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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDeerfootForest_CFFApplication_Final_20240322 1 2024 CF Program Application FINAL 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: Deerfoot Forest 2. Conservation Futures Acquisition Request: $88,000 Conservation Futures O&M Request: $12,000 3. Total Conservation Futures Request: $100 ,000 4. Please indicate the type of interest contemplated in the acquisition process. __ Warranty Deed X Easement __ Other (Please describe below.) In whose name will the property title be held after acquisition? Hubbard Center Road LLC (Penney Hubbard) will continue to hold title, with a conservation easement held by Jefferson Land Trust and potentially a REPI easement held by the US Department of Defense. 5. Applicant Information Name of Applicant or Organization: Jefferson Land Trust Contact: Sarah Spaeth Title: Director of Conservation & Strategic Partnerships Address: 1033 Lawrence St. Port Townsend, WA 98368 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: _____________________________________________________________________________________ 2024 Jefferson County Conservation Futures Program Property Acquisition Project and/or Operations and Maintenance Project Application 2 2024 CF Program Application FINAL This application was approved by the sponsor’s legally responsible body (e.g., board, council, etc.) on February 20, 2024 7. Project Location Street Address or Description of Location: 11500 Center Rd. Quilcene, WA 98376 Driving Directions from Port Townsend: From Chimacum, take Center Road south for 11.5 miles and turn right into the private driveway. Section: 5 Township: 27 N Range: 1W Assessor’s Parcel Number(s): 701052002 and 701052011 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. All parcels listed above will remain in Hubbard Center Road LLC ownership and will be preserved with a conservation easement held by Jefferson Land Trust, likely along with a Navy Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) restrictive easement. Please list the assessed values for each property or APN, as applicable. 701052002 –$441,737 current market value assessed (includes improvements), and the total current use taxable value of $328,695 (Designated Forest Land tax classification) 701052011 - $77,065 current market value assessed & taxable value 8. Existing Conditions New Site: Yes X No _________________________ Number of Parcels: 2 Addition to Existing Site: Yes No X ____________ Acres to Be Acquired: 36.9 Total Project Acreage (if different):______________ Current Zoning: RR:20 and RR:5 Existing Structures/Facilities: Two residences, two wells, a pump house, a small barn, woodshed, and a few additional outbuildings. Any current covenants, easements or restrictions on land use: None Current Use: Residential and designated forestland Waterfront (name of body of water): None Shoreline (linear feet): N/A Owner Tidelands/Shorelands: N/A 9. Current Property Owner X is __is not a willing seller. Project Description 3 2024 CF Program Application FINAL 10. In 1,000 words or less, provide a summary description of the project, the match, overarching goal, and three top objectives. For each objective, identify the metric(s) that will be measured to determine if the objective is being achieved and the timeframe for meeting the identified metric. 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 project relates to a larger conservation program (please identify), 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. Jefferson Land Trust is seeking Conservation Futures funding for the permanent protection of Hubbard Forest. This property is located in Quilcene, WA along Center Road and contains two parcels that total 36.9 acres. The landowner has lived on the property for over 50 years and has been a dedicated steward for this forested property. The Hubbard Forest property appears to be a section of the headwaters of both Donovan Creek and Tarboo Creek. Jefferson Land Trust and other partners such as the Northwest Watershed Institute, WA Department of Natural Resources, and Jefferson County have been working for over two decades on the protection efforts in both of these creek’s watersheds, offering an important opportunity to continue with land protection efforts in these priority areas. The Deerfoot Forest conservation easement will limit future development, require single ownership of the two parcels, restrict forest management to only permit ecological enhancement activities, all with the goal of protecting the wildlife corridor provided by this diverse second growth forest. As large, rotational clearcuts have occurred on adjacent neighboring parcels, Penney Hubbard and her husband have ensured that the management of the Deerfoot Forest has allowed natural regeneration of the forest ecosystem to occur. Their management vision includes the maintenance, preservation, and enhancement of the diverse second growth forest as a “forest garden” for native plant species, wildlife, and human recreation and enjoyment. Deerfoot Forest has been naturally regenerating since its last logging operation around 1920. There are various forest zones including mature Douglas fir mixed with cedar, western hemlock, Sitka spruce, alder and maple patches, and forested wetlands. While some areas of the forest could benefit from more conifer tree presence, there is a substantial amount of downed wood and standing snags throughout the property which provide important habitat for various wildlife and sequester water and carbon on site. The property has varied topography ranging from mostly flat forestland on the south side of Center Road to south-facing sloped forestland on the parcel north of Center Road. The topography and soils of Deerfoot Forest hosts seasonal and perennial forested wetlands and while there is no apparent surface water flow, the property appears to have hydrological connections as a section of the headwaters of both Donovan Creek and Tarboo Creek. On the property, in addition to the two residences located in the larger northern parcel, infrastructure includes two wells, a pump house, a small barn, and other small outbuildings. Current zoning of the parcels appears to allow for one additional development right on the southern parcel that would be extinguished with the conservation easement. 