Sturgeon Farm Conservation Easement

Our Work / Farmland Preservation / Sturgeon Farm Conservation Easement

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

On July 1st 2013, PCC Farmland Trust acquired 21 development rights on 98.5 acres of prime farmland via a perpetual Agricultural Conservation Easement. The Sturgeon farm property, now owned and operated by Dropstone Farms, includes approximately 80 acres of farmable uplands and about 15 acres of riparian and wetland habitat. It is located in the Puyallup River Valley outside of the City of Orting in Pierce County. This project supported the economic goals of the Pierce County Agricultural Strategic Plan, the Pierce County Conservation Future’s priorities for farmland preservation, and the Puget Sound Action Agenda’s goals for protecting open space in the Puyallup Watershed. The primary purpose of this project was to protect the agricultural values of this property, including the prime soils, parcel size, irrigation water rights, location to market, and contiguity with adjacent conserved farmland parcels.

Quick Facts

WWRP Applicant: Washington Farmland Trust Category: Farmland Preservation WWRP Grant: $480,000.00 Applicant Match: $480,000.00 Project Type: Acquisition County: Pierce Legislative District: 2 Status: Closed Completed RCO Project # 12-1225

Location Details

From US Interstate 5, take exit 127 to merge onto WA State Highway 512 East toward Puyallup. Then take the exit for WA State Highway 161 South toward Eatonville. Next, turn right onto 31st Ave Southwest, and continue straight as it becomes Meridian Avenue East. Turn left onto 37th Ave Southeast, and continue straight as it becomes 39th Avenue Southeast. Turn right onto Shaw Road East, then left onto 122nd Street East. Follow this as it becomes Military Road East. Turn right onto WA State Highway 162 East, and follow WA 162 East through a right turn onto Bridge Street South, and a left turn onto Harman Way South. Finally, turn right onto Orville Road East, and Sturgeon Farm will be on your right after 0.6 miles. The street address is 20254 Orville Rd E, Orting, WA 98360-9763.

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.