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HomeMy WebLinkAboutQuimper Wildlife Corridor_CFF_Application Packet1 2021 CF Program Application DRAFT http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/560/Conservation-Futures-Program Please complete the following application in its entirety. Be sure to answer “N/A” for questions that don’t apply to the project. Incomplete applications will not be accepted for consideration. Unless directed otherwise, use as much space as needed to answer each question. Contact program staff at 379-4498 or tpokorny@co.jefferson.wa.us with questions. Background and Eligibility Information 1. Project Title: Quimper Wildlife Corridor Additions 2. Conservation Futures Acquisition Request: $95,000 Conservation Futures O&M Request: $5,000 3. Total Conservation Futures Request: $100,000 4. Please indicate the type of interest contemplated in the acquisition process. X Warranty Deed __ Easement __ Other (Please describe below.) In whose name will the property title be held after acquisition? Jefferson Land Trust will hold fee title to the properties acquired with both CF funds and acquired as match. 5. Applicant Information Name of Applicant or Organization: Jefferson Land Trust Contact: Sarah Spaeth Title: Director of Conservation & Strategic Partnerships Address: 1033 Lawrence St. Phone: 360-379-9501 ext. 101 _________________________________ Fax: (_____) _____-________, ext. ____ Email: sspaeth@saveland.org 6. Sponsor Information: (if different than applicant) _________________________________________________ Organization Name:___________________________________________________________________________ Contact: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Title: ______________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: (_____) _____-________, ext. ____ _______________________ Fax: (_____) _____-________, ext. ____ Email: _____________________________________________________________________________________ This application was approved by the sponsor’s legally responsible body (e.g., board, council, etc.) on January 27, 2021 2021 Jefferson County Conservation Futures Program Property Acquisition and/or Operations and Maintenance Project Application 2 2021 CF Program Application DRAFT http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/560/Conservation-Futures-Program 7. Site Location Street Address or Description of Location: Taimay Jones Property: All of Blocks 1 through 9 of David’s Addition to the City of Port Townsend, as per Plat recorded in Volume 2 of Plats, page 44, records of Jefferson County, Washington.– to be purchased with CF Funds (“Taimay Jones Property”) Hertel Property: FOWLER'S PARK ADDITION BLK 35 LOTS 1 TO 20 – to be donated as partial match. Driving Directions from Port Townsend: Taimay Jones Property: Head west out of Port Townsend on Hastings Ave. From Hastings Ave, turn north onto Howard St and park at dead end. Walk north onto trails and walk west onto 39th St trail until you reach the property. Section: 4 Township: 30N Range: 1W Hertel Property: Head west out of Port Townsend on Hastings Ave. Turn north onto Cook Ave and drive to the bottom of the hill and turn right onto Bell St. Drive to the dead-end and park along E Sapphire St. Section: 33 Township: 31N Range: 1W Assessor’s Parcel Number(s): Taimay Jones property (CF Funds & match acquisition): 946500101, 946500201, 946500301, 946500401, 946500501, 946500601, 946500701, 946500801, 946500901 Hertel Property, owned by Fairbank Revocable Living Trust (Match acquisition) : 951903501 Please differentiate current and proposed ownership of each APN and indicate if the parcel is to be acquired with CF funds or used as match. Described above. Please list the assessed values for each property or APN, as applicable. Taimay Jones property appraised value: $175,000 Hertel property assessed value: $50,000 8. Existing Conditions New Site: Yes No __________________________ Number of Parcels: 10 3 2021 CF Program Application DRAFT http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/560/Conservation-Futures-Program Addition to Existing Site: Yes No ______________ Acres to Be Acquired: 7.25 Total Project Acreage (if different): 244.5 acres protected in Quimper Wildlife Corridor 160.5 acres of which are owned/ facilitated by Jefferson Land Trust Current Zoning: R-I Existing Structures/Facilities: None Any current covenants, easements or restrictions on land use: None Current Use: Vacant land Waterfront (name of body of water): 100-Year Floodplain and Critical drainage Shoreline (linear feet): N/A Owner Tidelands/Shorelands: N/A 9. Current Property Owner is a willing seller. Yes, Jones property is willing to sell, Hertel property landowner is willing to donate. Project Description 10. In 1,000 words or less, provide a summary description of the project, the match, overarching goal, and three top objectives. Include information about the physical characteristics of the site that is proposed for acquisition with