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 will use this funding to purchase a single ownership totaling approximately 315 acres which is comprised of rare plant communities and species and will be included in the Lacamas Prairie Natural Area located within the Puget Trough/Willamette Valley ecoregion. This natural area is located within the Willamette Valley wet prairie which represents the only example of its size and quality in Washington. This priority parcel supports the second largest of 20 known populations of Bradshaw’s Lomatium, a globally critically imperiled, federally-listed endangered plant species. It also contains habitat for five state sensitive plant species and one rare animal species, the Slender-billed White Breasted Nuthatch. The primary purpose of this grant is natural habitat protection.