Cascade Land Conservancy uses buy and hold strategy to transfer 320 acres to the U.S. Forest Service

January 20, 2010

Everett, Wash. - One of the principal ways the Cascade Land Conservancy (CLC) insures natural lands are preserved forever is to use what is called the “buy and hold” strategy.  That strategy resulted earlier this month in the protection of 320 acres of forestlands in the upper Wallace River valley in Snohomish County.

The parcel was sold the U.S. Forest Service for $1.44 million, based on a federal appraisal of the land.

Under a buy and hold strategy, Cascade Land Conservancy buys property from a land owner because public funds are not yet available for the purchase.  CLC then holds the land until a public agency has the funds to purchase the lands. 

This was the case with the Wallace River property – CLC purchased the land from Longview Timberlands two years ago.  This year, Congress approved the funds with the support from Senator Patty Murray and Rep. Rick Larsen.

This scenic property lies just below the slopes of Mount Stickney and is bordered on three sides by the new Wild Sky Wilderness.  It includes over a mile of riverfront and a large wetland as well as a large grove of old-growth forests.  This provides habitat for spotted owls and resident trout.

 “This transaction completes a key acquisition adjacent to the Wild Sky Wilderness area,” said Nick Harper, CLC Snohomish County Conservation Director.  “The Wild Sky Wilderness is now nearly 107,000 acres of wilderness and low-level forest.  This is a great asset to the entire region.”

“The Cascade Agenda is 100 year vision for the lands and communities that make this a great place to live.  Part of this roadmap for our future is the protection of those natural areas that we want to preserve for our children and grandchildren,” said Gene Duvernoy, President of Cascade Land Conservancy. “This property is a wonderful example of that goal and our ability to work together to achieve significant results.”

 “We are very fortunate to have partnered with Cascade Land Conservancy on acquiring this important forestland,” said Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Supervisor Rob Iwamoto. “Partnering with organizations like CLC and their generous buy and hold strategy have enhanced the protection of this important landscape for future generations.”

The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is one of the most visited forests in the country, located on the west side of the Cascades between the Canadian border and Mount Rainier National Park. The forest offers a variety of landscapes including glacier-covered peaks, spectacular mountain meadows and old-growth forests.

The Wallace River transfer is the second in the past few months in and around the Wild Sky Wilderness.  Wilderness Land Trust recently acquired the forested Bitter Creek parcels and transferred that 113 acre wilderness inholding to the Forest Service.

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For more info:

Nick Harper, Cascade Land Conservancy, 425.760.0955 or nickh@cascadeland.org

Scott Lynn, USFS Northern Washington Lands Zone Leader, 509-664-9293