Unanimous Approval Expands Endangered Species Habitat Protections in Snohomish County Conservation Area
The Washington Board of Natural Resources has unanimously conserved 1,049 acres of old-growth forests, endangered species habitat, and rare plant species in Snohomish County. Board members approved the transfer of State Forest and Trust lands to expand the Morning Star Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA) at their regular meeting on November 4th.
“One of the most important things that Washingtonians expect of DNR is that we ensure our state’s critical environmental resources are conserved for future generations,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove. “This expansion of the Morning Star NRCA will protect the native plants, diverse wildlife, and vital habitat of these old-growth forests for Washingtonians now and well into the future.”
Natural Resources Conservation Areas protect outstanding examples of native ecosystems, habitat for endangered, threatened, and sensitive plants and animals, and scenic landscapes. More than 128,870 acres are conserved in 39 state NRCAs managed by DNR.
The transferred property is valued at $4,556,000 and was designated to produce revenue for trust accounts managed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Proceeds tied to the State Forest Transfer Trust will be deposited into the Parkland Replacement Account for the benefit of Snohomish County. They will be used to purchase replacement trust property.
The transfer is part of DNR’s Trust Land Transfer (TLT) process and is fully funded by the legislature. This program transfers economically underperforming lands with high ecological values and public benefits. Many transferred parcels are designated as parks, open spaces, nature preserves, or similar uses.
For more information about DNR’s Trust Land Transfer Program, visit this link
For more information about Natural Resources Conservation Areas, visit this link
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