Governor Jay Inslee signs the Capital Budget. Photo Credit Ted S. Warren, The Associated Press
You can almost hear the sound of projects breaking ground and communities cheering across the state. The legislature finally passed a capital budget for the 2017-19 biennium, unlocking millions of dollars for conservation, recreation, and other community infrastructure priorities.
The long-delayed capital budget includes investments in locally-driven conservation projects essential for habitat protection, water quality, public health, infrastructure, and economic development across the state.
Under normal legislative order, the capital budget would have passed last spring. In the interim, land trusts have been busy finding creative solutions and working with private landowners to keep conservation efforts on track despite the delay in funding. Their heroic work has paid off!
The budget provides $80 million for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, the state’s largest source of funding for farmland preservation, primary tool for conserving fish and wildlife habitat, and important source of funding to ensure access to outdoor recreation for all.
Photo by Kyla Yeoman
It also includes significant funding for Puget Sound recovery, including $40 million for Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration and $8 million for the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program. Salmon habitat across the state will benefit, with nearly $20 million for the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, and coastal habitat projects will receive $12.5 million from the Washington Coastal Restoration Initiative. Moreover, multi-benefit projects to protect communities from flooding and restore habitat will benefit from $35.4 million to the Floodplains by Design program.
An innovative pilot project on Jefferson Land Trust’s Chimacum Ridge Community Forest will receive $3.4 million as part of aSustainable Working Forest Management Pilot project.
Land trusts are leading the way on many of these projects. Just a few of the incredible, community driven projects that can now move forward include:
Barnum Point, In partnership with Whidbey Camano Land Trust, Island County will acquire 13 acres of rare, low-bank waterfront on Barnum Point, and dramatically improve the public’s access to the public beach.
Mt Adams Klickitat Canyon Phase II, Columbia Land Trust will purchase 3,200 acres of forestland straddling the Wild and Scenic Klickitat River, an area of incredible ecological diversity including a mosaic of dry and moist mixed conifer forests, oak woodlands, aspen, freshwater wetlands, steep canyons, talus sloes and riparian and river habitats.
Wenatchee Sleepy Hollow Floodplain Protection, Chelan-Douglas Land Trust will protect 37 acres of the largest undeveloped floodplain along the lower Wenatchee River. The project will not only help with flood management, but protect salmon habitat and recreational access for hiking, bird watching, fishing and floating.
Lower Henderson Inlet Protection, Capitol Land Trust will purchase 106 acres and more than a mile of Puget Sound shoreline to create their new “Inspiring Kids Preserve” on Henderson Inlet, creating a premiere place for outdoor education in the South Sound region, within 10 minutes of 30 schools!
Bailey Farm, PCC Farmland Trust will conserve 270 acres of Snohomish County’s best farmland. Bailey Farm is a fifth-generation family farm and was designated a Centennial Farm by Snohomish County in 2013. It provides opportunities for communities to experience a farm firsthand through school trips, u-pick vegetables and a farm stand.
Little Skookum Inlet Forest, Forterra will purchase a conservation easement on 816 acres of working forest, wetlands, riparian habitat, and nearly two miles of Puget Sound shoreline in Mason County. The forest has been managed for over 150 years by Port Blakely Tree Farms, generating multiple rotations of timber and supplying local mills. Funding will save it from imminent development.
Filucy Bay, Great Peninsula Conservancy will conserve 82 acres of estuary and riparian habitat on Key Peninsula in Pierce County, including nearly one mile of shoreline. The project will benefit multiple species of salmon, summer and fall-run chum, chinook, coho and cutthroat trout.
We are thrilled the legislature has funded a capital budget to protect the lands and waters that support our quality of life and economic prosperity.
A growing population demands more and more of our environs to supply fresh produce, clean water, and outdoor recreation. We look forward to continuing to work with the legislature to step up and meet these challenges with forethought and commitment to future generations.
