Land conservation, piece by piece

Raging River Lands Conserved

In March, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) approved the purchase of 460 acres in the Raging River State Forest, which was created in 2009 by Commissioner of Public Lands and Greenway Trust board member Peter Goldmark. “This is an opportunity to protect salmon habitat and clean water in the Raging River drainage while generating long-term revenue for public school construction,” said Goldmark. Recreation planning for the Raging River State Forest is underway.

 

Tokul Creek Forest keeps forestland and mountain bike trails connected

King County acquired 165 acres known as the Tokul Creek Forest, an area popular with mountain bicyclists just south of the Snoqualmie Forest and adjacent to the Snoqualmie Valley Trail.  

Tokul Purchase“This acquisition is very important, with the potential for key trail connections into the 90,000-acre Snoqualmie Forest managed by Hancock Forest Management. We’ve been working with Hancock to build and maintain trails on their property, and appreciate the effort they have made to provide recreational access to the forest through their permit program,” says Glenn Glover, Executive Director of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance.

King County’s conservation of these parcels, using Conservation Futures tax and King County Parks and Open Space Levy funds, will preserve the connectivity of forest land in the Snoqualmie Valley, and place a well-liked recreation area in public ownership.