Category Overview
Farmland Preservation protects valuable farmland and habitat for recreationally important animals, like salmon, birds, deer, and elk. These projects allow families to continue farming the land they have worked on for generations, and provide Washingtonians with healthy local food and a diverse economy. WWRP is the only source of farmland preservation funding in the state budget.
Project Highlights
The conservation of the 54-acre Mid Valley Farm, owned by the Davis family since 1945, meets North Olympic Land Trust’s and RCO’s primary goals of preserving historic farms that are important to the culture, economy and recreation of the area. Mid Valley Farm is located on the edge of the rapidly expanding City of Sequim, and is integral to Maple View Farm, one of the two remaining dairies in all of Clallam County, a county that had over 480 family dairies prior to the 1950s. Preservation of Mid Valley Farm will protect this critically important link to the agricultural history of Western Washington. Permanently protecting this important farmland, through the purchase of an easement, will preserve prime agricultural soils, provide critical land access opportunities for current and future farmers, and extinguish at least 9 development rights on lands best suited for agriculture. The easement will prohibit subdivision, maintaining the property as a 54 acre farm. The conservation of Mid Valley Farm will also meet recreation goals by preserving bucolic scenic vistas for those who bike or drive along this busy scenic route, and many birders will continue to enjoy the state protected Trumpeter and Tundra Swans that use open fields to winter in our area.