The Port of Orcas has purchased 40 acres west of the airport.

The deal closed on Sept. 4 for $1.23 million. The Federal Aviation Administration paid for 90 percent of the cost. The port has no immediate plans for the land.

The property is an aquifer recharge area and needs a wetland evaluation before anything can be done with it. Port manager Bea vonTobel thinks only 15 acres of it are developable.

The port held a celebration on Sept. 12 with previous owners Laurie and Eric Johnson, current and former port commissioners, representatives from the FAA and WHPacific and port counsel Diana Hancock.