Category Overview
As Washington continues to grow, many of our most beautiful areas are threatened with development. In addition, native ecosystems are receding, and important wildlife habitat and migratory pathways are being cut off. The Natural Areas category helps combat this by funding projects that protect wildlife habitat and rare geological features while also preserving public access for back-country recreation.
Project Highlights
The Washington Department of Natural Resources used this grant to buy 20.41 acres to expand the Trout Lake Natural Area Preserve. The lands acquired support one of the two largest populations of the state threatened pale blue-eyed grass (federal candidate species), the largest Washington population of the rare Pulsifers monkey-flower, and the only recently known occurrence of the state threatened Parry’s knotweed.