Lots Purchased to Complete Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center Site in Homer

The purchase of five lots in Beluga Slough by a partnership of conservation groups headed by Sharon Baur of  Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges was feted at a National Public Lands Day Celebration Friday night September 23rd at Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska.  The purchase was funded by the Conservation Fund, Kachemak Bay Conservation Society and Moose Habitat, Inc.   Eighty five visitors and invited guests enjoyed a photo show of entrants in the “Picture the Heart of Homer” contest, a reception with refreshments provided by Alaska Geographic, music by local musician Sunrise Kilcher. In addition, a “Walk in Beauty:  Art along the Beluga Slough Trail”  featured luminaries and art made by Fireweed Academy (a charter school) students. After walking the lighted trail visitors were heard describing it as 'magical'.

The purchased lots are an inholding within the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center site.  In nearly 20 years of trying, the Fish & Wildlife Service was unable to purchase the lots. Baur, a long time volunteer at Islands & Ocean Visitor Center and vice president of Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges, had experience in real estate and  decided to take on the project.  She worked five years coming up with a proposal acceptable to the owners and finding funding sources to make it possible.   The property around Islands & Ocean is the administrative site for the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge in Homer, but its also the wild heart of Homer, with a trail to view wildlife and enjoy views of wetlands, the bay, and the mountains - all right in the middle of town. The lots are an important part of the view from Islands & Ocean and a part of every trail users experience.  They are high value wetlands particularly important to wintering moose and migrating and breeding waterfowl, songbirds and shorebirds.  

Public Lands Day is meant to be a celebration of volunteer efforts to protect and enhance public lands. The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge thanks the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges for their skill and tenacity .