Gov. Gregoire Announces more than $60 Million in Grants for Salmon Recovery

Cascade Land Conservancy shares in several projects

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire announced that more than $60 million in grants to protect and restore salmon populations and their habitats have been awarded to communities and organizations across Washington.

“The health of salmon populations is an indication of the health of our environment,” said Governor Gregoire. “Protecting and restoring our land and water is key to the quality of life in Washington and essential to the strength of our economy.”

The grants include $35.5 million from Governor Gregoire’s initiative to address the short-term needs of Puget Sound waters.

The Cascade Land Conservancy shares in more than $3 million for projects in King, Kittitas, Mason, Snohomish and Pierce Counties.

“We are looking forward to working with our many partners on these grants,” said Gene Duvernoy, President, Cascade Land Conservancy.  “With many of these projects, we are conserving the uplands portion of salmon recovery efforts, an area where we can add real value.”

The grants from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board were awarded to organizations in 28 counties for work ranging from planting trees along streams to cool the water for salmon, to replacing culverts that prevent salmon from migrating to spawning habitat, to restoring entire floodplains.

The CLC projects:

 $380,738 - Acquiring Beaconsfield on the Sound Bluff

The CLC will use this grant to buy property, voluntary land preservation agreements and bulkhead removal agreements from landowners along the Beaconsfield on the Sound feeder bluff in Normandy Park. The bluff is one of the last privately held, undeveloped and restorable feeder bluffs on the mainland of central Puget Sound. Feeder bluffs are important for providing a constant source of sediment and large wood for maintaining healthy shoreline habitat functions. The area consists of 4 acres of feeder bluff and more than ¼ mile of shoreline important for feeding, rearing and refuge for Chinook salmon. An 823-foot bulkhead disconnects much of the feeder bluff from the beach. The bluff ownership is divided into 26 small .1-acre parcels with 22 landowners. A study recommended removing 535 feet of bulkhead, which would result in a high rate of sediment input. The conservancy will contribute $67,190 from a local grant. 

$355,000- Protecting Big Creek Habitat

The CLC will use this grant to buy a stream corridor, which is about 25 acres, within a nearly 143-acre parcel. The 25-acre portion includes a 200-foot corridor on either side of Big Creek, a tributary of the upper Yakima River. The property is anchored to the Wenatchee National Forest on one side and proposed dense development on the other. The trust, and its partners, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Kittitas County Parks and Recreation District #1, are interested in reopening the property to public recreation. The remaining portion of the 143 acres will be purchased using other funds and a landowner donation. The property surrounding the creek is in unusually good condition, and the adjacent slopes are covered with willows and alders that create a canopy. Steelhead, Chinook and coho use the creek. Significant loses of steelhead have occurred because of the loss and degradation of important habitat. Acquisition of Big Creek ensures a significant step towards protecting the viability of salmon species in the upper Yakima River. The conservancy will contribute $65,000 in donated land.

$35,000 - Purchasing Marine View property on Anderson Island

The CLC will use this grant to buy 21 acres of salmon habitat on Anderson Island. The purchase addresses the need to protect nearshore and estuary habitat on the island that is used by multiple species of fish including at least four salmon species. The site consists of relatively undisturbed woods and a small, freshwater stream that feeds into Carlson Bay. The permanent protection of high quality habitat that acts as a buffer to a high quality pocket estuary, as well as forested habitat for wildlife, is increasingly important in a rapidly developing area such as Anderson Island. The intention is to add these 21 acres to the adjacent 40-acre Andrew Anderson Marine Park, owned by the Anderson Island Park District. The addition of this property to the existing marine park will add more than 50 feet of protected shoreline in Carlson Bay as well as provide recreation opportunities for the public. The conservancy will contribute $121,870 in conservation futures. 

$700,000 - Protecting South Prairie Creek The CLC will use this grant to acquire 95 acres of salmon habitat by buying land or purchasing voluntary land preservation agreements along South Prairie Creek. The creek, a tributary to the Carbon River, is the most important spawning area for salmon species in the Puyallup watershed, producing nearly half the wild steelhead in the Puyallup River system, the only significant run of pink salmon and important returns of Chinook, coho and chum salmon and sea-run cutthroat trout. The high quality habitat along the stream is threatened with immense pressures for development. The conservancy will contribute $300,000

$270,000 - Acquiring Sauk River Darrington Park

The CLC will use this grant to protect 30 acres of critical salmon habitat on the Sauk River. The land is part of the Skagit River watershed, the most important salmon-producing river system in Puget Sound and the only watershed in the Pacific Northwest with all five species of salmon. Acquisition of the properties will protect about .2 mile of side-channel rearing habitat for spring Chinook. The property provides spawning and rearing habitat for all five salmon species, as well as steelhead and bull trout, both of which are threatened with extinction. The conservancy is working with Darrington and the landowners to buy the properties for long-term public ownership and management by the town. This project is part of a greater protection and restoration effort on the Sauk River, including efforts to improve fish passage downstream, address storm water discharge from Darrington and protect salmon habitat on the adjacent mill site. The conservancy will contribute $230,000. 

$600,000 - Buying and Restoring the French-Segelsen Reach

The CLC will use this grant to protect and restore critical salmon habitat on the north fork of the Stillaguamish River, in partnership with the Stillaguamish Tribe. The 2,030-acre project area provides floodplain and riparian habitat between Boulder and Squire Creeks for Endangered Species Act-listed Chinook salmon, steelhead and bull trout, as well as pink, coho, chum, sockeye and cutthroat. Work will include prioritizing parcels based on their habitat value for salmon species, development threats, and restoration needs; assessing landowner interest in conservation opportunities; buying land or purchasing voluntary land protection agreements for about 200-300 acres; and restoring the area to enhance habitat-forming processes. Timing is critical as rapid growth in the area is reducing the salmon habitat for protection. The conservancy will contribute $195,400 from a state grant and donations of equipment, labor and materials.

$200,280 - Buying and Restoring Stillaguamish River Property

The CLC, and its partner, the Stillaguamish Tribe, will use this grant to buy and restore 19.35 acres of riparian floodplain on the north fork of the Stillaguamish River. The lower north fork is in severe need of large woody debris to provide essential salmon habitat. Large woody debris, such as tree root wads and logs, create places for salmon to rest, feed and hide from predators. Purchasing the land, called the Arney property, is necessary to allow placement of logjams in the river and to protect and enhance the floodplain and riparian habitat. The work also will benefit coho salmon, cutthroat trout and steelhead, which are threatened with extinction. The conservancy will contribute $45,000 in donated labor and materials.

$550,000 - Protecting the Headwaters of the Tahuya and Union Rivers

The CLC will use this grant to buy 3,400 acres of forest near the Union and Tahuya Rivers, protecting 30 miles of tributaries. Protection of these lands and headwaters to the rivers will address long-term water quantity and quality issues, benefiting Hood Canal summer chum, coho, Chinook and steelhead. The conservancy will contribute $4.4 million from state and federal grants.

Pierce County $500,000 Purchasing Land along the Lower White River Pierce County will use this grant to buy 175 acres near Buckley as part of the

Cascade Land Conservancy’s larger effort to buy 2,500 acres from Puget Sound Energy. Acquisition of this land will prevent development, protect water quality and habitat and connect the land to other properties in public ownership. This segment of the lower White River, including the floodplain and riparian area, is largely untouched and supports the White River spring Chinook population, as well as coho, chum and pink salmon and steelhead trout. The county will contribute $500,000.