From the very beginning – 1915 when the original 74 acres was purchased with the help of Edward Paschall of Hidden Ranch – to today where Hidden Valley is an important part of the nearly 500-acre Rhododendron Preserve with a diverse ecosystem, healthy salmon runs and a popular walking trail, the Preserve has always been an inspiring and magical place.
Since it assumed ownership of the original 180 acres, Keta Legacy Foundation has been dedicated to the protection, preservation, and growth of this incredible space. It has been an amazing journey with a lot of helpful hands and millions in donations to continue the work to protect, preserve and restore the forests in and around the Preserve and clean and restore Chico, Lost, and Wildcat creeks, making them some of the healthiest salmon runs in Western Washington. Growing from 180 acres to nearly 500 acres couldn’t have happened without your help and support.
Along the way, the Foundation has fostered strong partnerships with the Suquamish Tribe, local and regional conservation groups, schools and educational programs, colleges and universities, community members and local elected officials. Together, we have extolled the value of conservation and done the work to restore our region’s natural spaces, as well as champion organizations that educate the next generation of land and water stewards.
Keta Legacy Foundation has built on the effort of you, our donors and volunteers, to foster a sustainable future for forests, fish, wildlife and humans in the Salish Sea region.
Looking back, the decision of Edward Paschall’s daughters, Mary and Patience, to donate an additional 57 acres to the Preserve in 1955 and 1963 was pivotal. From then until now, we have honored their decision with hard work and love of the land. Today we are known as Keta Legacy Foundation, with a federal trademark pending, but the mission and vision to protect, preserve and educate have withstood the test of time. If you would like to learn more about volunteering or our future plans, please reach out to us at coordinator@ketalegacy.org.
– Jeff Wirtz, Vice President