4 2024 CF Program Application FINAL Deerfoot Forest’s surrounding neighbor landowners include private timber companies, residential development, and Department of Natural Resources Forest Board. These surrounding land uses have resulted in the Deerfoot Forest serving as an intact wildlife corridor across the busy Center Road. The landowners and other community members have regularly sited black bears and cougars crossing Center Road between the two Hubbard parcels, presumably because of the habitat interruption and fragmentation occurring on the surrounding properties. The Deerfoot Forest has remained a wildlife and native plant refugia over the years as nearby disturbances have continued to occur. Jefferson Land Trust intends to protect this forested property with a conservation easement before the end of 2025 or early 2026, and CFF funds will provide essential funding toward this goal. In addition to CFF funds, funding from the Navy Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program for the REPI easement will also likely provide a substantial amount of the funding for this project as well as a bargain sale of the conservation easement from the landowners, providing matching funds from the CFF program. The federal grant dollars and landowner match contributed to this project will reduce the amount of funding needed from the CFF program. To date, Jefferson Land Trust protects over 1,360 acres in the Tarboo Creek and Donovan Creek watersheds. These properties include forestland, riparian, and farmland properties, working with several partners including the Northwest Watershed Institute, Department of Natural Resources. Top objectives: 1. Protect the property with a conservation easement and Navy REPI restrictive easement which will reduce the development rights, protect the forest and wetland habitat, and protect the headwaters of Tarboo Creek and Donovan Creek – 2026 2. After protection of the property the landowners, Jefferson Land Trust staff, and other natural resources partners will collaborate to plan and implement the best forest management practices to ensure that the property continues on its path to old-growth forest characteristics and contributes to climate resiliency. 3. Landowners, Land Trust and other partners will continue to assess the use of the property as a wildlife corridor and determine if there are additional enhancements that can contribute to that use. The overarching goal of this project is to protect the ecological values of Hubbard Forest so that the property will always remain in a maturing forested condition, protecting the water quality of the lower watersheds. 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. Estimated or Appraised Value of Propert(ies) to be Acquired: Total Estimated Acquisition-related Cost (see Conservation Futures Manual for eligible costs): $202,000 Total Operation and Maintenance Cost: $12,000 Total Project Cost: $214,000 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): 5 2024 CF Program Application FINAL Quilcene Headwaters to Bay Preserve Phase II Project related costs Timeline Est. Total Cost CFF Request Match Easement acquisition 2026 $170,000 $65,000 $105,000 Land acquisition related costs, i.e. appraisal, survey, Baseline document, closing costs 2026 $24,000 $15,000 $9,000 Project management, admin and legal fees ongoing $8,000 $8,000 $0 O&M ongoing $12,000 $12,000 $0 Total $214,000 $100,000 (46.7%) $114,000 (53.3%) The estimate for the value of the easement acquisition is based on the current Jefferson County fair market value assessment of the property, combined with our knowledge of the appraised value of other conservation easements on local properties recently. Similarly, Jefferson Land Trust completes multiple acquisition projects a year which helps us provide experienced estimates for project management and other administrative costs that will be needed for this project. O & M only go to question #15: Scored Questions 1. To what degree does the project leverage contributions for acquisition from groups, agencies or individuals? 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. 1 c. Matching Fund Estimate Acquisition O&M % Conservation Futures Funds Requested $88,000 $12,000 46.7% Matching Funds/Resources* $114,000 $0 53.3% Total Project Acquisition Cost $202,000 $12,000 100% 6 2024 CF Program Application FINAL * 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? Navy REPI (or bargain sale) $114,000 __ Yes No _________ Yes No ________ _____________________ $_________ 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. To what degree does the project sponsor commit to provide long-term stewardship for the proposed project? 2 a. Sponsoring agency X is __is not prepared to provide long-term stewardship (easement monitoring, maintenance, up-keep, etc.) for the proposed project. Protection and stewardship actions for this property are designed to protect the ecological forest and wetland values of this property and the watershed that it impacts. Jefferson Land Trust has developed a rigorous program for stewardship and monitoring of conservation easement terms over the 35 years since we were formed, including at least annual on-the-ground monitoring of the property by professional staff and trained volunteers, data collection and management, help with stewardship planning, as well as legal defense of the conservation easements should it become necessary. As of 2024, Jefferson Land Trust has a legal defense fund of over $832,000 and continues to build this fund with each new easement acquisition, recognizing the legal obligation and responsibility of protecting conservation values in perpetuity. In addition, Jefferson Land Trust carries legal defense insurance for 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 conservation easement that Jefferson Land Trust holds and stewards. 