Land conservancy buys land to protect Lake Serene Trail

SEATTLE  — A Seattle-based land conservancy has purchased 0.3 square miles of land from a timber company to preserve the popular Lake Serene Trail.

The Seattle Times reports a Friday news release from the nonprofit Forterra says it closed last month on its purchase from Weyerhaeuser.

Forterra organized a fundraiser to purchase the land when Weyerhaeuser said it planned to log in the area and close the trail, east of Gold Bar.

The Forterra release says Snohomish County, the Washington Trails Association, Washington Alpine Club, Outdoor Research and REI all helped raise the funds for the purchase.

Michael Beneke, Forterra's vice president of communication, says the deal ultimately cost about $617,000.