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Smith Farm
- Status
- Funded in 2009
Skagit County will use this grant to buy the development rights, permanently, on 267 acres of prime farmland, known as the Smith farm on Fir Island. The land has been farmed for more than 100 years and is designated as agricultural land of long-term commercial significance and prime farmland by the federal National Resources Conservation Service and Skagit County. The long daylight hours, mild maritime climate, and fertile soils make the Skagit Valley one of the few places in the world where vegetable seed can be produced. Because the Skagit Valley produces between 50 percent and 75 percent of the world’s spinach and cabbage seed, these properties have an importance far beyond the local level. The land also supports a variety of migratory bird species and the Wrangell Island Snow Geese, which is protected by international treaties. Pressure to convert farmland is increasing dramatically as the county’s population grows, expecting to increase by 46 percent between 2000 and 2020. This was the top ranked project of 16 competing for funding in the farmland preservation category of the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program.
Location
Take I-5 North towards Mount Vernon Take EXIT 221 toward WA-534 E/ LAKE MCMURRAY. Turn LEFT onto PIONEER HWY. Turn RIGHT onto FIR ISLAND RD. Site 1: 19 acres (Polson Road) Follow Fir Island and Turn Right onto DRY SLOUGH RD Turn RIGHT onto POLSON road. See attached PowerPoint slide with aerial map. Property location outlined in orange. East side of proposed property is bordered by drainage ditch running North South. Site 2: 167.52 acres (Fir Island Road) From Site 1 return to Fir Island road and turn RIGHT Follow Fir Island Road to Snow Goose Produce on Left. Park. Directly across the street from the produce stand is 152 acres of proposed property. See attached PowerPoint slide of aerial photo with properties outlined in orange. Site 3: 80 acres (Maupin Road) From Snow Goose Produce continue north on Fir Island Road and take first left onto Rawlins Road Turn Left onto Maupin Road. Proposed property is 80 acres of farmland on the left extending east approximately halfway to the slough.
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Smith Farm
- Skagit County will use this grant to buy the development rights, permanently, on 267 acres of prime farmland, known as the Smith farm on Fir Island. The land has been farmed for more than 100 years and is designated as agricultural land of long-term commercial significance and prime farmland by the federal National Resources Conservation Service and Skagit County. The long daylight hours, mild maritime climate, and fertile soils make the Skagit Valley one of the few places in the world where vegetable seed can be produced. Because the Skagit Valley produces between 50 percent and 75 percent of the world’s spinach and cabbage seed, these properties have an importance far beyond the local level. The land also supports a variety of migratory bird species and the Wrangell Island Snow Geese, which is protected by international treaties. Pressure to convert farmland is increasing dramatically as the county’s population grows, expecting to increase by 46 percent between 2000 and 2020. This was the top ranked project of 16 competing for funding in the farmland preservation category of the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program.
- 48.35640438 -122.41691472
What is the WWRP?
The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) is a state grant program that creates and conserves local and state parks, wildlife habitat and working farms. The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office administers WWRP grants, and the legislature funds the program.