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. In addition to our regular easement monitoring program described above, we plan to work with the landowners on the implementation of their recently updated Forest Management Plan. The landowners have been working with WA Department of Natural Resources and Jefferson County Conservation District staff to develop this forest management plan, and the Land Trust’s accompanying Stewardship Plan will be a complimentary document that helps the landowners understand their rights under the conservation easement, and work hand in hand with Forest Management Plan. The Stewardship Plan is developed with the Land Trust and the landowners as an accompanying document to the conservation easement that helps all parties to understand the permitted and prohibited uses under the easement, and the management goals for the property. 3. To what degree has the project sponsor demonstrated effective long-term stewardship of a similar project? 3 a. Describe the sponsoring agency’s previous or on-going stewardship experience. 7 2024 CF Program Application FINAL Over the 35 years since it was formed, Jefferson Land Trust has managed many acquisition projects with several project partner organizations, including Jefferson County, The Trust for Public Land, Northwest Watershed Institute, North Olympic Salmon Coalition (NOSC), JCCD, HCSEG, the Navy and others, and we have been responsible for conducting or coordinating restoration activities in partnership with many of those same agencies and organizations. The Land Trust also holds title to over 1,027 acres of preserves and we have helped with the preservation and stewardship of another 12,844 acres in Jefferson County. We currently hold 68 conservation easements on 4,526 acres, including the Tarboo Wildlife Preserve (396 acres), Carl’s Forest (156 acres), Arlandia (28 acres), and other facilitated protection projects with the Northwest Watershed Institute. Jefferson Land Trust stewardship and monitoring protocols were developed with the guidance of the national Land Trust Alliance, and adherence to those protocols is one of the requirements for our formal land trust accreditation. 3 b. Has the project sponsor and/or applicant 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 worked with many willing landowners and has sponsored 40 CFF applications over the years since Jefferson County approved collection of the conservation futures property tax and developed the program in 2003. These projects are found in almost all areas of East Jefferson County and range from fee simple acquisition of nature preserves that are held by Jefferson Land Trust, or by other entities such as the City of Port Townsend, Jefferson County or the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, to permanent conservation easements held by Jefferson Land Trust on privately owned properties. 4. To what degree is the acquisition feasible? 4 a. Property X can __cannot feasibly be acquired in a timely fashion with available resources. 4 b. Necessary commitments and agreements __are X are not in place. 4 c. All parties __are X are not in agreement on the cost of acquisition. If “not” to any of the above, please explain below. The landowners of Deerfoot Forest are deeply committed to the permanent protection of their property. Jefferson Land Trust has not begun drafting the conservation easement or hired the appraisal report yet, but once we have secured funding from Conservation Futures, we are certain that the acquisition of this easement will be feasible. Jefferson Land Trust expects to close on this conservation easement in late 2025 or early 2026 due to our multiple other project commitments to we are currently working on. 5. To what degree is the project a part of an adopted open space, conservation, or resource preservation program or plan that was open to public review and comment, or identified in a community conservation effort that provided opportunities for public input? The proposed acquisition __is specifically identified in an adopted open space, conservation, or resource preservation program or plan, or community conservation effort, that is publicly available. Please describe 8 2024 CF Program Application FINAL below, including this project’s importance to the plan. Please also reference the website of the plan if available or include the plan with this application. X 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 Deerfoot Forest property is nearby the Washington DNR’s designated Dabob Bay Natural Area. The Dabob Bay Natural Area was created to protect one of Washington’s highest functioning coastal spit and tidal wetland systems. Deerfoot Forest and other properties within the Tarboo watershed have the opportunity to provide additional protection to these areas by protecting the water quality of tributaries feeding into Dabob Bay. Jefferson Land Trust’s community-vetted 100-Year Conservation Plan articulates the importance of preserving habitat with the community vision – “Habitat is biologically diverse, interconnected, and supports viable population so keystone species.” (pg. 13, Jefferson Land Trust Conservation Plan, 2010). It also identifies "wildlife corridors" and “natural ecosystems” as priorities for habitat areas to be protected, which Deerfoot Forest can be characterized as. A portion of the Deerfoot Forest property is specifically identified as a Highly Resilient Terrestrial Biodiversity Area through Jefferson Land Trust’s Climate Resiliency Spatial Conservation Planning. More information about the Land Resilience Study can be found in the hyperlink and in Question #11. 