Conservation Futures Program funds including: vegetation, topography, surrounding land use, and relationship to parks, trails, and open space. Describe the use planned for the site, any development plans after acquisition (including passive development), characteristics of the site which demonstrate that it is well-suited to the proposed use, and plans for any structures currently on the site. If applicable, describe how the site relates to the larger project, and whether the project has a plan, schedule and funding dedicated to its completion. Please also list any important milestones for the project or critical dates, e.g. grant deadlines. List the dates and explain their importance. Please attach a spreadsheet of the budget. The Background Story Jefferson Land Trust is seeking funding for critical conservation pieces in the Quimper Wildlife Corridor project. The Land Trust is currently working to expand the extensive conservation efforts that have been going on since the mid 1990’s. In this current phase of protection, we aim to protect 40 additional properties, totaling ~ 60 acres. These acquisitions will be possible through land donations, a state grant, community fundraising, and Jefferson County Conservation Futures funding. CFF will support this phase of the project with the acquisition of two priority properties—one to be acquired at fair market value, and one to be donated as match. The Quimper Wildlife Corridor (QWC) is located at the northeastern edge of Jefferson County near the confluence of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound. Jefferson Land Trust and the City of Port Townsend (PT) initiated this project together in the mid 1990’s with the goal to protect a permanent “ribbon of green”, stretching 3.5 miles across the Quimper Peninsula from Discovery Bay in close proximity to Protection Island, to Fort Worden State Park, following a natural wetland and drainage corridor, and connecting marine, upland, city, and forested environments near a growing urban area. The QWC provides safe passage and habitat critical to perpetuation of species diversity in an area of steadily increasing urban development. Project 4 2021 CF Program Application DRAFT http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/560/Conservation-Futures-Program partners have already protected significant portions of the QWC, but there are many remaining parcels in danger of development. In January 2020, the Land Trust contacted private landowners of over 120 priority parcels in the QWC to assess their interest in protecting their land for wildlife and trail access. The positive response rate was over 30%. The goal of this phase of the project (2021-2023) is to acquire and permanently preserve missing links in the corridor from numerous willing sellers that include important habitat and trail buffer parcels. The QWC encompasses a landscape that is biologically and culturally complex - a function of the topography, hydrology, and soils that produce a wide range of vegetation types including wetlands, shrub, prairies, mesic forests and dry upland coniferous forests. A series of perched freshwater and forested wetlands as well as the 100-year floodplain for City of PT form the backbone of the corridor. The QWC contains the largest swath of undeveloped habitat within the City extending out into unincorporated Jefferson County. The City, County, and Land Trust have successfully protected priority QWC habitat through fee simple ownership and conservation easements held by the Land Trust. This 24-year protection effort includes over 50 land transactions conducted by the Land Trust alone. Several DNR properties totaling 107 acres are leased to the County for 50 years through the Trust Land Transfer program and are core habitat areas of the corridor. Partners and the community have prioritized additional important connective habitat and trail buffers that once protected, will provide a more complete habitat corridor, and preserve the integrity of the existing trail system. The Application Properties The two properties that Jefferson Land Trust seeks to acquire using Conservation Futures funding this year are the result of our larger outreach to private landowners – with the goal to expand protection of many priority parcels within the QWC. The 7.25 acres described in this application are two of the critical properties part of this greater project expansion effort. Jefferson Land Trust aims to acquire the Taimay Jones property – nine parcels that total 4.95 acres- using CFF funds. This property contains import water drainage, intact forest habitat, and beloved trail access. The land match property (Hertel Property) is one parcel that totals 2.3 acres in the Bell St neighborhood – a rapidly expanding residential area. The match property provides a terrific buffer to the beloved trail systems, as well as intact forest habitat and critical stormwater drainage. In addition to Conservation Futures Funds and this proposal including the two properties, Jefferson Land Trust is applying for funds from the State, private foundations, and conducting community fundraising in an effort to raise $1.7 million to achieve the nearly 60 acres of expanded protection that is possible given the positive response to our outreach described above. Conservation Future’s assistance in this effort is greatly needed to help with this critical community conservation effort. Overarching Goal: Preserve the two properties described in this grant application that contribute to the current phase of ~60 acre protection expansion being targeted by Jefferson Land Trust. Multiple funding sources are being pursued for this large phase of protection, and CFF funding for these two parcels is a critical contributor. 