OLYMPIA–The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office today announced the award of nearly $190 million in grants to communities statewide to improve outdoor recreation and conserve important wildlife habitat for Washingtonians and the plants and animals that live here.
The grants were awarded to a variety of organizations to renovate parks, build trails and create new places for people to recreate outdoors. The grants also made investments in conserving lands that are homes to plants and animals at risk of extinction and that preserve Washington’s agricultural and forestry legacy, such as important working farms and forests.
“These grants advance our priority to protect Washington’s world-class outdoor recreation offerings enjoyed by locals and travelers from across the globe,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “I’m proud of these investments. They will go a long way to ensuring Washington’s outdoor areas are healthy, open and usable by everyone.”
Grants were awarded to projects in the following counties. See grant descriptions.
| Adams County……………… $850,000 | Columbia County………….. $143,000 |
| Asotin County………………. $446,017 | Cowlitz County…………… $1,059,164 |
| Chelan County…………… $7,530,031 | Douglas County…………. $2,757,455 |
| Clallam County…………… $4,593,447 | Ferry County……………….. $180,000 |
| Clark County……………… $3,315,000 | Garfield County…………….. $700,000 |
| Grant County……………… $2,224,990 | Pierce County………….. $16,640,031 |
| Grays Harbor County…… $4,131,512 | San Juan County……….. $6,460,200 |
| Island County…………….. $1,528,050 | Skagit County……………. $1,222,000 |
| Jefferson County………… $4,280,110 | Skamania County……….. $1,995,400 |
| King County…………….. $24,357,221 | Snohomish County……… $7,727,070 |
| Kitsap County…………….. $8,860,586 | Spokane County………… $3,065,392 |
| Kittitas County………….. $24,375,744 | Stevens County…………. $1,369,995 |
| Klickitat County…………. $11,619,179 | Thurston County………… $9,977,147 |
| Lewis County……………….. $271,750 | Wahkiakum County…………. $95,404 |
| Lincoln County… See List of Projects | Walla Walla County…….. $1,219,423 |
| Mason County……………. $6,261,782 | Whatcom County……….. $5,435,523 |
| Okanogan County………. $7,144,529 | Whitman County………… $2,617,539 |
| Pacific County……………. $8,162,201 | Yakima County………….. $2,807,050 |
| Pend Oreille County………… $67,500 | Multiple Counties……….. $3,645,670 |
“These grants will provide so many benefits to Washington residents,” said Ted Willhite, chair of the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board, which awarded most of the grants. “We know that people are healthier, mentally and physically, when they spend time outside. We also know that Washington’s businesses are healthier because of our outdoor spaces. People spend $26.5 billion a year for outdoor recreation trips and equipment, which supports 264,000 jobs–rivaling our aerospace industry. These grants recognize the importance of outdoor recreation in the lives of everyday Washingtonians.”
The grants ranged from $7,000 to teach scout troops about horsemanship and trail stewardship to more than $14 million to conserve a Kittitas County ranch and the wildlife habitat it supports. Grants went to projects in 37 of Washington’s 39 counties. See grant descriptions
“We’ve seen such wonderful projects from grant applicants,” Willhite said. “I wish we could fund them all. Knowing that we could only fund some of them shows that there is a great need for continued investment in Washington’s outdoors.”
Projects in Klickitat County
Columbia Land Trust Grant Awarded: $4,328,900 Conserving Klickitat Oaks
The Columbia Land Trust will use this grant to buy 2,666 acres above the Klickitat River near Klickitat. This unique landscape includes priority oak woodland, savanna, and mixed oak and conifer forest. The conservation of this land will help protect priority plant communities associated with Oregon white oak and the birds and other wildlife they support. Priority species supported include Lewis’s woodpecker, western gray squirrel, acorn woodpecker, and fisher. It also is a critical link in the Pacific Flyway and source of food for neotropical migratory birds in decline. Additionally, the project site will be available to members of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation for traditional uses. This is the first phase of a multiphase project to conserve 8,000 acres. Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more information and photographs of this project. This grant is from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program. (22-1630)
Columbia Land Trust Grant Awarded: $1,605,000 Preserving Centennial Farm
The Columbia Land Trust will use this grant to conserve 1,983 acres of one of the oldest farm ownerships in Washington State–Centennial Farm, called such because it has been managed continuously by the same family for more than 100 years. The farm is five miles west of Goldendale and contains irrigated pasture for hay, cattle, and chickens. More than 80 percent of the farm’s soils are classified as prime or Washington Farmland of Statewide Importance. In addition to its agricultural values, the easement will help protect irrigation practices that provide much-needed late season water in the Little Klickitat River for mid-Columbia River summer steelhead trout, which are listed as threatened with extinction under the federal Endangered Species Act. The conservation easement will remove up to ninety-nine potential development rights in a rapidly developing corner of the state to ensure that the property remains viable for farming forever. Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more information and photographs of this project. This grant is from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program. (22-1681)
Washington State Conservation Commission Grant Awarded: $3,492,195 Conserving Davenport Cattle The State Conservation Commission will use this grant to buy a conservation easement9 to permanently protect 5,867 acres of Davenport Cattle, a multi-generational, family-owned farm and ranch established in 1876 in Klickitat County. The farm produces cattle, hay, and grain. The easement will extinguish 958 development rights. The farm is one of the largest and oldest farms in Klickitat County and likely in Washington State. The proposed project consists of twenty-seven separate parcels under two different family ownerships that support different aspects of the overall operation. Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more information and photographs of this project. This grant is from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program. (22-1541)
Washington Department of Natural Resources Grant Awarded: $870,024 Protecting Frogs in the Trout Lake Natural Area Preserve
The Department of Natural Resources will use this grant to buy and manage 126 acres of private land within the Trout Lake Natural Area Preserve’s approved boundary. The preserve contains high-quality freshwater wetlands and supports a large population of the Oregon spotted frog, which is a state endangered species and a species listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. The preserve also is a nesting and foraging area for the greater sandhill crane, a state endangered species. In addition, several rare plants are found in the seasonally wet meadows and adjacent oak woodlands. This grant would protect permanently all the remaining privately-owned Oregon spotted frog breeding habitat in the Trout Lake watershed to protect the species from future habitat loss and ensure the ability of biologists to continue monitoring breeding populations. The preserve provides exceptional opportunities for scientific research and environmental education for school groups and the public. Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more information and photographs of this project. This grant is from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program. (22-1294)
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Grant Awarded: $1,323,060 Buying Land for the Klickitat State Park Trail
State Parks will use this grant to buy land in or next to the Klickitat State Park Trail, which runs thirty-one miles from Lyle to Warwick. This funding allows State Parks to buy smaller, lower-cost land when opportunities arise. In the past, these small properties next to the trail were offered to State Parks but the agency was unable to buy them because of the timing of the grant program. Combining the purchases will help the agency buy smaller properties that might not score well as individual, competitive grants but that are essential for preserving the trail corridor. Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more information and photographs of this project. This grant is from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program. (22-1597)
9: This is a voluntary agreement to sell the right to develop the land and permanently prevent future development and subdivision by placing a restriction on the property title.