6. To what degree does the project conserve opportunities which are otherwise lost or threatened? 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 landowners of Deerfoot Forest have considered working with Jefferson Land Trust to protect their forestland for over a decade now. Up until this year the Hubbards have wanted to reserve their ability to sell off their second parcel in case they have unexpected medical costs arise. However, now that there is the opportunity to secure Conservation Futures funds for the protection of this property, we can now work with the landowners to consolidate the property, extinguish the remaining development right, and ensure that it cannot be subdivided or clearcut should the landowners need to sell the property in the future, or after their lifetimes. 7. Are the conservation values of the project commensurate with or greater than the amount of CF funds requested, and will both the timeframes for meeting project objectives and associated metrics demonstrate achievement of the conservation objectives? 7 a. Summarize the project’s conservation values and how the CF funds requested support these values. The conservation values of the property that will be protected by the conservation easement include mature, diverse forest habitat, forested wetlands, scenic qualities, and educational and scientific opportunities. The protection of this mature forest habitat will benefit the biological diversity, carbon sequestration, and groundwater recharge of the forest, as well as extend the wildlife corridor in the Tarboo and Donovan Creek watersheds that many partners have been working to protect for two decades. 7b. Summarize how the project’s conservation values are related to the project’s specific objectives. 9 2024 CF Program Application FINAL The objectives described in the Project Description ensure that Jefferson Land Trust is performing the appropriate steps to ensure permanent protection of the conservation values described in 7a. 8. To what degree does the project preserve habitat for flora and fauna other than habitat for anadromous fish species? 8 a. __ provides habitat for State of Washington Priority Habitat specific to the project and/or State or Federal (NOAA and USFWS) Candidate, Endangered, Threatened or Sensitive species (provide list and references). 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 Deerfoot Forest property is nearby other conserved land including the conservation easements Tarboo Wildlife Preserve (396 acres), Carl’s Forest (156 acres), Arlandia (28 acres), and other facilitated protection projects with the Northwest Watershed Institute. Directly to the south of Deerfoot Forest is Department of Natural Resources property in their Forest Board category for timber production, but we understand that the presence of marbled murrelets on or near their properties means that DNR may be working to incorporate these properties into their Dabob Bay Natural Area Preserve. Dabob Bay is home to Hood Canal summer chum, Pugent Sound chinook, coho, surf smelt, Pacific sand lace, Pacific Herring, Pacific geoduck, hardshell clams, commercial oyster production as well as several WDFW Priority Habitats. Protection of water quality throughout the watershed reduces the number of negative impacts that the streams and bay have to respond to such as sedimentation, erosion, pollution, and flooding. 8 d. Does the current owner participate in conservation programs that enhance wildlife habitat? If so, please provide details. Yes, the owners of Deerfoot Forest have been engaged in stewarding the property for 50 years with the goal of advancing of the naturally-regenerating diverse forest. Most recently the owners have been working with the DNR’s Olympic Region Forest Resilience Team to develop an updated Forest Management Plan for the property. To date, management of the property has mostly included occasional planting of native conifer trees and shrubs when necessary to fill in gaps, allowing trees to become large and old and eventually become standing snags and large woody debris on the forest floor, and limiting human impact on the forested wetlands. 9. To what degree does the project protect habitat for anadromous fish species? 9 a. Describe to what degree the project protects habitat for anadromous fish species (for example: marine shorelines, stream or 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. As described in question #8, this property appears to be some of the headwaters of both Donovan Creek and Tarboo Creek, both of which are anadromous streams for multiple salmonid species. The protection of habitat 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 10 2024 CF Program Application FINAL upstream in a watershed provides benefit to the water quality and conditions of the salmon-bearing streams further down the watershed. 10. To what degree does the project preserve farmland for agricultural use OR forestland for silvicultural use? 10 a. Describe the extent and nature of current and planned agricultural or silviculture use of the proposed acquisition, including any anticipated changes to that use once the property, or property right, is acquired with Conservation Futures funds. The forestland’s primary management goal is not for silvicultural production, but instead for preserving and enhancing the ecological diversity and resiliency of this habitat. 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. Encouraging structural diversity in the forest, as the Hubbard’s have been doing for decades retains and builds soil, promotes groundwater recharge, and protects downstream water quality by reducing unnatural erosion. 