5 2021 CF Program Application DRAFT http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/560/Conservation-Futures-Program Objectives 1) Secure Jefferson County Conservation Futures funding for purchase of the fee simple acquisitions and match property donation – June 2021 2) Conduct due diligence activities and draft Purchase and Sale Agreements and deeds—mid 2021 3) Finalize the purchase and donation of each property—autumn 2021. 11. Estimate costs below, including the estimated or appraised value of the propert(ies) or property right(s) to be acquired, even if Conservation Futures funds will only cover a portion of the total project cost. In the case of projects involving multiple acquisitions, please break out appraisals and estimated acquisition costs by parcel. Quimper Wildlife Corridor Additions project related costs Timeline Est. Cost CFF Request Match Land to be purchased with CF Funds Fall 2021 $175,000 95,000 $80,000 (cash) Land to be donated as match Fall 2021 $50,000 50,000 (land donation) Land acquisition related costs (i.e., appraisal, survey, attorney, closing costs) Mid 2021 $20,290 $20,290 (cash) Project management, admin ongoing $11,500 $11,500 (cash) O&M ongoing $10,000 $5,000 $5,000 (cash) Total $100,000 $166,790 Basis for Estimates (include information about how the property value(s) was determined, anticipated acquisition- related costs, general description of operation and maintenance work to be performed, task list with itemized budget, and anticipated schedule for completion of work): We had a certified appraisal conducted for both properties in February 2021. The acquisitions will include appraisal and review appraisal reports conducted by professional third party appraisers, attorney fees, land surveys, and escrow/closing costs. Project management costs include working with landowners and the title company, preparing deeds, and arranging the project for completion. Our attorney will review all documents before we acquire the properties. O & M only go to question #15: Scored Questions 1 a. Sponsor or other organizations X will __will not contribute to acquisition of proposed site and/or operation and maintenance activities. 1 b. If applicable, please describe below how contributions from groups or agencies will reduce the need to use Conservation Futures program funds. 6 2021 CF Program Application DRAFT http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/560/Conservation-Futures-Program 1 c. Matching Fund Estimate Acquisition O&M % Conservation Futures Funds Requested $95,000 $5,000 37% Matching Funds/Resources* $161,790 $5,000 63% Total Project Acquisition Cost $256,790 $10,000 100% * If a prior acquisition is being proposed as match, please describe and provide documentation of value, location, date of acquisition and other information that would directly link the match to the property being considered for acquisition. 1 d. Source of matching Amount of Contribution If not, Contribution If not, funds/resources contribution approved? when? available now? when? Land Donation _________ $50,000 ___ Yes No _________ Yes No ________ Cash _________________ $116,790 __ Yes No _________ Yes No ________ NOTE: Matching funds are strongly recommended and a higher rating will be assigned to those projects that guarantee additional resources for acquisition. Donation of property or a property right will be considered as a matching resource. Donation of resources for on-going maintenance or stewardship (“in-kind” contributions) are not eligible as a match. 