clallam County Watchdog contacted NOLT President Wendy Clark-Getzin and NOLT Community Relations Manager Lexi Wagor to ask about their stance on donors’ concerns. Clark-Getzin did not respond, but Wagor did:

We shared with donors and community members the information we had at the time of fundraising for an adjacent farmland conservation project. This adjacent farmland conservation project also allowed for a more expanded restored floodplain and levee setback, but never included a public road on our conserved lands. Maps and materials shared with donors and community members about the entire floodplain restoration work were based on plans shared with us at that time. We continued to direct individuals, including our donors, to public meetings and to relevant agency representatives to express their concerns and views regarding portions of the project we do not control.

CC Watchdog also asked NOLT about its role during the 2021 workshop, specifically if the organization supports a program that involuntary relocates property owners and prepares for arriving refugees. The organization did not provide comment.

NOLT emails statement to supporters

Sent: Friday, June 28, 2024 at 02:01:15 PM PDT

Subject: A Note to Supporters About River's Edge

Dear Friend and Supporter,

Your support during our River’s Edge campaign compels me to write to you, both in celebration of the work we’ve accomplished together, and to address some public comments regarding the role of the Land Trust in River’s Edge.

Towne Road and the levee setback were a long-planned project in Dungeness primarily among three groups: Clallam County, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, and Dungeness River Management Team. Farmland adjacent to Dungeness Valley Creamery, an already conserved farm, became available for conservation. The Land Trust began conservation efforts for this farmland, and this led to conversations with the Tribe, County, and Dungeness River Management Team regarding their adjacent habitat restoration efforts. It was realized, if our farmland conservation happened in consort with the levee setback, the restored floodplain and habitat could be enlarged. The Jamestown Tribe also committed to, and already has, supported additional farmland conservation in Dungeness because of this project.

Without our involvement in this important farmland conservation project, the restored floodplain would be substantially smaller. What’s important to note is that our work with this project is limited to farmland conservation. We were never privy to nor a part of the levee setback, floodplain, or road planning. In fact, donations did not support floodplain restoration, road planning, or levee setbacks. Donations to the Land Trust for River’s Edge were for farmland conservation only.

During fundraising we shared maps and information with donors and the public about the entire project, not just our farmland work. Information about the floodplain, road, levee, trails, and construction timeline were provided to us by other entities, and were also publicly available through those entities.

Shortly after the levee was constructed, there was a notable gap in information sharing about the entire project and many in the community noted this information gap. The Land Trust was one of the few groups providing free public tours of the levee to educate folks about the restored habitat and protected floodplains. These tours also included publicly available maps and information provided to us by other entities, and we relied on this information much like members of our community. When questions arose on our tours we regularly directed individuals to officials and public meetings, where they could share their thoughts. We apologize that our actions resulted in sharing incorrect publicly available information. We especially apologize if our role was unclear.

A small number of donors have voiced their concern regarding our role in River’s Edge. We are sorry for any confusion. If you have questions or would like to discuss your support, please contact me at Alex@northolympiclandtrust.org or 360.417.1815 x3.

Our institution has chosen not to take a position in the debate about the road because we were never a part of the levee, road, or floodplain planning process. Our goal has been to let the public process play out for these public areas, and we encourage public participation. In the meantime, we’re working hard on the farmland and habitat conservation opportunities ahead of us.

We are all excited for the levee and road discussions to be behind us, so that we can focus on the incredible farmlands (and adjacent habitats) that benefited from your generous support!

Thank you for your support of conservation in our area--we have accomplished so much together!

Sincerely,

Alex