Cantwell: Great American Outdoors Act Results In Millions For Washington Forests

On Friday, Senator Maria Cantwell announced that four Washington lands projects, two in North Central Washington, and one each in Kitsap and Clark counties, will receive $14,740,000 to protect salmon spawning streams and other watershed projects. The funding from the Forest Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund via the Great American Outdoors Act passed by Congress last year.

Here is out the funds will be allocated:

• $3,700,000 for the Washington Cascades I project and $1,800,000 for the Washington Cascades II project in the Wenatchee National Forest: This funding will help acquire 3,350 acres of land to maintain public access to popular motorized trail networks in the Wenatchee Cascades. This will benefit locals and visitors who enjoy use of their jeeps, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and mountain bikes on these wilderness roads. These tracts will also contribute to watershed protection and restoration efforts in the Yakima River basin.

• $5,640,000 for the Dewatto Headwaters Forest Phase III project in Kitsap County: The Dewatto Headwaters Forest spans approximately 18,000 acres of forest along the Hood Canal in Kitsap County, Washington, delivering cool, clean water to the Canal and Puget Sound area. This acquisition is part of a multi-phased effort that will eventually protect 11,467 acres of the Dewatto Headwaters Forest. Senator Cantwell also wrote a letter of support for the project.

• $3,600,000 for the Yacolt Forest Phase II project in Clark County: The Yacolt Forest in Clark County, Washington, is one of the largest intact forest areas under private ownership in a quickly growing county. This forest area is in close proximity to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and other conservation areas in the county. Phase I of this project helped conserve 3,000 acres of land; Phase II will help conserve an additional 5,900 acres out of a total conservation goal of 34,268 acres of the Yacolt Forest.

“Once again the Land and Water Conservation Fund has delivered for our beloved public lands,” Cantwell said. “These federal dollars, more than $14 million for projects in the Wenatchee National Forest and Kitsap and Clark counties, will permanently protect salmon spawning streams, popular trail networks, and vital watersheds. Today’s funding announcements will expand local outdoor recreation opportunities and improve stewardship of our forests and are great examples of the long term benefits of our successful efforts to permanently reauthorize and fully fund the LWCF last Congress.”

Washington was one of the top recipients of USDA Forest Service LWCF projects this year.

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