Mercer Island Open Space Conservancy Trust approves 2024 annual report and 2025 work plan

The Mercer Island Open Space Conservancy Trust voted Jan. 16 to approve its 2024 annual report and the 2025 work plan, endorsing staff's update on restoration progress, volunteer engagement and near-term projects.

Natural Resources Program Manager Lizzie Stone presented the annual report, which summarizes last year's forest restoration, trail maintenance and volunteer programs and outlines the work planned for 2025. Stone said the work reported will be submitted to City Council for approval at its March 5 meeting.

The report documents extensive restoration activity funded by the voter-approved 2022 parks levy. In 2024, staff and contractors worked on roughly 41 acres of trust property. Contractors completed first-year comprehensive weed removal on 11 acres (Pioneer Park), second-year treatment on about 10.5 acres and third-year maintenance on about 8.8 acres. The trust enrolled 11 new acres in first-year treatment in 2024; the levy's benchmark requires enrollment of roughly 6.5 new acres per year to complete three years of comprehensive treatment across the park system by 2038.

Volunteer and partner contributions were significant: the trust recorded 32 volunteer events with 377 volunteers contributing approximately 840 hours; Washington Conservation Corps crews worked a total of 57 days on the island, 30 of which were on trust property. Staff and contractors also planted 525 native trees and shrubs along the eastern and western border of Pioneer Park Southeast, and urban-forestry staff removed five already-dead trees to reduce risk to trails and property.

Trustees asked staff how much additional work the November storm required; staff said much of the response involved unscheduled tree and debris removal to clear trails and roadways. Stone explained the trust policy to leave some fallen material to decompose to support wildlife, but acknowledged staff would reassess locations that might pose a fire hazard. Parks Operations Manager Sam Harb noted safety clearances were prioritized and some cleanup remains along rights of way.

Trustees also discussed the consultant-led forest-health survey; Stone said the final consultant report will be available by the end of the month and could inform management decisions in 2025. Trustees suggested that future trail work-plan materials include inventory or condition data so council members and residents can link maintenance requests to system-wide trail priorities.

Chair Geraldine Poore moved to approve the annual report and work plan; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with all trustees present voting aye.