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
The proposed Woodway Reserve would acquire 7.85 acres and contains four of the State’s priority habitat types including the “Urban Natural Open Space” habitat, two priority bird species, and several elements of the Natural Heritage Program. Dense, urban development surrounds this area of mature conifer forest, mixed forest, and forested wetlands, except where it connects to Puget Sound and nearby greenbelts. A prevalence of snags and rich plant communities support at least 40 species of birds. Future plans for this site beyond the continued protection of its habitat value include wildlife observation and outdoor environmental education.