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 Agricultural Conservation Easement was successfully acquired on Short’s Family Farm on June 30, 2016, permanently protecting agricultural and habitat conservation values on one of the largest remaining farms in Jefferson County. This property is the largest single farm in the fertile Center Valley and is adjacent to several other conservation properties, including FinnRiver Farm, and the site of an ongoing effort to create Chimacum Ridge Community Forest. This grant supported the complicated work to adjust some parcel boundaries in order to consolidate the farm into a single ownership (from mixed ownership among family members and a family trust). Restoration work including fencing to assert certain permanent protected farmland boundaries. A wetland delineation was conducted to help determine the ultimate value for the appraisal, and a Stewardship Plan was developed by the Land Trust in partnership with the landowner to accompany the conservation easement terms.