2 a. Sponsoring agency X is __is not prepared to provide long-term stewardship (easement monitoring, maintenance, up-keep, etc.) for the proposed project site. 2 b. Describe any existing programs or future plans for stewardship of the property, including the nature and extent of the commitment of resources to carry out the stewardship plan. Jefferson Land Trust and the City mutually adopted the QWC Management Plan in 2008 and have shared management activities, meeting on occasion to discuss issues and strategies. We intend to update the QWC Plan to further define partner roles and prioritize future management activities to increase climate change resilience in the face of a changing landscape and population. Ecological and community benefits may be achieved by maintaining and enhancing structural and biodiversity in the corridor, including through the potential re-establishment of pocket prairies once maintained by the S’Klallam Tribes of the peninsula. As an accredited Land Trust, we have experience successfully managing and stewarding various types of preserves. We developed a Preserve Steward program, which provides an opportunity for long-term volunteerism through quarterly monitoring of all Land Trust preserves. Committed volunteers and neighbors have reported 1356 observations and identified 510 species in the QWC through the iNaturalist program. Volunteers contributed approximately 126 hours in 2019 alone on projects to install signage, assess habitat health and needs, remove trash, manage noxious weeds, and monitor properties within the QWC to ensure that conservation values are maintained over time. Volunteers are managed by the Land Trust preserve manager and City Parks Dept. staff. So far, the resources to fund this work have been absorbed by the City and Land Trust. Management activities associated with the current QWC protection effort include the need to survey property boundaries, demolish a few small unsafe structures, update signage, and update the joint Land Trust-City QWC Management Plan. These activities will be accomplished with staff, contractors 7 2021 CF Program Application DRAFT http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/560/Conservation-Futures-Program and volunteers. The O&M funds applied for in this application will help go toward these ongoing management needs described above. Jefferson Land Trust conducts diligent and appropriate monitoring, stewardship, and management for all fee-simple properties that we own. This includes at least annual monitoring of the properties by professional staff and trained volunteers, extensive data collection and management, and legal defense of the conservation values should it become necessary. Jefferson Land Trust has a Stewardship Fund of over $700,000, and continues to build this fund with each new acquisition, recognizing the legal obligation and responsibility of protecting conservation values in perpetuity. In addition to the Stewardship Fund, Jefferson Land Trust carries legal defense insurance for preserves and conservation easements through a program called Terrafirma, developed through the national Land Trust Alliance (the national umbrella organization for land trusts). This program covers up to $500,000 in legal enforcement costs per property that Jefferson Land Trust holds and stewards. 3 a. Describe the sponsoring agency’s previous or on-going stewardship experience. In addition to the above question, the Land Trust was founded in 1989 and is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to preserving the rural character and iconic landscapes of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. With a mission of "helping the community preserve open space, working lands, and habitat forever”, we are actively engaged in preserving a sustainable environment where the needs of human communities and the natural world are in balance, and actively steward more than 17,000 acres of our region’s most important places. We are accredited by the national Land Trust Alliance, and our efforts are guided by a long range Conservation Plan completed with our community in 2010. Collaboration is at the heart of our approach to conservation. We engage with partners in the “Chumsortium” to bring back vibrant salmon runs on Hood Canal, and in the Jefferson LandWorks Collaborative to support big-picture thinking around the ongoing economic viability of local farms and working forests. We partner with regional government, local and national agencies, Tribes, peer organizations, and individual citizens to safeguard the places we love and that are crucial to the health of our community, now and into the future. 3 b. Has the sponsor and/or applicant of this project been involved in other projects previously approved for Conservation Futures funding? _____No, neither the sponsor nor applicant has been involved in a project previously approved for Conservation Futures funds. __X__Yes, the sponsor and/or applicant for this project has been involved in a project previously approved for Conservation Futures funds. Please provide details: Jefferson Land Trust has successfully applied for and sponsored many successful land acquisition projects, and conservation easement funding on behalf of private landowners. These projects include: Sunfield Farm, 2003; Quimper Wildlife Corridor, 2004; East Tarboo Creek Conservation Project, 2005; Tamanowas Rock Phase 1, 2006; the Winona Buffer Project, 2006; Glendale Farm, 2007; Finnriver Farm, 2008; Quimper Wildlife Corridor, 2009; Brown Dairy, 2009; Salmon Creek Ruck 2010; Quimper Wildlife Corridor 2010; Tamanowas Rock 2010; Chimacum Creek Carleson 2011; Winona Basin -Bloedel 2011; L. Brown 2012; Boulton Farm 2012; Quimper Wildlife Corridor and 8 2021 CF Program Application DRAFT http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/560/Conservation-Futures-Program Short Family Farm 2013; Quimper Wildlife Corridor and Snow Creek Irvin and Jenks, 2014; Midori Farm, 2015; QWC 2016 Addition, Tarboo Creek, Farm and Forest 2016; Serendipity Farm, Snow Creek Taylor and Tarboo Iglitzin 2017; Chimacum Forest, Marrowstone Mize, Ruby Ranch 2018 and 2020; Snow Creek Mid-Reach Forest 2018; Tarboo Forest Addition 2019; Quilcene Headwaters to Bay 2019 & 2020; Arlandia 2020 4 a. Property X can __cannot feasibly be acquired in a timely fashion with available resources. 