December 15, 2003

Council Moves to Protect Open Space
Purchases will Prevent Development on Vital Habitat throughout County

The Metropolitan King County Council today continued its effort to ensure open space will not disappear in King County by assisting in the purchase of property in east King County and Maury Island, and setting aside funding for the future purchase of conservation easements to protect the Snoqualmie Forest.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to protect the rural character, open space and wildlife habitat of three very diverse parcels of land in King County,” said Councilmember Jane Hague, Chair of the Council’s Growth Management, and Unincorporated Areas Committee. “One of the purchases insures that within the suburban corridor, there will be open space for people to enjoy now and for future generations.”

The funds will be used to purchase three separate parcels within King County:

Juanita Woodlands-A wooded 36.3-acre open space in unincorporated King County, west of the city of Kirkland. Working in conjunction with the Denny Creek Neighborhood Alliance, the County will contribute $7 million towards the purchase of the property to preserve as open space.

Maury Island-As part of the Maury Island Conservation Initiative, the County has been working to preserve 300 acres of rural coastal land on Maury Island, which is currently threatened by development. This property has one of the state’s largest Madrone forests and shoreline habitat that is critical to salmon, cutthroat trout, herring and bottomfish. The site is adjacent to the Maury Island Aquatic Reserve and includes valuable shoreline and terrestrial habitat.

Snoqualmie Forest—Also known as the Snoqualmie Tree Farm, this 108,000-acre parcel of land has been managed as a working forest for nearly one hundred years. The land surrounds the city of Seattle Tolt watershed, which provides drinking water for the residents of the city of Seattle and contains habitat for numerous salmon species and other wildlife species afforded protection under state law and the Endangered Species Act. The Forest contains extensive shoreline environments, including over eight thousand acres of riparian habitat and over one thousand one hundred acres of wetlands and lakes, and including major rivers such as the north fork of the Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers.

The Maury Island Conservation Initiative and Snoqualmie Forest are part of the Forestry and Nearshore Initiative, which is focused on protecting habitats around Puget Sound that are key salmon habitat for juvenile and mature salmon as well as other species. $21 million is being appropriated towards the future acquisition of Maury Island Shoreline and purchase of conservation easements to protect the Snoqualmie Forest, and $5.5 million for the purchase of the Juanita Woodlands Project.

“Preservation of this shoreline will help King County ensure that salmon, an icon of the Pacific Northwest, will not disappear,” said Councilmember Dow Constantine, whose district includes Maury Island. “This is vital to the future of Puget Sound and conserving this area will protect critical nearshore habitat and all that depends on it.”

The county will finance the purchase of the open space with the sale of Limited Tax General Obligation bonds. The Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) will be used to pay the debt service on the bonds.

“From Forward Thrust to Waterways 2000, county government has recognized the importance of preserving this region’s natural treasures,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips, Chair of the Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee. “We are doing this in a way that will not have an impact on our challenged county budget, so we can protect the future without taking away from present needs.”

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system and type in “2003-0522”