OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington State Department of Natural Resources, along with the Trust for Public Land and the Green Diamond Resource Company, announced they have moved to permanently protect more than 7,000 acres of forest at the southwestern end of Puget Sound.
The land – 7,391 acres in total – is located on the Olympic Peninsula between Hood Canal and Case Inlet. The area will remain in active timber production, but water quality and wildlife habitat will be protected, and space will be available to the public for hiking, biking, and other recreation.
“Protecting these productive forestlands from future development safeguards local jobs, keeps vital habitat intact for wildlife and protects the quality of Puget Sound while providing public access for outdoor recreation,” said David Patton, Northwest Area Director for The Trust for Public Land. “This project advances multiple benefits for everyone involved.”
This area of land is part of a three-phase effort to protect 20,000 acres of this coastal forest from development. The plot protected Tuesday is part of phase two. Previously, 6,967 acres were protected in 2016, and $5.1 million was procured in the 2018 congressional budget for the third phase.
"The working forestland protected by this easement will provide public recreation, environmental and economic benefits for generations to come,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hillary Franz, who leads DNR. “This is a huge win for Mason County.”
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