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
Jefferson County, in partnership with the Jefferson Land Trust, will use this grant to acquire a conservation easement on the 180-acre Glendale Farm, just south of Chimacum. Glendale Farm is one of the largest parcels in the county still in active agricultural use. It is at the confluence of Beaver and Center Valleys, the two largest agriculturally zoned areas in the county. The land has been a farm since 1857, with a history of dairy and cheese production, and is currently an organic beef operation. Zoning allows for up to 12 additional houses on the property, and nearby farms are being subdivided for residential use. Restoration efforts include installation of a solar system and increased efficiency of the irrigation system. Better efficiency will improve the carrying capacity of the farm and increase the diversity of production. The farm includes 150 acres of prime soils, 23 acres of forest, more than a 1/2 mile of Chimacum Creek, scenic vistas from two rural arterials and habitat for salmon, trumpeter swans, eagles, hawks and many other animals. The highly visible, scenic vistas of this farm define the rural character of east Jefferson County, and protection of the strategically located property will set the tone for the viability of the county’s agricultural community.