The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board has announced the award of nearly $116 million in grants to a suite of 276 projects that build and maintain outdoor recreation facilities and conserve wildlife habitat and working farms and forests around the state.
Projects in Klickitat County
Columbia Land Trust Grant Awarded: $844,987
Conserving a Farm in Trout Lake Valley
The Columbia Land Trust will use this grant to buy a voluntary land preservation agreement, also
called a conservation easement, for 280 acres of farmland in the shadow of Mount Adams and in
Trout Lake Valley in Klickitat County. The agreement will prevent development and keep the
land available for agriculture forever. The Trout Lake Valley is renowned for its extraordinary
beauty, productive farms and forests, and abundant wildlife and recreation. The valley is ideal for
agriculture because of its abundance of water, prime agricultural soils, climate, isolation from
pollution, and its rich history of farming since the 1880s. Large-scale agriculture is threatened in
the valley because of its exceptional beauty. When residential development mixes with farming,
farms often lose because people complain about the dust, noise, odors, traffic, trespass, and
water conflicts. The Columbia Land Trust will contribute $844,988 in a donation of property
interest. This grant is from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program. Visit RCO’s online
Project Snapshot for more information and photographs of this project. (16-1765)
Columbia Land Trust Grant Awarded: $2,440,525
Conserving the Klickitat Canyon on Mount Adams
The Columbia Land Trust will use this grant to buy about 3,200 acres on the east side of the
Cascade Mountains. The land straddles the wild and scenic Klickitat River and includes
1.7 miles of two major tributaries – Summit and White Creeks. The land is a vital wildlife
corridor and connects protected lands owned by tribes, state and federal agencies, and the
land trust. Its unusual topographic and ecological diversity includes a mosaic of dry and
moist mixed conifer forests, oak woodlands, aspen, freshwater wetlands, steep canyons,
talus slopes, and shoreline and river habitats. The land is used by a diverse array of wildlife
including at least 15 species listed by the federal government as a species of concern or
under the Endangered Species Act and 21 species either listed or considered a candidate for listing by state government, such as western gray squirrel and northern spotted owl. It also
supports numerous migratory game species, including mule deer, black-tailed deer, elk,
mountain goat, and big-horned sheep. This is second phase of a larger project to conserve
5,600 acres that are threatened by development The land trust will manage the land for
wildlife habitat and public benefits. The project enjoys broad support including from the
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Klickitat County commissioners, state
agencies, neighboring forestry owners, and local community partners. The Columbia Land
Trust will contribute more than $2.4 million in a private grant, a grant from the salmon
recovery program, and donations of cash. This grant is from the Washington Wildlife and
Recreation Program. Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more information and photographs
of this project. (16-1915)
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Grant Awarded: $2,140,350
Buying Land on Simcoe Mountain for Habitat and Recreation
The Department of Fish and Wildlife will use this grant to buy about 6,700 acres on Simcoe
Mountain, which is about 15 miles northeast of Goldendale, to protect wildlife habitat and open
the land to hiking, fishing, and hunting. The land is gated and public access restricted.
Acquisition of the land would connect protected land from the Columbia River to the Cascade
Mountains and provide opportunities for recreation that are unavailable in the area. This is the
fourth phase of a project to conserve about 22,000 acres of a unique large-scale landscape that
has mixed conifer, Oregon white oak, white alder, shrub steppe, grasslands, cliffs, and 10 miles
of shoreline habitat that includes upper Rock Creek and its tributaries. The land is used by
steelhead, which are listed as threatened with extinction under the federal Endangered Species
Act; Chinook Salmon; western gray squirrel, which are on the state’s list of species threatened
with extinction; mule deer; burrowing owl; and western toad. This project is an opportunity for a
partnership between the department and the East and Central Klickitat Conservation Districts to
jointly buy the land for wildlife habitat, grazing, logging, and recreation. This grant is from the
Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program. Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more
information and photographs of this project. (16-1346)
Washington Department of Natural Resources Grant Awarded: $80,300
Continuing Restoration of Trout Lake Meadow
The Department of Natural Resources will use this grant to continue restoration of 35 acres of
wetlands in the Trout Lake Natural Area Preserve, which is in the northwest corner of Klickitat
County. The department will control weeds, plant native plants, and improve the flow of water –
all with the goal of improving habitat for four rare plants and animals. The preserve is home to a
large population of the Oregon spotted frog, which the state has listed as endangered and the
federal government has listed threatened with extinction. The preserve also is a nesting and
foraging area for the greater sandhill crane, a state endangered species. In addition, two rare
plants are found in these seasonally wet meadows – pale blue-eyed grass, a state threatened
and federal species of concern, and rosy owl clover, a state endangered species. While the area
provides good habitat for some animals, there are several old irrigation ditches that need to be
blocked so more water remains in the meadows and follow-up work is needed following the
removal of an old road to improve water flow in the western portion of the site to the drier
meadows to improve winter habitat for migratory birds. This grant is from the Washington
Wildlife and Recreation Program. Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more information and
photographs of this project. (16-1674)
Washington State Conservation Commission Grant Awarded: $1,803,656
Conserving Lazy Cross Ranch
The Conservation Commission will use this grant to buy a voluntary land preservation
agreement, also called a conservation easement, for the 4,351-acre Lazy Cross Ranch in Klickitat
County. The landowner wants to keep his rangeland pasture operation intact and undeveloped.
