agenda item #5 proposed land transactions

AGENDA ITEM #5

PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS December 2021

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S Summary Sheet…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. i Item 1: Proposed Acquisition of 290(+/-) acres

Yakima County - Cowiche Watershed Regional Map ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1a Location Map ………...………………………………………………………………………........................ 1b Item 2: Proposed Acquisition of a 34(+/-) acre Conservation Easement

Thurston County – Oregon Spotted Frog Regional Map ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2a Location Map ………...………………………………………………………………………........................ 2b

Fish and Wildlife Commission Presentation Summary Sheet Meeting date: 12/3/2021

Agenda item #5: Proposed Land Transactions

Presenter(s): Karen Edwards – Real Estate Manager

Background summary:

Item 1: Proposed Acquisition of 290(+/-) acres in Yakima County – Cowiche Watershed

This proposal of the Trepanier property is to acquire 290(+/-) acres of intact, quality shrub steppe habitat. The

property links two existing Department of Fish and Wildlife Area Units within the Oak Creek WLA; Cowiche and

Oak Creek, and will be added to the Oak Creek WLA management plan. This property is significant for both mule

deer and Rocky Mountain elk. The property will complement the current management strategy and greatly

increase public recreational opportunities, including hunting, hiking, wildlife viewing, and equestrian use.

Approved through Lands 20/20 in 2014 with a portion added earlier this year, the property appraised at a value

of $220,000 which will be provided through a Critical Habitat grant from the Recreation and Conservation Office,

Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program. The Rocky Mountian Elk Foundation has been a close partner on

this project.

Item 2: Proposed Acquisition of a 34(+/-) acre Conservation Easement in Thurston County – Oregon Spotted

Frog

This proposal on the Rogers property is to acquire a 34(+/-) acre conservation easement providing wetland

habitat for Oregon spotted frog, a federally threatened and Washington State endangered species. Oregon

Spotted frog need shallow wetlands and marshes for breeding and oviposition (egg laying) sites. This property

has been evaluated and has excellent quality habitat for this purpose and, has Allen creek running through it

which is a deep water channel important for Oregon Spotted frog escape.

Approved through Lands 20/20 in 2017, the appraised value of this conservation easement is $290,000 which

will be provided through a Critical Habitat grant from the Recreation and Conservation Office, Washington

Wildlife and Recreation Program.

____________________________________________________________________________________ Staff Recommendation: Staff recommend approval of these land transactions. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Policy issue(s) and expected outcome: Protecting critical fish and wildlife habitat and providing recreational opportunities.

Fiscal impacts of agency implementation: Operations and Maintenance costs and payment in lieu of taxes for item #1. Conservation easement monitoring costs for item #2.

Action requested and/or proposed next steps: Approval of these land transactions as presented.

Draft motion language: Motion: I move to approve the land transactions as presented by staff. Is there a “second”? If so, then motion maker discusses basis for motion; other Commissioners discuss views on motion; amendments, if any, proposed and addressed.

Post decision communications plan: WDFW will distribute a press release informing the public of these actions.

ITEM 1: PROPOSED ACQUISITION, COWICHE WATERSHEDYAKIMA COUNTYLEGAL: SECTION 33, TOWNSHIP 14N, RANGE 16E, W.M.SECTION 4, TOWNSHIP 13N, 16E, W.M.ACRES: 290 (+/-)

Date: 11/29/2021User Name: coffmlrc

Kittitas

Yakima

UnionGap

Naches

Yakima

Tieton

Selah

410

823

12

823

12

82

82

City BoundariesWDFW Lands

OWNERCity or Municipal GovernmentCounty GovernmentFederal GovernmentState GovernmentTribal GovernmentInterstateState RouteUS Route

´0 5.5 11

Miles

1 A

This product is for informational purposes and may not have been prepared for or be suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes.It does not represent an on-the-ground survey and represents only the approximate relative location of property boundaries.

Proposed Acquisition

ITEM 1: PROPOSED ACQUISITION, COWICHE WATERSHEDYAKIMA COUNTYLEGAL: SECTION 33, TOWNSHIP 14N, RANGE 16E, W.M.SECTION 4, TOWNSHIP 13N, 16E, W.M.ACRES: 290 (+/-)


T14-0N R16-0E

T13-0N R16-0ES03S04

S34

S05

S32

S33

Yakima Cowiche

Wildlife Area UnitsSectionsTownshipsCounty Parcels

´0 0.3 0.6

Miles

1 B


Proposed Acquisition


Proposed Conservation Easement

Tumwater

Tenino

LaceyOlympia

Bucoda

ScatterCreek

Black River

West RockyPrairie

GlacialHeritage

121

12

507

101

55

1018 8

Wildlife Area UnitsCity BoundariesInterstateState RouteUS Route

´ITEM 2: PROPOSED CONSERVATION EASEMENT, OREGON SPOTTED FROG

THURSTON COUNTYLEGAL: SECTION 32, TOWNSHIP 17N, RANGE 2W, W.M.ACRES: 34 0 3 6

Miles

2 A


ITEM 2: PROPOSED CONSERVATION EASEMENT OREGON SPOTTED FROGTHURSTON COUNTYLEGAL: SECTION 32, TOWNSHIP 17N, RANGE 2W, W.M.ACRES: 34


Proposed Conservation Easement

T17-0N R2-0W

T16-0N R2-0W

S29

S32

S28

S05 S04

S33Thurston

55

SectionsTownshipsInterstateCounty Parcels

´0 0.2 0.4

Miles

2 B


Access Road

agenda item #5 proposed land transactions

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