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 State Conservation Commission (SCC) proposes to acquire a conservation easement on 875 acres to preserve the agricultural conservation values in perpetuity. The ranch operation provides rangeland grazing pasture and produces alfalfa-grass hay for livestock feed. This unique property has many different and valuable habitat types including an ESA listed steelhead bearing stream and oak savannahs. The surrounding High Prairie area is being developed for its prized views and modest land valuations relative to the Columbia Gorge and nearby towns. This easement conserves steelhead habitat, Oregon Oak savannah, prairie grasslands, and agricultural production. The range of different habitat types on this proposed easement is unique aspect of this project. The only development on the ranch is a single residence and associated outbuildings to support the property. This is a multi-generational ranch with the original ownership dating back to being homesteaded in 1899 and adjacent properties purchased in 1950. The family desires to keep the property in its current state to continually be utilized for agriculture and provide benefits for fish and wildlife. The project has been developed in partnership between the SCC and the Central Klickitat Conservation District (CKCD). SCC will hold and steward the easement backed up by the full resources of Washington State. SCC and CKCD are both governmental organizations founded in Washington State law with good governance practices.