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Home My WebLink AboutLetter of Support for State Farmland Preservation Program West Valley - 071326 coNm 44> Board of County Commissioners 49�w�s c° t)� 1820 Jefferson Street 0 PO Box 1220 Port Townsend, WA 98368 tGgs '� ,�0� Heather Dudley-Nollette,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3 III NG July 13, 2026 State Farmland Preservation Program Dear Grant Program Review Team: Jefferson County is writing to support efforts by Jefferson Land Trust to work with the West Valley Farm landowners to protect their farm for long term agricultural production and valuable wildlife habitat. The current landowners of the West Valley Farm are interested in selling a conservation easement that will help preserve the farms' prime soils, wetlands and important salmon habitat of Chimacum Creek. Funding from the State Farmland Preservation Program will allow the Land Trust to 1)purchase an easement that protects prime soils,prevents future subdivision and reduces future development of the farm, and 2)work with project partners to conduct enhancement activities on the farm's wetlands and Chimacum Creek habitat. The farm has a long history of agricultural production-the farm was originally a part of the historic Chimacum Brown Dairy operated by the Brown family for many years and one of the Brown family members and his wife are the landowners of the 61-acre West Valley Farm. Adjacent portions of the original Chimacum Dairy property are permanently protected with conservation easements, including the 50-acre Finnriver cidery and the 23-acre Red Dog Farm. The landowners raise beef cattle and lease portions of the farm for additional cattle grazing and hay production. Our West Valley Farm project aligns with Jefferson County's Comprehensive Plan, particularly with stated goals to protect agricultural lands to both sustain a resource-based economy and to protect agricultural lands through conservation easements for future generations. Jefferson County has been an important partner in our Quimper Wildlife Corridor project, notably in its involvement with the DNR Trust Land Transfer and protection of approximately 110 acres in 2024. Our Quimper Wildlife Corridor project is also aligned with the County's Comprehensive Plan, particularly with goals to preserve open space corridors, protect critical areas, conserve wildlife habitat, and to provide safe and accessible trail systems. The West Valley Farm project provides a rare opportunity to preserve and enhance another piece of the agricultural heritage located in Center Valley, Chimacum in the heart of East Jefferson County's most productive agricultural region. Jefferson Land Trust has a history of successful efforts to protect our agricultural heritage and prime agricultural lands, and already preserves other fish, farm and forest lands in the project area. We hope your approval of this project expands that effort. We strongly urge you to consider and approve Jefferson Land Trust's grant request or preservation of the West Valley Farm. Sincere He u y-Nollette, Dist. 1 eidi Eisenhour, Dist.2 Greg Brotherton, Dist. 3-Chair Phone (360) 385-9100 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us West Valley Farm Project Description Jefferson Land Trust is applying on behalf of West Valley Farm to protect 61 acres of farmland and riparian habitat located in Center Valley in Chimacum,Jefferson County.The primary goals of this project are to protect approximately 57.2 acres of farmland and 3.6 acres of riparian and wetland habitat. This property was once part of the historic Brown Dairy Farm,which operated in Chimacum from 1956-2002.Although the original dairy is no longer in operation and the property has been reduced from its original size,this project will secure permanent protection of the remaining farm acreage.The first portion of the original dairy farm was protected by Jefferson Land Trust in 2009 with funding from RCO grant#08- 1214.This proposal combines acquisition and restoration components. The acquisition will secure a perpetual agricultural conservation easement on the property. Restoration efforts will include installation of permanent fencing