Land and Resource Conservation

Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD)

Conservation of Natural Lands

About this measure: This measure indexes four sub-measures yielding information about the effectiveness of land acquisition, stewardship and incentive programs administered by the Water and Land Resources Division.

This measure combines:

• The percentage of privately owned rural acres with a stewardship plan or that is enrolled in an open space incentive program. This includes farm, forest or rural stewardship plans, or enrollment in the Public Benefit Rating System for timber land, forest and agriculture.
• The percentage of public and private rural acres in permanent conservation. This includes those with conservation easements or land that is owned by a public agency.
• The percentage of total acres acquired by King County in 2006, through both fee simple agreements and easements that are medium-high or high priority lands.
• The percentage of Forest Production District in public ownership through either fee simple agreements or through conservation easements.

For all of these measures, rural acres refer to all rural and agriculture zoned land, including Vashon Island and excluding the Forest Production District.

2006 results:

• Rural acres with stewardship plan or enrolled in open space incentive program: 28.8 percent
• Rural acres in permanent conservation: 21.8 percent
• High to medium-high priority lands acquired in 2006: 45.3 percent
• Forest Production District in public ownership: 80 percent

2006 target:

• Rural acres with stewardship plan or enrolled in open space incentive program: 29 percent
• Rural acres in permanent conservation: 22 percent
• High to medium-high priority lands acquired in 2006: 80 percent
• Forest Production District in public ownership: 80 percent

Influencing factors: Budget allocations, regulatory and policy changes all play a role in land conservation and acquisition activities. Implementing policy plans, such as salmon restoration plans or the flood hazard reduction plan, often identify or call for specific land acquisition and protection and outreach and education toward improving stewardship and changing environmental behavior.

Strategy going forward: Continue effective program delivery in encouraging stewardship and conservation on privately owned lands, and making the case for directing funds toward lands identified as high priority.

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Parks Land Management

About this measure: This measure (in development) will track land management practices for the 25,000 acres of parks and open space managed by the Parks Division. With increasing use of these important regional assets is a commensurate need for maintenance and stewardship of these sites. In addition to general care identified in site management plans, staff often face emerging challenges, such as encampments, noxious weed invasions, and illegally dumped materials. This index will gauge the degree that operational and maintenance targets are met for key open space management objectives.

2006 status: This is a new measure — no data was collected in 2006

2006 target: This new measure had no 2006 target

Influencing factors: In August of 2007 the renewal of the Parks Levy will go before King County voters. The levy's success is the most significant factor that will influence the degree that Parks land management objectives and targets can be met in the years ahead.

Strategy going forward: If the levy passes, Parks will have a dedicated backcountry trail crew and increase volunteer partnerships that help restore natural areas, build new trails, and maintain service levels throughout the Parks system.

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