Thurston County will use this grant to buy a permanent conservation easement on 325 acres of the 725-acre Black River Ranch. The county loses more than 1,000 acres of farmland a year to other uses. The Black River Ranch is one of the largest farms in the county and contains a diverse complex of wetlands, floodplain, riparian, and upland habitat, as well as extensive farmlands. The property is between large protected areas - the Glacial Heritage Preserve to the east and Mima Creek Preserve to the west. The project is an innovative partnership project between conservation land trusts, agricultural land trusts, local government, tribal government, private landowners, and state and federal agencies. The county will contribute $1.1 million in conservation futures, and federal and other grants.