to protect sensitive riparian and wetland areas from agricultural impacts, including along Chimacum Creek.This creek provides critical habitat for ESA-listed Hood Canal summer chum and winter steelhead, as well as coho salmon. The 61-acre farm is currently used for cattle grazing and the production of high-quality hay. The conservation easement will ensure the land remains available for agricultural use in perpetuity while providing financial support to the landowners, enabling expansion and long-term viability of their farming operations. G. warn°fir fi X � "i 4,,,i ar Rr . >t z •r rn- - re t "`• �.se-191L" •u ` :� 1 '�`j ti • - fT •�'+'F " i. Ya°C 'ft `.. i ., .� Dios _ t.. 6.4 c �� g �c 4 0 4,..."-.• .11-, fst � 1 , ' .4- ,. - '� X, .rTw 59.Nei\ •. . i j • ' AI • t • �,t !- t rJS is i I . ;t • 't . t 5 . #� i •�M . • Y� ?'�a'LY ii y�.:3�' 1 'Jr h -�)� .,', {' • 41 ••�� •tit{•+' . . 7t.`-io sKn�a l+p .t sst ill•�t,y S ;` r ` x• 3 4 yr �4 i' �a "� -= --'Q a `' 411 t.� �4.4 F :'""rr 3 n n� ', 3 A`/r .. [. . . ♦ bye- 1 r� Lf wCiK.a. Lt "' •Y ; -' rl.•I x- 1 p b 1 ry!��g�'ynhr� �p {. F A Y+ Vt,,iar,01111.4A , . '., S ,--,v ...;,:s.. • .'•*sN -4, "It - ;V'.i li 'xt ,�j �r'1 _ ems.. =-�.1�. 4 ; .$$r�s�<ra,- - •- LY ' ° �. - _61 "'U'r!�fintit.'� 1L y7��. L!_S ER' a '� "�- ti tl Y ?�q V #rq'1 r`,•.-y ? 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'81$ ,3 ' s,, °'� ) r F t West Valley Farm Property .. ,.. 4 rtr , - 'S'r Jefferson Land Trust Preserves ..; • '.'.. •4,. . -..,: . , — '--; u; Jefferson Land Trust Conservation Easements 41 �l '� tti�t• '' k. r 3 ' n ;. — , " Jefferson Co Tax Parcels Sti r{ t v. t• • u t,00a z.00a a.oao l i Feet �'� West Valle v Farm 2021 Aerial Image (NAIP) „il " For informational purposes only.All Ir .......\ Locator Map data represented are from varying "D sources and approximate. N TRUST Map created in December 2024 . ._ la 44 n, , 4 ! ,_ „ice 1 imp , ° oj ►` ' f4ir i‘A 4 i fir t Sit jI ' t t 7//,/ ' i, At \ \lcs..' :,.. M r„.. -.2..... i , i i4 , - '_t a w West Valley Farm Draft Drainage Buffer 25ft. %//i Draft Building Envelopes Impervious Surfaces Ni .le ": Watercourses Jefferson Land Trust Conservation Easements Draft Chimacum Creek Buffer 50ft. Jefferson Co. Tax Parcels lit i West Va I I ey Farm 2023 Aerial Image (NAIP) M, For informational purposes only.All 2 6— 1311 Application data represented are from varying l j , sources and approximate. N TRUST Map created in April 2026 JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONSENT AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners FROM: Carolyn Gallaway, Clerk of the Board DATE: July 13,2026 SUBJECT: LETTERS OF SUPPORT re: Quimper Wildlife Corridor and West Valley Farm conservation projects STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Jefferson Land Trust(JLT) Director of Conservation and Strategic Partnerships Sarah Spaeth and JLT Conservation Coordinator Marlowe Moser met with the Board of County Commissioners on July 6, 2026 to present and discuss the Quimper Wildlife Corridor and West Valley Farm conservation projects, for which they are currently applying for grant funding through the State Recreation and Conservation Office. ANALYSIS: JLT's West Valley Farm project aligns with Jefferson County's Comprehensive Plan,particularly with stated goals to protect agricultural lands to both sustain a resource-based economy and to protect agricultural lands through conservation easements for future generations. Jefferson County has been an important partner in our Quimper Wildlife Corridor project, notably in its involvement with the DNR Trust Land Transfer and protection of approximately 110 acres in 2024. Our Quimper Wildlife Corridor project is also aligned with the County's Comprehensive Plan, particularly with goals to preserve open space corridors, protect critical areas, conserve wildlife habitat, and to provide safe and accessible trail systems. FISCAL IMPACT: JLT is applying for grant funding, the County is only asked to provide letters of support. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approving the attached letters of support for the two conservation projects. REVIEWED BY: /, Jos . Peters, County Administrator Dat