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 PCC Farmland Trust will use this grant to purchase a permanent conservation easement on 200 acres of the Reiner Farm in the Tualco Valley, one of Snohomish County’s core agricultural communities. In addition to having some of Snohomish County’s best farmland, Reiner Farm also includes two miles of riverfront on the main stem of the Skykomish River, including a 200′ riparian buffer providing high-quality fish and wildlife habitat. Conservation of Reiner Farm will extinguish 18 development rights. Reiner Farm currently provides critical acreage for the neighboring Werkhoven Dairy, which milks 1,000 cows on 700 acres of owned and leased land, including Reiner farm. The farm produces corn, silage, and hay, and its rich USDA Prime soils are capable of supporting diversified row crops, berries and fruit, livestock, and grain production.