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 Okanogan Land Trust acquired three agricultural conservation easements as follows: 260 acres of farmland, and 1,177 acres of ranchland, and 160 additional acres of ranchland. These easements protect in perpetuity productive farmland that supports a high production corn and hay farm as well as a successful cattle ranching operation. The ranchland protected includes high quality grasslands. This project also protects two unique wildlife habitats including a spring-fed grassland meadow and about 2 miles of Siwash Creek, a tributary to the Okanogan River that provides critical cold water flows for rainbow trout, steelhead, and spring Chinook in the lower reach. In addition to protecting the agricultural values and wildlife habitats on the property, this project protects water rights on Siwash Creek. The farmland property is located along Havillah Road east of Tonasket in Okanogan County and the ranchland properties are located along Molson Road east of Oroville in Okanogan County.