Woodard Bay NRCA 2016

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Category Overview

Urban Wildlife Habitat projects fund close-to-home places to play and explore nature. As our urban areas are increasingly expanding and densifying, these grants protect important fish and wildlife habitat within five miles of densely populated areas, creating green refuges that help keep our ecosystems healthy and provide places to enjoy nature right in our backyards.

Project Highlights

This project included acquisition of 20.72 acres within the roughly 900-acre Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA). The project also included demolition of structures, and mulching for erosion and weed control purposes and to prepare the site for restoration. Woodard Bay NRCA provides habitat ranging from shoreline and wetlands to mature second growth forest. These habitats support shorebirds, songbirds, harbor seals, river otters, bald eagles, a maternity colony of bats, and a significant heron rookery at the site.

Quick Facts

WWRP Applicant: Natural Resources Dept of Category: Urban Wildlife Habitat WWRP Grant: $2,512,227.52 Applicant Match: $0.00 Project Type: Acquisition County: Thurston Legislative District: 22 Status: Closed Completed RCO Project # 16-1442

Location Details

Located approximately 5 miles north from downtown Olympia or the City of Lacey, off of Sleater Kinney Road. On Henderson Inlet, Woodard and Chapman Bays. At the northern terminus of the Chehalis Western Trail (a regional multi-use trail).

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.