4 b. Necessary commitments and agreements X are __are not in place. 4 c. All parties X are __are not in agreement on the cost of acquisition. If “not” to any of the above, please explain below. 5. The proposed acquisition X is specifically identified in an adopted open space, conservation, or resource preservation program or plan, or community conservation effort. Please describe below, including the site’s importance to the plan. Please reference the website of the plan if available or include the plan with this application. __complements an adopted open space or conservation plan, but is not specifically identified. Please describe below, and describe how the proposed acquisition is consistent with the plan. __is a stand-alone project. The Land Trust, the City of Port Townsend, Jefferson County, state agencies, the local Audubon and Native Plant Society Chapters, and US Fish & Wildlife have been partnering on the project since the mid 1990’s. Both City and County Comprehensive Plans speak to the importance of habitat corridors and trail networks and recognize the value of the QWC. The City’s 2019 PT Stormwater Management Plan's key objective is to “define, provide, and protect a connected and well-defined built and natural drainage system" and this Plan identifies the QWC and its 100-year floodplain as a Level 1 ["the backbone or trunk of the system"]. The properties identified for acquisition were indicated in the Quimper Wildlife Corridor Management Plan that was adopted by the City of Port Townsend on May 19, 2008, Ordinance 2967. This management plan is available at the City’s website, http://weblink.cityofpt.us/weblink/0/edoc/113226/Quimper%20Wildlife%20Corridor%20Manage ment%20Plan.pdf. Additional Cappy’s Woods parcels are buffer lands to trail corridors that have been identified as important recreational priorities for the City of Port Townsend, as adopted in City Resolution No. 09-034. Additionally, the updated Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan states Policy OS-P-1.2, Partner to establish and conserve a sustainable system of open space corridors or separators to provide definition between natural areas and urban land uses. The Land Trust, the City of Port Townsend, Jefferson County, state agencies, the local Audubon and Native Plant Society Chapter, and US Fish & Wildlife have been partnering on the project since the mid 1990’s. These parcels have been identified in the acquisition priorities of the project since the beginning due to the wetland, floodplain, buffer and upland forest values. Expanding forest and habitat connectivity is a primary value of protecting these properties. In addition, Jefferson Land Trust’s Conservation Plan (2010)—prepared with the input of many 9 2021 CF Program Application DRAFT http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/560/Conservation-Futures-Program community members—specifically identifies the Quimper Wildlife Corridor as a priority. The plan is located on the JLT website at https://saveland.org/our-story/conservation-vision/. 6. Conservation Opportunity or Threat: 6 a. The proposed acquisition site X does __does not provide a conservation or preservation opportunity which would otherwise be lost or threatened. 6 b. If applicable, please carefully describe the nature and immediacy of the opportunity or threat, and any unique qualities about the site. The two landowners listed in this application who are willing to sell or donate their properties provide a great opportunity to protect highly-utilized recreational trails, and habitat areas. The Taimay Jones parcels are close to development on northern Howard St. in Port Townsend, and could foreseeably be developed within several years. With current city zoning and plat configuration, the property could allow for the development of up to 22 residences. The current landowners are willing to sell the property at the appraised value. The Hertel property buffers the extensive habitat and trail corridors from the expanding Bell St neighborhood in northern Port Townsend. This 2.3-acre parcel is platted as one block with 20 lots, with 10 residences theoretically possible under the R-I zoning. While development of these 2.3 acres has thus been slowed by the Critical Drainage corridor, the southern portion of the block could be developed by bringing in access in a manner that conforms to City Code. The property was acquired by a community member for the express purpose of donating it to the Land Trust for protection. 