Category Overview
Urban Wildlife Habitat projects fund close-to-home places to play and explore nature. As our urban areas are increasingly expanding and densifying, these grants protect important fish and wildlife habitat within five miles of densely populated areas, creating green refuges that help keep our ecosystems healthy and provide places to enjoy nature right in our backyards.
Project Highlights
This project will acquire 57.6 acres of highly diverse wetlands, riparian and undeveloped uplands on Beaver Lake. This privately owned land connects the Hazel Wolf Wetlands Preserve (116 acres) to 1600 feet of Beaver Lake shoreline. More than that, this land consists of a wide variety of mature habitat including several very large western redcedar and Douglas fir approaching old growth stature. Federal species of concern that inhabit this land include the olive-sided flycatcher, the willow flycatcher, and the Northern red-legged frog. State Candidate species include the pileated woodpecker and the western toad which was common at the site until a few years ago. Bald eagle, listed as threatened on both state and federal lists, are frequently observed flying and perching on this land. The property, located in one of the fastest growing areas of the state, is zoned 4 houses/acre and the owners are actively seeking a sale. Recognizing the property’s significance and vulnerability, the City of Sammamish chose to support acquisition even before the city’s comprehensive plan is adopted.