Last week the U.S. Navy paid the Town of Coupeville $800,000 for development rights on 54 acres of property near Outlying Field.

The deal, which was facilitated through the Whidbey Camano Land Trust, is one of three acquisitions completed with the Navy this year. The Navy now holds restrictive easements, which halts further development, on seven properties around Outlying Field.

Pat Powell, executive director for the Land Trust, said her organization often works with other groups where there’s a property that meets the goals of all parties involved.

Two easements were first acquired on properties in Smith Prairie along Parker Road in 2006 and 2011.

And earlier this year, the Land Trust helped facilitate the purchase of restrictive easements on two properties just south of OLF.

“We’ll continue to partner with them where it fits the Land Trust’s goals,” she said.

In the instance of the Town of Coupeville property, it is 54 acres that includes forest land on Keystone Hill. The property has a deep aquifer that the town uses as the primary water source for its utility system because the location has better withdrawal and water quality than the town’s other wells.

“The details of the … restrictive easement allow for the continued use of the land for additional wells, and for future addition to the existing water treatment plant,” said Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard. “Restricting any further development preserves the forest, open space, water quality, aquifer recharge and wildlife habitat in this area.

“This preservation is consistent and very complementary to the town’s purpose for the land … the primary watershed for our water utility.”

Because the town first purchased the Keystone Hill property using a grant acquired to support the town’s utilities system, the $800,000 will go back into the town’s utilities fund, lowering the impact of a pending rate increase next year.