7. Summarize the project’s conservation values and how the CF funds requested support these values. Conservation values of extending protection of the Quimper Wildlife Corridor include preserving diverse second growth forest, providing habitat to resident and migratory wildlife, buffering existing trail corridors utilized by local citizens and visitors alike, and expanding the buffer of priority wetlands along the 100-year floodplain. The primary conservation values of the Taimay Jones Property is preserving extensive, scenic trails in the northern portion of the property, and protecting healthy, diverse habitat in the southern portion of the property. The 100-Year Floodplain runs right through this property, and has running water in the wet months. Mature conifer and hardwood trees, as well as standing snags and downed logs provide an excellent stretch of habitat that is not currently reached by trails in the southern portion of the property. If the Land Trust can purchase this property with CF funds, it will enhance the continuity of the existing protected wildlife corridor with permanent protection of one of the largest number of contiguous forested, individually-owned parcels. Protection of this property will prevent development close to an area of steeper slopes with the potential for accelerated runoff and erosion. The matching donation land includes Port Townsend’s 100-Year Floodplain, a critical aquifer recharge, as well as the City’s Critical Drainage. Protection by the Land Trust would extinguish all development rights, ensuring permanent buffer and habitat protection for the Quimper Wildlife Corridor to the south. In addition to the conservation values of extending the contiguous wildlife corridor and restricting floodplain development, this property acquisition will keep drainage basin hydrology intact, which is especially important in the face of changing climate. 10 2021 CF Program Application DRAFT http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/560/Conservation-Futures-Program Conservation Futures Funds will make possible the acquisition of a fee simple property that aligns with the purpose of the CF Program to acquire green spaces and greenbelts. Jefferson County Conservation Futures Funds have been allocated to numerous land acquisitions in the QWC, and have been critical to the success of the project. 8. The proposed acquisition: 8 a. X provides habitat for State of Washington Priority Habitat and/or State or Federal Threatened, Endangered or Sensitive species. 8 b._X_ provides habitat for a variety of native flora or fauna species. 8 c._X__ contributes to an existing or future wildlife corridor or migration route. If affirmative in any of the above, please describe and list the Priority Habitat(s) and Threatened, Endangered, or Sensitive species below, and cite or provide documentation of species’ use.1 The Quimper Wildlife Corridor provides critical habitat in an area of increasing urban development and is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, from the humble rough-skinned newt and Calypso orchid to nearly 200 bird species and numerous small and large mammals. Protection Island, located just offshore of the western end of the corridor, is a National Wildlife Refuge and home to nearly seventy percent of the seabirds that nest and breed in all of Puget Sound. Washington Department of Wildlife and the local Audubon Society have identified several state priority species in the Quimper Wildlife Corridor that are sensitive, threatened or listed. These include: Bald eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Wood duck, Great Blue Heron, Band-Tailed Pigeon, Merlin, Olive Sided Flycatcher, black tailed deer, and bobcat. The corridor will allow these species and others the safety of cover to move between wetlands, forest ecosystems, and marine shoreline environments. 8 d. Does the current owner participate in conservation programs that enhance wildlife habitat? If so, please provide details. The current owners do not participate in any conservation programs. 9. Describe to what degree the project protects habitat for anadromous fish species (for example: marine shorelines, stream/river corridors including meander zones, and riparian buffers). Please provide documentation and maps that demonstrate the location, quality and extent of the existing buffer and adjoining habitat. The two properties do not directly protect habitat for anadromous fish species. However, protecting the water quality of the city’s largest drainage basin through providing filtration and reducing siltation is important for water draining to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. 10 a. Describe the extent and nature of current and planned agricultural use of the proposed acquisition, including any anticipated changes to that use once the property, or property right, is acquired with Conservation Futures funds. 