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 used this funding to acquire two ownerships totaling approximately 800.68 acres of shoreline and mature riparian forest parcels within Dabob Bay Natural Area, located in Jefferson County within the Hood Canal region of Puget Sound. The target area consisted of eleven parcels, one of which was improved with lower-valued outbuildings used primarily for storage. The remaining parcels were all vacant and forested. This project contained high-quality examples of coastal spits, supported by coastal bluffs and shorelines within the natural area that provide sediment and woody debris for continued ecological function. Additionally, the project included high-quality examples of under-represented forest vegetation types listed in DNR’s Natural Heritage Plan. These acquisitions provide opportunities to remove shoreline hardening and restore natural stream function. By acquiring the priority parcels, DNR strengthened the protection of the Dabob Bay Natural Area Preserve, as well as provided for education and research opportunities, potential access for low-impact recreation, and supported the statewide system of natural areas as a whole.