Council redirects federal earmark for Zylstra Lake trail to Beaverton Marsh Preserve boardwalk, subject to congressman’s approval

San Juan County Council voted to direct a federally funded multimodal-trail earmark originally scoped for a connection to Zylstra Lake toward a trail and boardwalk project entirely on San Juan County Land Bank property at Beaverton Marsh Preserve, subject to permission from Representative Larson's office.

County staff and Land Bank officials said the change responds to repeated right-of-way and property-owner opposition along previously proposed routes and makes better use of federal funds on county-owned preserve land. "We're not talking about anything that involves right of way or private property. This is all on Land Bank Preserve property," Lincoln Borman, Land Bank director, told council. Colin Hunter, county public works, gave the project's history and funding background; the earmark had been awarded after a congressional submission in 2021.

Doug McCutcheon, Land Bank preserve steward, described existing trails at Beaverton Marsh and said the project focus is completing a marsh crossing and improving accessibility. He noted recently completed trail work (the Redtail Trail) and that the planned marsh crossing is the project's most technically challenging element. McCutcheon said geotechnical borings encountered very deep, unstable soils and that a variety of engineering approaches are under consideration, including partially floating and partially suspended structures. "In the very middle of that crossing, the geotech engineers drilled 83 feet deep, before they had to stop...and at that point they had not found bottom," McCutcheon said.

Staff told council the federal award's scope allows flexibility to fund a trail on Land Bank preserve land and that match requirements (roughly 13.5% nonfederal match shown in packet) may be met with a combination of in‑kind staff time and Land Bank monetary contributions. Borman said some match funds would come from the Land Bank conservation area fund; staff noted that some funds would otherwise have to be returned to the federal government if not used.

Council member Paulson and others voiced support for redeploying the funds to the preserve, and the board amended the motion to make the redirection subject to approval by Representative Larson's office. The amended motion passed by voice vote. Council and staff said they will reengage the congressman's office and roll out public outreach as part of the preserve's management-plan updates and community engagement. Staff said the project will require NEPA and other federal environmental reviews if federal funds are used.

Council approved the motion to reallocate the earmark to the Beaverton Marsh Preserve trail and boardwalk project, subject to Representative Larson's office acceptance of the change.