Category Overview
Conserving land along our waterways protects important habitat and helps keep our rivers healthy, clean, and more resilient to drought. Riparian Protection projects conserve and restore fresh and saltwater habitat while protecting fish habitat. In doing so, the grants help provide our families, farms, and fisheries with clean water across the state.
Project Highlights
This project aims to conserve 229 acres of land in the Hoko River watershed that is identified as a high priority in The Western Strait of Juan de Fuca Salmonid Habitat Conservation Plan. The Hoko River watershed is known to support important habitat for salmon and steelhead productivity and survival, making them a high priority for conservation. Research of Water Resource Inventory Area 19 (WRIA 19) in 2011 resulted in The Western Strait of Juan de Fuca Salmonid Habitat Conservation Plan, which provided the data to prioritize conservation of specific parcels most important for fish productivity. All properties are located in Water Resource Inventory Area 19, and are within the Hoko River watershed, including the mainstem of the Hoko River, the Lower Hoko wetland complex, Talbot Creek, Johnson Creek, unnamed tributaries, and portions of the Johnson Creek wetland complex. The primary types of habitat to be protected include off-channel wetland habitat, large river mainstem habitat, mature riparian floodplain forest, and some of the highest use Chinook spawning habitat in WRIA 19. The primary species supported are Chinook, chum, coho, steelhead, and cutthroat. There will likely be access for outdoor recreation, particularly for lands acquired fee-simple. Uses could include non-motorized daytime activities like bird and wildlife viewing, and picnicking.