Ebey’s National Historical Reserve is the crown jewel of Whidbey Island.

Certainly, we’re known for our beautiful state parks, endless beaches and towering forests, but it’s Ebey’s Reserve that leaves a permanent imprint in the minds of visitors.

There’s nothing else quite like the Reserve. Part of the National Park system, it includes the historic town of Coupeville and thousands of surrounding acres of farmland, wetlands and prairies. The fact that it even exists in the 21st Century is a testimony to the vision of those who created the Reserve in 1978, and who have kept expanding and improving in in the ensuing decades.

In recent years the Reserve’s future has been secured in many ways, including the saving of the old Game Farm property and the acquisition of the invaluable Pratt and Engle properties, among other victories for preservations. But there’s a troubling sense of uncertainty as Reserve managers prepare to adopt a new plan to guide its next 20 years of existence.

One troubling problem is that Island County adopted rural zoning based on five acre parcels. With 85 percent of the Reserve’s 17,572 acres privately owned, there’s a financial incentive to break down the land into smaller parcels. Fortunately, the vast majority of landowners in the Reserve are more interested in maintaining Whidbey Island’s history and farmlands than making a quick buck, so there should be significant support for a zoning overlay for the Reserve. This would provided additional protection for land within the Reserve, while keeping the vast majority of it in private hands, as it should be. The county commissioners should make the overlay a top priority.

Reserve managers should also receive more design review authority. The Town of Coupeville has shown how it’s done with its effective design review process. Any new building within the reserve should go through a speedy and flexible design review process to make sure it is visually compatible with the area. This should make properties more valuable in the long run.

Additional efforts should be made to purchase more development rights within the Reserve. To date, this has been done by the Park Service and non-profit organizations. Those efforts should continue, but be broadened to include money from other sources, both state and local. For example, several houses will soon be built in the vicinity of the old San de Fuca schoolhouse. This could have been avoided with the purchase of development rights years ago. People owning smaller parcels should be able to find a buyer for their development rights. If you’ve got 10 acres in the Reserve, earn some money while making sure that some future owner doesn’t break it up into two fives.

The Reserve is something that islanders tend to take for granted nearly 30 years after it was created. In fact, it’s a fragile creation that needs constant attention and resources to assure its future existence.

People concerned about the Reserve’s future can participate in the planning process by attending an important meeting tomorrow, Sept. 15, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Coupeville Recreation Hall. Find out what the Reserve Trust Board and National Park Service are planning, and add your input. The Reserve needs all the help it can get.