Category Overview
As Washington continues to grow, many of our most beautiful areas are threatened with development. In addition, native ecosystems are receding, and important wildlife habitat and migratory pathways are being cut off. The Natural Areas category helps combat this by funding projects that protect wildlife habitat and rare geological features while also preserving public access for back-country recreation.
Project Highlights
The Department of Natural Resources was funded to acquire 272 acres of privately owned upland and riparian forest habitat for inclusion in the Kennedy Creek Natural Area under this grant. The purpose of these acquisitions was to provide additional protection of the Kennedy Creek riparian corridor and enhance protection of Kennedy Creek Natural Area Preserve (NAP). Target Property A was not able to be acquired due to the landowner’s disinterest in selling at market value and the likelihood of not being able to meet their value expectation. Target Property B was appraised, and a review appraisal determined the value to be $2,480,000. (appraisals were paid for using federal grant funds). The landowner rejected DNR’s offer since it did not come close to landowner’s lowest minimum acceptable price. At this time, there are no other potential properties that DNR could acquire that are within the Natural Area. DNR has requested to return this grant back to RCO. In addition, DNR requested that the federal funds that were awarded for this acquisition be transferred to another riparian acquisition. As of 6/1/2025, that request was approved by the federal government.