The easement will prevent development and keep the land available for farming forever.
Protecting this land also will protect water quality and habitat availability. The ranch includes a
portion of the Rock Creek watershed, which is used by middle Columbia River Chinook Salmon
and steelhead, both of which are listed as threatened with extinction under the federal
Endangered Species Act. It also includes the upper reaches of Squaw Creek, which contains
important habitat for steelhead. This grant is from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation
Program. Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more information and photographs of this
project. (16-1923)
Washington State Conservation Commission Grant Awarded: $881,000
Conserving the Schuster Hereford Ranch
The Conservation Commission will use this grant to buy a voluntary land preservation
agreement, also called a conservation easement, for the 1,909-acre Schuster Hereford Ranch in
Klickitat County. The ranch is contiguous with an 11,920-acre farm already protected. The
landowner wants to keep his rangeland pasture and dryland operation intact and undeveloped.
The easement will prevent development and keep the land available for farming forever.
Conserving the land also will protect key habitat and wildlife at risk of extinction in the Rock
Creek watershed including middle Columbia River Chinook Salmon and steelhead, both of which
are listed as threatened with extinction under the federal Endangered Species Act. In addition,
the land will enhance the adjacent Badger Gulch Natural Area Preserve by preventing
development on sensitive lands. This grant is from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation
Program. Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more information and photographs of this
project. (16-1924)
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Grant Awarded: $1,202,357
Bridging the Final Gap on the Klickitat Trail
State Parks will use this grant to complete the 31-mile Klickitat Trail in the Columbia River Gorge
in south central Washington by building two bridges, upgrading 4 miles of trail, and providing a
new trailhead. State Parks will install a 20-foot-long bridge over Snyder Creek and a 150-footlong
bridge over the Klickitat River and build two parking spaces for people with disabilities near
the new Klickitat River bridge. This project will build upon a recent project that provides trail and
bridge improvements on a connected portion of the Klickitat Trail. State Parks will contribute
$87,500 in donations of cash. This grant is from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation
Program. Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more information and photographs of this
project. (16-1887)
Skamania County Project
Skamania County Grant Awarded: $1,000,000
Building a New Wind River Boat Launch
Skamania County will use this grant to build a boat launch facility at the mouth of the Wind
River. During fishing season the current launch site fills and cars choke the roadway into the site
and State Route 14, causing a traffic hazard. The current launch area also has parking for only
18 trucks and trailers and only one parking spot for people with disabilities. The rest of the
facility does not comply with laws meant to accommodate people with disabilities. At low water,
the ramp tilts toward the water creating a hazard. The new launch area will be built near the
bridge with easier access to the mouth of the Wind and Columbia Rivers. It will have parking for
100 trucks and trailers and 25 cars, and 5 spots for people with disabilities. The area also will
have a two-lane boat ramp, restrooms, kiosk, and lighting. The current launch area will be
restored to a natural setting for non-motorized launching and scenic viewing. Skamania County
will contribute more than $1.7 million in staff labor, materials, and a state grant. This grant is
from the Boating Facilities Program
Additional details available at this LINK.