1 See, for example, http://www.dnr.wa.gov/researchscience/topics/naturalheritage/pages/amp_nh.aspx http://www.wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/phs/list/ http://www1.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/plants.html http://www1.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/pubs/wa_ecological_systems.pdf 11 2021 CF Program Application DRAFT http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/560/Conservation-Futures-Program No agricultural uses are planned for either property. 10 b. Describe the current owner’s record of implementing management practices that preserves and/or enhances soil, water quality, watershed function and wildlife habitat on the farm. No agricultural uses are planned for either property. 10 c. Describe how the acquisition or proposed easement will likely preserve and/or enhance soil, water quality, watershed function and wildlife habitat. No agricultural uses are planned for either property. 11 a. Describe the extent and nature of current and planned silvicultural use of the proposed acquisition. Please cite or provide documentation of existing or planned silvicultural activities including forest management plan(s) or forest ecosystem restoration. There is no current or planned commercial silvicultural use of the proposed site. Given the sizes of the parcels, they do not offer the opportunity for commercial timber production. If forest restoration ever becomes necessary due to external factors such as climate change, actions could be taken to enhance forest health. These actions could include selective thinning and diversifying species through understory plantings, which would be undertaken in accordance with a developed forest management plan. 11 b. Describe the current owner’s record of implementing management practices that preserves and /or enhances soil, water quality, watershed function and wildlife habitat. None have been implemented. 11 c. Describe how the property acquisition or proposed easement will likely preserve and/or enhance soil, water quality, watershed function and wildlife habitat. As described above, The Land Trust’s acquisition of the proposed property will enhance the listed functions through expanding the existing wildlife corridor and floodplain and trail buffer zones of the greater Quimper Wildlife Corridor. 12 a. Describe how the proposed acquisition benefits primarily a __local area _X broad county area including the area served, the nature of the benefit, the jurisdictions involved, and the populations served. Protection of the diverse second growth forest and wetland, buffer and floodplain habitats of the QWC provides particular benefits to local residents in that it provides storm-water filtration and floodplain retention. In general, however, protection of the Quimper Wildlife Corridor habitats and Cappy’s Woods provides benefits not only to residents of Port Townsend and surrounding county areas, but also to the many visitors to our area. The corridor is used extensively for passive recreation by the community and visitors who enjoy walking the trails, bike riding and horseback riding. The wetlands and forests of the corridor provide education opportunities for users of all ages, and are field classrooms for a wide range of groups as described below. Field trips in the corridor are highlighted in continuing education courses offered to realtors from across the region, who visit this place to better understand wetland ecology. 12 2021 CF Program Application DRAFT http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/560/Conservation-Futures-Program Bike trails in the corridor have been identified in a national mountain bike magazine. Locally, Jefferson Land Trust has conducted numerous tours to various parts of the corridor over the last 10 years as part of our ongoing community outreach efforts. The Land Trust’s efforts to expand the Quimper Wildlife Corridor by ~60 acres over the new few years will permanently protect many of these ecologically important properties, as well as continue to buffer to existing trail corridors. The two properties highlighted in this CFF application directly provide many of these benefits. 12 b. Is the project located in an area that is under-represented by CF funded Projects? Areas that Conservation Futures has not been able to support to date include Marrowstone Island, Toandos Peninsula, Dosewallips Valley, Bolton Peninsula, and the West End. No, this project is not located in any of these areas listed. 