Category Overview
Farmland Preservation protects valuable farmland and habitat for recreationally important animals, like salmon, birds, deer, and elk. These projects allow families to continue farming the land they have worked on for generations, and provide Washingtonians with healthy local food and a diverse economy. WWRP is the only source of farmland preservation funding in the state budget.
Project Highlights
This project preserves the 60.74-acre Finn Hall Farm in eastern Clallam County by purchasing the development rights through an agricultural conservation easement with matching funds from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm and Ranchland Protection Program. The purpose of the easement is to prevent any use of the property that would impair or interfere with the conservation values. The agricultural conservation values are many, including prime soils, proximity to county roads for easy transport to market, agricultural infrastructure including irrigation water, historical context, and family desire to continue farming. In addition, the Farm provides food, cover, and a resting place for a large variety of birds including eagles and hawks and migratory birds, like the Trumpeter Swans that stop to feed and rest. The constructed wetland provides water for these birds and other wildlife. The Farm is also located within one mile of 192 acres of protected land in the same watershed, the Siebert Creek watershed. The property consists of 12 adjacent five acre lots that have a commanding view of the Olympic Mountains, making them highly attractive to developers. Nine of the 12 development rights are being extinguished. The retained development rights are within the 7.00 acre building envelope. Current impervious surface percentage in this building envelope is 1.396% and the easement allows a maximum of 3%. The current family has farmed these prime soils (USDA classified) since 1920. The property was historically used as a dairy farm, beginning in 1935. In 1989, the dairy cattle were sold, and the Jarvis’ started raising beef cattle. Peas, wheat, corn and beet seed have been grown on portions of the property in the past. The property is presently in predominantly hay production, with fenced pasture used for beef cattle grazing. The owners, who are retired, lease the land to one of several nearby farmers, who continues the beef cattle operation.