Description
The bluff at Ebey’s Landing is a windswept headland laced by one of Western Washington’s most popular coastal trails. The trail offers stunning views: on a clear day, one can look west to the Olympic Peninsula and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, south to Mount Rainier, and east over historic farmland and prairie to the Cascade Mountains. In addition to the coastal habitats and rare plants found on the preserve, the surrounding area is protected by the Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, which offers many scenic, interpretive, and recreational opportunities for visitors.
Why the Conservancy Selected this Site
This site’s ecological treasures include Perego’s Lake, on the beach below the bluff, one of the least disturbed coastal wetlands in the state; the rare and threatened golden paintbrush plant; and prairie habitat, which is virtually gone from Western Washington. The core of The Nature Conservancy’s preserve was a generous bequest from Robert Y. Pratt.
What the Conservancy is Doing
Scientists at The Nature Conservancy are working with researchers from the University of Washington, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington State Parks, and other partners to restore golden paintbrush and other prairie plant species in the Ebey’s Landing area. The Conservancy is also focused on removal of non-native species such as gorse, Scotch broom and English ivy. Conservancy volunteers serve as docents along the popular bluff trail, informing visitors about the area and monitoring the preserve for appropriate use.
