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Dec. 23, 2002
Jointly released by Pilchuck Audubon Society, King County, Weyerhaeuser, and the Cascade Land Conservancy
Rock Creek Headwaters Preserved as part of Huckleberry Land Exchange
RAVENSDALE, Wash. - The Pilchuck Audubon Society, King County, Cascade Land Conservancy and Weyerhaeuser Co. today announced a significant addition of wetlands and mature forest to the protected land base in King County. The 100 acres includes most of Crow Marsh, the headwaters of Rock Creek in south King County near Ravensdale. The ecologically rich property, home to 135-year-old cedars and a sphagnum bog, also provides habitat for black bear and cool, clean water for salmon in the Cedar and Green rivers. Visitors to the site have recorded sightings of over 60 varieties of birds and 30 different moth species.
This transaction was part of an agreement between Pilchuck Audubon and Weyerhaeuser as part of the Huckleberry Land Exchange, with several steps leading to the site's permanent preservation and stewardship. Weyerhaeuser donated the site's standing mature timber and sold the 100-acre underlying property to Pilchuck at a bargain price. Pilchuck assigned its rights to Cascade Land Conservancy, which will own and manage the property. Cascade Land Conservancy in turn sold a conservation easement to King County, creating a partnership to preserve and care for the site in perpetuity.
For the last several years, the Friends of Rock Creek, a community advocacy group, has been working to protect key ecological features of the Rock Creek watershed. The Friends of Rock Creek have leveraged this 100-acre acquisition to secure challenge grants for the protection of additional acreage in the Rock Creek headwaters. In addition, the Friends of Rock Creek have volunteered their grass roots resources to assist Cascade Land Conservancy and King County in stewarding the property.
King County Executive Ron Sims and Metropolitan King County Councilmember Larry Phillips led the effort to appropriate $165,000 in Conservation Futures funds to purchase the Crow Marsh property.
"It is inspiring to see the results of such a diverse partnership," said County Executive Ron Sims. "Even in these financially tough times, we need to protect and steward spectacular properties like Crow Marsh. The unique contribution each party brings to this effort embodies the County's goal of finding new ways to leverage our limited public resources."
"We are pleased to conclude our long-term participation in the Huckleberry Land Exchange by helping to permanently protect 100 acres of forests and wetlands in the Rock Creek watershed, one of the faster growing areas of King County," said David Gladstone, Pilchuck Audubon Society Board Member. "We feel that one of the positive results coming out of this lengthy process is that it should revolutionize the manner in which the U.S. Forest Service will be required to conduct future land exchanges. By assisting in this initial step of the community effort to preserve in perpetuity Rock Creek's headwaters, Pilchuck Audubon is continuing its long-term and storied commitment to save as much of Western Washington's natural environment as possible."
"The Rock Creek Valley is one of the last unspoiled areas in King County. I am encouraged that the public, private and non-profit sectors could work together to protect such a beautiful part of the Pacific Northwest landscape," said King County Councilmember Phillips. "The hard work and cooperation among the parties demonstrates how we can protect our region's future by preserving a bit of our past."
"Protecting this property is a critical step towards preserving the quality of the Rock Creek ecosystem," said Gene Duvernoy, president of the Cascade Land Conservancy.
"We are grateful to the regional partnership led by Pilchuck Audubon Society and Weyerhaeuser to sponsor this transaction."
"We're happy to make this land available for permanent protection," said Cassie Phillips, Weyerhaeuser vice president for sustainable forestry. "This property makes a unique addition to the protected land base because, although it is considered a part of the Cedar River basin, during periods of high water a portion of Rock Creek flows into the Green River also. This special area complements the other conservation land in the vicinity and is among the best preserved salmon habitat in King County."
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For More Information, Contact:
- King County: Larry Phillips, 206-296-1004
- Pilchuck Audubon Society: David Gladstone, 425-252-0926
- The Cascade Land Conservancy: Gene Duvernoy, 206-292-5907, ext. 107
- Weyerhaeuser: Frank Mendizabal, 253-924-3357
Related Information:
Updated: Dec. 23, 2002
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