Smith Family Farms Phase 1

Our Work / Farmland Preservation / Smith Family Farms Phase 1

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 North Olympic Land Trust used this grant to purchase a permanent agricultural conservation easement on 132 acres and extinguished eight development rights on a portion of the land that the Smith family farms. They refer to these tracts as Wonderland and the Eighty. In addition to other properties that the Smith family leases and owns, this property provides all the forage for their cattle and is an integral part of their dairy operation. The Smith family operates one of two remaining dairies in Clallam County, and this 132 acres of farmland is critical to the operation of their dairy. The property is located on Port Williams Road in eastern Clallam County and contains all prime and prime, if irrigated, farmland soils. The site is also a popular birding spot, is potential habitat for the Taylor Checkerspot, an endangered species of butterfly that breeds in the area, and is popular with the Dungeness herd of elk.

Quick Facts

WWRP Applicant: North Olympic Land Trust Category: Farmland Preservation WWRP Grant: $508,936.10 Applicant Match: $663,812.79 Project Type: Acquisition County: Clallam Legislative District: 24 Status: Closed Completed RCO Project # 16-1908

Location Details

From Port Angeles, take Highway 101 to Sequim. Take the Sequim Ave exit. Turn left onto S Sequim Ave. At the traffic circle, take your first exit onto Port Williams Road. Turn right, and your destination will be on the right after about 1.8 miles. After turning into the driveway, you will be facing the residence on the property that is used for employee housing. There is ample parking before the residence, in the equipment yard to the left/east.

What is the WWRP

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) is a state grant program that creates and conserves local and state parks, wildlife habitat and working farms. The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office administers WWRP grants, and the legislature funds the program.