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
North Olympic Land Trust seeks to acquire a farmland conservation easement on 38.62 acres of farmland composed of fully irrigated 100% USDA Prime farmland in Sequim-Dungeness, Washington.Arthur and Fanchon Towne immigrated to the area and acquired 160 acres of land at the intersection of what is now Towne and Woodcock Roads. In 1930, they deeded a portion of their land to Clallam County and Washington State to help create Towne Road. In 1959, Val and Pearl Cameron purchased the remaining western half to grow hay and peas. In 1962, they began leasing the farm to grow silage and hay. In 1976, Val and Pearl transferred the farm to Cameron Farm Estates, which is now owned by their children, Pam and Bill Cameron. Pam and Bill Cameron continue to lease the farm for hay production and row crops. A conservation easement on Cameron Farm will protect this important farmland, located in the heart of the greater agricultural landscape of the Dungeness Valley. The open fields provide bucolic relief for traffic along Woodcock and Towne Roads. The fields are also used by wildlife, including State protected Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinators), Tundra Swans (Cygnus columbianus), and many birds of prey; furthermore, it protects Western Bumblebees (Bombus occidentalis) habitats.With willing landowners ready to extinguish seven development rights, now is the time to protect Cameron Farm, which meets all the needs of a thriving farm.