Category Overview
Conserving land along our waterways protects important habitat and helps keep our rivers healthy, clean, and more resilient to drought. Riparian Protection projects conserve and restore fresh and saltwater habitat while protecting fish habitat. In doing so, the grants help provide our families, farms, and fisheries with clean water across the state.
Project Highlights
Jefferson Land Trust is applying for Salmon Recovery Funding Board and WWRP Riparian Habitat grant funds for the permanent protection of important riparian habitat in the Salmon Creek watershed, located at the head of Discovery Bay. The Salmon and Snow Creek Estuary is the most intact of its type on the Strait of Juan de Fuca and is the unquestioned stronghold of the ESA listed Strait of Juan De Fuca summer chum salmon. This project continues the successful protection and restoration efforts conducted by Chumsortium partners since 2001. Jefferson Land Trust will permanently protect approximately 155 acres with nearly 1 mile of the mainstem of Salmon Creek which is spawning grounds for coho, winter steelhead and threatened summer chum, as well as habitat used by adult fall chum and cutthroat trout through fee simple acquisition. The tributary and upland forest habitats provide habitat for a diversity of wildlife. The project fits well with the Hood Canal Coordinating Council Strategy for Salmon Recovery, which lists protecting highly functioning habitat in the Salmon Creek watershed as a priority. This project aims to protect and restore a parcel that was identified through previous protection efforts by Chumsortium partners, and is adjacent to properties protected with conservation easements acquired through a 2001 SRFB grant.