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 grant to acquire approximately 28 acres for inclusion in the Lacamas Prairie Natural Area. This natural area is located northeast of Vancouver in the Puget Trough/Willamette Valley ecoregion and protects the second largest of 20 known populations of Bradshaw’s Lomatium, a globally critically imperiled federally endangered plant species. This site also provides habitat for seven state sensitive plant species and one rare animal species. The target property is comprised of 2 acres of riparian habitat, 3 acres of wetlands and 23 acres of uplands. It supports the Bradshaw’s Lomatium and also contains habitat for five sensitive state plant species and the rare Slender-billed White Breasted Nuthatch. The primary conservation opportunity provided by this project is enlargement of the existing protected habitat and will be available for environmental education and low impact public use.