Nestlé USA is King County's Corporate Earth Hero for the month of May
King County Executive Ron Sims and Nestlé USA today announced the donation of 60 acres of rural land in the Snoqualmie Valley to King County. The land was part of the Nestlé Regional Training Center, formerly the Carnation Farm, a familiar landmark to residents.
As a result of this donation, the area will remain rural for generations to come and
will benefit salmon protection efforts.
“Nestlé USA has been a wonderful neighbor in the Snoqualmie Valley since it purchased the Carnation Farm in 1985,” said Sims, in accepting the donation. “This site is very beneficial to early projects that will address our Endangered Species Act efforts in the Snoqualmie watershed.
“But what speaks more about this company was its response when King County approached them to make a purchase of this land,” said Sims. “When we explained our salmon recovery efforts in the Snoqualmie watershed, rather than strike a deal with us over this land, Nestlé chose to donate it to King County."
“To me, that typifies everything all the recent Earth Day activities symbolized — a real commitment to making the communities we live and work in a better place. Nestlé did not choose to publicize this action — we did. It is with our heartfelt thanks that we salute Nestlé for being a good corporate neighbor.”
The property is bordered by the Snoqualmie River, with one mile of river frontage bordering the 60-acres of cleared pastureland and riparian forest on the north, west and east. There is a key salmon spawning area along this portion of the River, and there is a bald eagle nest located in the forested region.
“Nestlé’s commitment to be the “very best” includes giving back in ways that are meaningful and beneficial to the communities in which we operate,” said Frank Novak, director, Nestlé Regional Training Center. “Through this land donation, King County will work in the best interest of the community to retain open spaces and work toward preserving the salmon habitat.”
“The Snoqualmie Watershed has some of the healthiest remaining habitat and salmon stocks in King County, due in large part to the stewardship of agricultural landowners like Nestlé,” said Sims. King County has purchased development rights, which limits high-density development in the Snoqualmie River floodplain.
“King County's salmon recovery strategy places a high priority on protecting healthy habitat areas rather than trying to recreate them later. The property being donated by Nestlé is an essential piece of the habitat puzzle,” Sims added.
Spawning habitat for chinook salmon in the Snoqualmie watershed is quite limited. This site, which is downstream of the confluence of the Tolt and Snoqualmie Rivers, has spawning beds for chinook, pink, and chum salmon. It is also located at the heart of an area rich with side channels and sloughs that provide rearing for young salmon and refuge during floods.
There are also opportunities to enhance habitat on this property, through plantings along the river and side channels and levee removals or setbacks. Public ownership of the land, with a commitment to protect habitat in perpetuity, helps in securing grant funding for restoration.
“Protection of habitat through public ownership or long-term conservation easements is quite expensive,” said Sims. “Even when habitat protection efforts are carefully targeted, resources for acquisition fall short of the need. Nestlé’s generous donation will help to stretch our resources for habitat protection, and allow the County to invest in other areas critical to long-term health of the Snoqualmie Watershed.”
In addition to the scientific work that will be conducted on the property by King County, Nestlé will continue to help children learn the importance of the environment through its “Very Best Volunteers” Adopt-A-School Program. Nestlé employees will host adopt-a-school field trips to the property, highlighting the importance of restoring natural fish and other animal habitats.
For well over a century, Nestlé has been making the very best food and beverage products for families around
the world. In the U.S., Nestlé’s well-known brands include: Nestlé® Toll House®, Nestlé® NesQuik™,
Carnation® Coffee-mate®, Stouffer’s®, Lean Cuisine®, Nescafé®, Libby’s® Juicy Juice®, Buitoni®,
Taster’s Choice®, Ortega®, Nestlé® Crunch®, Butterfinger®, Wonka®, Friskies® Fancy Feast®,
ALPO®, and Mighty Dog®. Headquartered in Glendale, Calif., Nestlé USA has 19,000 employees,
$8 billion in sales and is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A. - the world’s largest food company.
Related information: Earth Legacy Initiative Web site