13. Describe the educational or interpretive opportunities that exist for providing public access, educational or interpretive displays (signage, kiosks, etc.) on the proposed site, including any plans to provide those improvements and any plans for public accessibility.2 The Quimper Wildlife Corridor is increasingly utilized by numerous schools and community groups for educational purposes, including by school groups of all ages from the Port Townsend School District, the Swan School, CedarRoot Folk School, Jefferson Land Trust Natural History Society, Native Plant Society walks, Master Gardener training, Audubon walks and annual Christmas bird counts, plus countless others. The Land Trust has developed a Preserve Steward program, which provides an opportunity for long-term, committed volunteerism. It includes quarterly monitoring of all Land Trust preserves (including QWC) and an opportunity for interested citizens to create an intimate relationship with the land. Dozens of residents have participated in naturalist-led walks conducted by Jefferson Land Trust. Community members volunteer annually to help with stewardship activities in the corridor. Jefferson Land Trust has also created two interpretive displays that provide visitors to the corridor an understanding of the function of the corridor, as well directing people away from the more sensitive habitat areas. Visitors can now rest on several benches built by Land Trust volunteers that are in strategic locations in the QWC. Volunteers contributed approximately 45 hours last year alone on projects to assess habitat health and needs, remove trash, manage noxious weeds, and monitor Land Trust and City-owned properties alike to ensure that conservation values are maintained over time. Multiple entry points are located on Jefferson Transit bus routes and are a short distance from most City neighborhoods. City Parks Dept. and the Active Transportation Advisory Board coordinate the maintenance of the low-mobility accessible primary trails. 14. The proposed acquisition __ includes historic or culturally significant resources 3 and 2 The words “education” and “interpretation” are interpreted broadly by the CF Committee. 13 2021 CF Program Application DRAFT http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/560/Conservation-Futures-Program __ is registered with the National Register of Historic Places, or an equivalent program. is recognized locally has having historic or cultural resources. X is adjacent to and provides a buffer for a historic or cultural site. If affirmative in any of the above, please describe below, and cite or provide documentation of the historical or cultural resources. Jefferson Land Trust continues to strive to strengthen our relationships with local tribes, and in September of 2020 we brought tribal members from Port Gamble S’Klallam and Jamestown S’Klallam to tour the Quimper Wildlife Corridor. During this tour, the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribal Historic Preservation Officer identified at least one culturally modified candelabra tree on one of the properties that Jefferson Land Trust will acquire in this phase of protection. While this important tree, over 600 years old, is not on the Taimay Jones or Hertel properties, the proximity of the culturally significant tree to these acquisition properties demonstrates the importance of the QWC to local indigenous peoples. As we have learned from the tribes, the candelabra trees can represent significant cultural value based upon traditional uses by indigenous peoples in the area—sites for lookout, trails, and laying the deceased to rest. Upon learning about the culturally modified tree in our project area, Jefferson Land Trust aims to incorporate the opinions of the S’Klallam people into land management ideas and decisions in this area. 3 Cultural resources means archeological and historic sites and artifacts, and traditional religious ceremonial and social uses and activities of affected Indian Tribes and mandatory protections of resources under chapters 27.44 and 27.53 RCW Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CN ES/Airbus DS, USDA, U SGS, AeroGRID,IGN, and the GIS User Community For informational pu rposes only. Alldata rep resented are from va ryingsources an d a pproximate. 0 600 1,200 1,800 2,400 3,000300 Feet ´ Conservation Futures Parcels Quim per Wildlife Corridor Geographic Area Variously Protected Properties Other Interested Landowners Trails Raods 100 Year Floodplain Wetlands Map created in March, 20 21 Quimper Wildlife CorridorSite Location CookAve.Fort Worden Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CN ES/Airbus DS, USDA, U SGS, AeroGRID,IGN, and the GIS User Community For informational pu rposes only. Alldata rep resented are from va ryingsources an d a pproximate. 0 200 400 600 800 1,000100 Feet ´ Conservation Fu tu re s Parcels Variously Pro tected Properties Tra ils Raods 100 Year Floodp lain Wetlan ds Map created in March, 20 21 Quimper Wildlife CorridorProject BoundariesCookAve.Elmira St.39th St. trail Hertel Property Taimay Jo nes Pro perty E. Sapphire Rd QUIMPER WILDLIFE CORRIDOR CONSERVATION FUTURES FUNDS ILLUSTRATIONS – 2021 Hertel Property: mature mixed species forest canopy Hertel Property: downed logs in understory Hertel Property: Entrance from E Sapphire St. Taimay Jones Property: extensive bike trail on north side of property Taimay Jones: 100 year floodplain drainage and forested slopes Taimay Jones: Pileated woodpecker holes in cedar snag, and bike trail