Tim Copeland, Executive Director of the Blue Mountain Land Trust (BMLT), has announced his retirement. He joined BMLT as its Executive Director in November 2014. During his tenure, the BMLT tripled its geographic service area in southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon to become one of the largest regional land trusts in the Pacific Northwest.
During this period of growth, the BMLT substantially expanded its land conservation, natural resources education, and outdoor recreation activities. BMLT’s conservation easement holdings increased from 866 acres to 13,659 acres with an additional 9,500 acres projected to close in early 2022. In 2021, the BMLT also acquired its first owned property, Phipps Meadow, a 278-acre parcel of environmental significance on the Middle Fork of the John Day River.
BMLT’s education programs, including Learning on the Land and Learning on the Land Online, have been attended or viewed by thousands of guests each year even during the pandemic. BMLT is a leader among Pacific Northwest land trusts in providing nature education to the public.
The Blues Crew has been very successful in its contributions to recreation opportunities in the Umatilla National Forest. Their restoration of the Horseshoe Prairie Nordic Ski Area has received great public acclaim.
Copeland will continue to serve as a director of the Washington Association of Land Trusts and the Oregon Agricultural Trust. He is the immediate past president of the Washington Association of Land Trusts. Tim will be involved in the transition of leadership through the first quarter of 2022. Board member Dr. Greg Brown assumes the role of Interim Executive Director pending the recruitment of a new executive.
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