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
Island County, in partnership with the Whidbey Camano Land Trust, acquired an agricultural conservation easement on a 66-acre conifer seed farm at the southern entrance of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve. Prairie soils in Ebey’s Reserve are highly valued for growing numerous crops, such as squash, corn and various seed crops, including conifer seed. This farm is an ideal conifer seed site because it is well-drained, has fertile soils, is gently sloping, and has a rainshadow climate (little rain and summer heat). This property is also highly valuable to protect in agricultural use because of its existing infrastructure and wildlife values.