Category Overview
Critical Habitat projects are our state’s primary tool for conserving important fish and wildlife habitat. These projects protect the rich and diverse habitats in our forests, prairies, and wetlands. These funds help maintain our state’s biodiversity and protect species that are popular for hunting, birding, and other outdoor recreation, and are critical for the health of our salmon and fish populations.
Project Highlights
Columbia Land Trust will use this grant to conserve 2,800 acres of state priority Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana) woodland, savanna, and mixed oak-conifer habitat located above the Wild and Scenic Klickitat River in the south-central region of our state. Klickitat Oaks Phase 2 is the second of 3 planned phases totaling 8,000 acres. Phase 2 creates a critical two-mile long link between corridors of state, Tribal, and Columbia Land Trust conserved oak habitat to the north and south of the site. The overall goal is to conserve the site’s threatened oak habitat and ensure the long-term viability of a critical corridor of climate resilient habitat between the Columbia River, Yakama Nation Reservation, and Cascade Mountains. Oregon white oak is one of 11 priority terrestrial habitat types in the state (PHS) and the vast majority of remnant oak in Washington (~90%) is in this region. The project site’s habitat is also utilized by 20 state priority wildlife species. The acquisition will open the site for public access including hiking, wildlife watching, and hunting. Oregon white oak habitats provide resilience to climate change due to their drought tolerance and fire resilience, and the undammed Klickitat River’s north-south orientation facilitates wildlife dispersal. WWRP funds will be used to purchase fee title to the property. Columbia Land Trust will commit over half a million dollars in private funding to an endowment for the permanent stewardship of the site.