Legal Defense of our property rights within the Lummi Reservation is expensive.  In addition to attorneys' fee's, expert witnesses must be hired and research must be done in support of the upcoming tidelands case to be heard in Federal Court.  Federal District Court Judge Barbara Rothstein stated that the outcome of the upcoming case will affect not just the six named land owners, but all similar property in the Sandy Point area. This means the future of your property may be affected by this case.  

Beyond the issue of bulkhead trespass, this case may also determine if the Tribe is granted a Army Corps of Engineers permit to close the Canal Entrance.  The loss of property value to canal lot owners if the entrance is closed would be catastrophic, and the canal itself would become land-locked.  All other properties in our community would be similarly devalued if the canal is closed since boating activities at Sandy Point would effectively end.    

In preparation for the court case, aerial photography of beaches will be very important to show trends in beach erosion and how the canal entrance has changed over time.  We'll also need geologists to testify on beach erosion (avulsion) and what caused it.  All of this costs money!  We need your help to defend your property rights!  

The following are annual SPA membership fees based on the location of your property:

Higher contributions are welcome, of course.

Please remember that if the Tribe prevails in the legal issues facing us, the loss to landowners will be far greater than our legal costs, including the possibility of losing your property to the Lummi Tribe!