FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact: Hannah Clark, (206) 294-1696
July 2, 2015
(OLYMPIA, WA) The Washington Association of Land Trusts, a statewide coalition of 28 land conservation groups, applauds the 2015-2017 Washington state capital budget for including much needed investments in locally driven conservation projects which are essential for habitat protection, water quality, public health, infrastructure, and economic development across the state of Washington.
The capital budget provides $37 million for Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration, fueling projects to protect and restore Puget Sound and enable salmon recovery throughout the region. The budget will allow Nisqually Land Trust to protect Busy Wild Creek, a critical project to save threatened runs of steelhead and chinook.
“We want to thank all of our local legislators, and particularly Senators Becker and Fraser because of their work on the capital budget, for their leadership on steelhead recovery in the Nisqually watershed and permanent protection of threatened spawning habitat on Busy Wild Creek,” said Joe Kane, executive director of the Nisqually Land Trust. “The Nisqually River used to support an annual run of 8,000 steelhead. Thanks to the legislature, they now have a fighting chance.”
The capital budget also provides $55.5 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. Land trust led projects funded by WWRP include preservation of Nelson Ranch in Olympia. Capitol Land Trust is working with the Nelson family to preserve this 150 year-old family farm.
“In light of a long and difficult session, we’re happy to see the legislature providing funding for programs to protect the lands and waters that are so essential to Washington’s quality of life and economic prosperity” said Hannah Clark, executive director of the Washington Association of Land Trusts.
“But there’s a lot of unmet need. We look forward to working with the legislature and our communities to step up and meet that need as our growing population increases demands on the health of our waters and lands for fresh produce, local timber and outdoor recreation. These challenges are only going to grow and get more expensive to fix in the future. ”
The budget also provides strong funding for the Washington Coast Restoration Initiative. With $11 million from the legislature, this important new program will restore forests, water quality and fish and wildlife habitat along our Pacific Coast, providing both local restoration jobs now and ensuring sustainable natural resource jobs into the future. Projects include:
· Ellsworth Creek Watershed Restoration: The Nature Conservancy will work to restore the health and function of the entire 5,000 acre Ellsworth Creek watershed, creating up to 33 seasonal jobs.
· Satsop River Watershed Restoration: The Center for Natural Lands Management will improve habitat by removing invasive plants and planting native trees and shrubs, creating five seasonal jobs.
· Black River Watershed Restoration: Capitol Land Trust will restore the vital natural area around the Black River to protect salmon and other species including elk and Oregon spotted frog, creating three full time jobs.
Other notable conservation successes that the land trust community is celebrating include:
· $35.56 million for Floodplains by Design
· $66.5 million for the Salmon Recovery Funding Board
· $5.269 million for the Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account
· $8 million for the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program
About the Association
The Washington Association of Land Trusts, formed in 2007, is a statewide coalition of 28 nonprofit organizations working to permanently protect Washington’s lands and waters through voluntary, cooperative conservation. The Association represents the collective voice of its members and is committed to strengthening their ability to conserve precious lands for future generations.
Across the state, land trusts protect the land base that sustains the cornerstones of our environment, quality of life, and economy – our salmon-spawning streams and rivers, Puget Sound shorelines, productive forests and farmland, wildlife corridors and refuges, trails and parkland. The Association’s member land trusts have deep connections to local communities and economies and a proven ability to protect land with critical conservation values.