Category Overview
Urban Wildlife Habitat projects fund close-to-home places to play and explore nature. As our urban areas are increasingly expanding and densifying, these grants protect important fish and wildlife habitat within five miles of densely populated areas, creating green refuges that help keep our ecosystems healthy and provide places to enjoy nature right in our backyards.
Project Highlights
Snohomish County will use this grant to acquire 29.01 acres of significant bog, fen, wetlands forested habitats. These habitats are threatened by a proposed development and fillings. They are rare in this part of the county and it is the home of a wide range of plant and animal communities such as Utricularia intermedia, Hippuris vulgaris, Ledum groenlandicum, black bear, beaver, bobcat, northern salamander, pacific tree frog and song birds. The existing easement is removed from the deed. There is a scope amendment for restoration after the acquisition. The scope amendment included the removal of concrete debris, fencing, removal of invasive species and restoring buffer areas. The project is now completed. The bog is now a contiguous system through the debris removal and pH level of the waterbody is potentially stabilized. Wetland emergent and upland invasive species are removed and under controlled. 3.1 acres of wetland buffer planting are restored and 5940 plants are planted to enhance the function and value of the bog, fen wetlands and buffers. One mile of shoreline is protected. Fencing around the site was installed. There is on-going monitoring of the water quality and maintenance on the overall site to control non-native plant species.