10 c. Describe how the acquisition or proposed easement will likely preserve and/or enhance soil, water quality, watershed function and wildlife habitat. With the proposed terms of the conservation easement, Deerfoot Forest will be able to be managed in a similar function as described in 11b, in perpetuity. The easement terms will restrict clear cutting, timber harvest and conversion of the forest which will protect the water quality, soil health, watershed function and wildlife habitat as described throughout this application. 10 d. Does this project preserve a mix of quality farmland and forestland? Preservation of farmland is not one of the proposed conservation values for this forested property; the preservation of structurally diverse, second growth forest is the primary goal of this conservation easement. 11. Climate change: 11 a. To what degree does this project increase resiliency to and/or mitigate climate change, and is the project’s scale significant in regards to increasing climate resiliency? Jefferson Land Trust and the North Olympic Land Trust have been involved in a Land Resilience Study of the North Olympic Peninsula since 2020. This study included working with a GIS consultant to utilize over 90 data sets and draw from 18 public and private sources to develop a set of climate resilience metrics that is helping to structure conservation initiatives in both partner organizations and shape future collaboration. The metrics are analyzed through the four pillars of our work including working farmland, working forestland, habitat and biodiversity, and community opportunity areas. Through this analysis, portions of Deerfoot Forest is identified as a Terrestrial Biodiversity Conservation Opportunity Area through this spatial resiliency study. Terrestrial Biodiversity Conservation Opportunity Areas are defined as the lands on the Olympic Peninsula that are most likely to retain their ecological integrity and features that support migrating biodiversity both present and predicted, where there are corridors between these features that will support future migration and are the habitat lands that have high carbon sequestration values. 12. What area does the project serve? 11 2024 CF Program Application FINAL 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. Deerfoot Forest is a piece of property that is part of a much broader county area that has been prioritized for protection by many local and regional land conservation and management partners. Both the Donovan and Tarboo Creek watersheds have been prioritized for preservation and restoration for over two decades, as described in #8. Deerfoot Forest is at the top of these watersheds, which benefits all of the downstream work that has been happening over many years. 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, Toandos Peninsula, Dosewallips Valley, Bolton Peninsula, and the West End. No. 13. To what degree will the acquisition provide educational opportunities, interpretive opportunities, and/or serve as a general community resource that does not reduce the conservation value(s) of the project? 13 a. 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 that will not reduce the conservation value(s) of the project.2 The Hubbards are very passionate about being able to share educational and visitor opportunities on their property. Their future goals for the forest stated in their Forest Management Plan include designing additional walking trails and visitor infrastructure such as benches and gazebo to encourage the opportunity for people to visit an exemplary native forest and wildlife habitat for future generations. 14. To what degree does the project preserve historic or culturally significant resources3? 14 a. The proposed acquisition __ includes historic or culturally significant resources4 and __ is registered with the National Register of Historic Places, or an equivalent program. __ is recognized locally has having historic or cultural resources. __ is adjacent to and provides a buffer for a historic or cultural site. X none of the above. If affirmative in any of the above, please describe below, and cite or provide documentation of the historical cultural resources. All O & M Projects 15. Applications for Operation and Maintenance funding only to be scored on a scale of 1-100 based on information provided. Consider the CF Manual and the topics below, for example: 2 The words “education” and “interpretation” are interpreted broadly by the CF Committee. 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. c:J Hubbard Forest -Jefferson Land Trust Conservation Easement -DNR Forest Board -State Department of Natural ResourcesD Parcels Deerfoot Forest Hubbard Project Area Parcel Map 2019Aerial Image (NAIP) For informational purposes only. All data represented are from varying sources and approximate. Map created in March 2024 c:J Hubbard Forest -Jefferson Land Trust Conservation Easement -DNR Forest Board -State Department of Natural Resources2,r--Streams Deerfoot Forest Hubbard Hillshade and Streams 2019Aerial Image (NAIP) For informational purposes only. All data represented are from varying sources and approximate. Map created in March 2024 Deerfoot Forest Application Photos Forested sedge wetland. Southern parcel facing southwest. Bigleaf maple-dominant forest with mid-size regenerating conifers. Onsite driveway with Douglas fir and bigleaf maple. Large maple on site; moss and lichen demonstrate strong moisture presence. Conservation Futures Citizen Advisory Committee site visit. Representative conditions of mixed alder, salmonberry, sword fern forest. Northern neighbor boundary line (commercial forestry) can be seen in background. Representative conditions of alder, maple, and Douglas fir stands with mixed diverse understory.