SOUND OFF Wean is a threat to property owners

Published 1:00 pm Saturday, November 17, 2001

I take exception to the portrayal of Steve Erickson as a scientific expert and WEAN (Whidbey Environmental Action Network) as guardian of the environment. It might help to understand the background in the Blue Flag Iris issue.

In the early ‘80s the National Park Service (NPS) paid approximately $350,000 to Penn Cove Associates for a scenic easement which gives NPS controls over the visual appearance of some portions of some lots on Grasser Hill. These easement restrictions were passed to each of us as part of the land purchase.

Next, NPS gave responsibility for oversight of NSP easement lands to the Ebey Trust Board (ETB), a group of citizens interested in conserving the authentic look of the Ebey Landing area. (An interest shared by area property owners.) The working relationship between the ETB, Rob Harbor (NPS representative on the ETB), and property owners has been effective with all trying to keep true to the intent of the easement terms. So far, so good.

Enter Steve Erickson and WEAN. In the ‘80s Steve Erickson, head of WEAN, began his Grasser Hill “studies” and unauthorized harvesting of seeds from those private properties for sale. WEAN’s focus has been to control the Grasser Hill area in particular and development on Whidbey Island in general. This culminated in January 2001 when the residents of Grasser Hill were notified with only hours notice of a hearing being held by the county to determine whether or not an ordinance should be passed which would restrict the use of lands on Grasser Hill beyond those included in the original easement. According to WEAN, these additional restrictions were intended to protect the Blue Flag Iris which grows in small patches on Grasser Hill. The details of how this ordinance came to be proposed are troubling.

WEAN, apparently concerned that the Blue Flag Iris, a plant Erickson thinks is in danger of extinction from Grasser Hill, petitioned the state under the Growth Management Act to designate the Blue Flag Iris as endangered and set in motion an ordinance, which as it was proposed, would have restricted usage of private properties on Grasser Hill. Erickson never notified any of the property owners of his concerns or tried to work with them in any way.

The facts on the Blue Flag Iris are: 1) the Blue Flag Iris grows commonly on both sides of the Cascades, California and other parts of the U.S. 2) Only DNA testing, which has not been done, could confirm if the Grasser Hill Iris is unique or simply a transplanted population as was reported to me by long time Coupeville residents. Based on other testimony from the January 2001 hearing, there was concern that terms of the proposed ordinance might allow other noxious plants and brush to choke out the Iris.

WEAN originally misrepresented the location of the Iris to the commissioners and property owners by, I believe, misallocating red dots on maps intended to show the Iris location. Despite these misrepresentations, holes in Erickson’s logic, and shortcomings in his “scientific evidence,” he continued to push the commissioners to adopt the ordinance. This forced commissioners to hold hearings on the proposed ordinance to try to balance rights of property owners with concerns of WEAN.

As a result of the January hearings, it was agreed that, as an alternative to the proposed ordinance, homeowners would work with NPS and the county to write with a management plan intended to preserve the presence of the Blue Flag Iris in NPS’s easement areas on Grasser Hill. That plan was drafted by a botanist hired and paid for by the county and is being reviewed by the affected parties. As part of that plan NPS would be given oversight responsibilities for the terms contained in the plan and the plan made a legal agreement between NPS and property owners. This approach seems fair to everyone except Erickson and WEAN.

I believe most property owners in the Grasser Hill area are trying very hard to work with the NPS and Ebey Trust Board to balance the intent of the scenic easement terms, the desire of the Ebey Trust Board to control the look of the Grasser Hill area, and homeowner rights to use and enjoy their properties.

As a community, Grasser Hill residents are dedicated to working with legitimate representatives of local state and government agencies. This commitment does not, at least on my part, extend to private citizens who disregard property rights and misuse laws intended to protect the environment.

If you are a property owner on Whidbey Island, or if you might have any of 20 plus plants WEAN now wants called “endangered” or “of local interest” on your property, I urge you to understand the motives of WEAN and make your thoughts clear to state, county and local government officials. If we do not take a stand, we are in danger of Erickson and WEAN taking control over private property land use in the Grasser Hill area and beyond.

Lana Labuda is a property owner in the Grasser Hill area.