HRLCG Monitoring Report

BIENNIAL STATE LAND ACQUISITION PERFORMANCE MONITORING REPORT 2020 HABITAT AND RECREATION LANDS COORDINATING GROUP TABLEOF CONTENTS Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 State Habitat and Recreation Land Acquisitions 2 Habitat and Recreation Lands Coordinating Group 2 Background ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Biennial State Land Acquisition Performance Monitoring Report 5 State Agency Profiles 5 State Agency Acquisition Priorities 9 State Acquisition Practices 10 Funding for State Acquisitions 10 Projects Monitored for Performance (2015-2017) .............................................................................................................................. 13 Projects Monitored for Performance 14 Summary by Agency 15 Habitat and Recreation Lands Coordinating Group Monitoring Report 16 March 2020 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION Introduction 2 State Habitat and Recreation State agencies must be flexible because the Habitat and Recreation Lands purchases are from willing sellers. Land Acquisitions Coordinating Group Landowners may have a variety of The percentage of public, natural resource motivations for selling, including price and a The Legislature created the Habitat and lands owned by Washington State accounts desire to protect the land into the future. Recreation Lands Coordinating Group in for 9 percent of all lands in the state, Agencies have some tools to make purchase 2007 to improve the visibility and according to a 2015 study of the economic offers more desirable, such as purchasing coordination of state habitat and recreation impact of public lands by the Joint conservation easements that allow the seller land acquisitions. The Legislature wanted to Legislative Audit and Review Committee. to remain on the property or to continue see better coordination by state agencies These natural resource lands include those using the land for farming or ranching. with the goal of working toward a statewide used for recreation and habitat and as trust Some constraints limit agencies’ flexibility, strategy for land acquisitions. Local land. such as the law against offering more than governments and citizens wanted more information about state projects in their State agencies buy land to protect fair market value. areas. important state resources such as habitat With an increasing demand for public for threatened and endangered species and accountability, it is more important than The lands group is comprised of Intro outdoor recreation opportunities. As ever to ensure that each project is the best representatives from the following state population increases, so does the need to investment of limited public resources. The agencies: preserve the land and its resources for public wants information that helps decide Conservation Commission future generations. These lands can serve whether it’s a good investment, including multiple state objectives, such as protecting information about how purchased land will Department of Ecology habitat and supporting working farms. be maintained over time. While acquisitions Department of Fish and Wildlife and land management are budgeted State habitat and recreation land Department of Natural Resources acquisitions are strategic and flexible. They separately, there is increasing demand to are strategic because each acquisition must understand how the capital investment in Department of Transportation buying the land relates to the impact on the meet priorities identified in an agency’s plan Puget Sound Partnership to compete for grants. They also must meet operating budget for managing the land. Recreation and Conservation Office detailed grant program evaluation criteria. Open, visible, acquisition processes help These state agency and grant program make strong public investments. As State Parks and Recreation priorities ensure that the best state habitat agencies work to protect natural resources Commission and recreation lands are acquired. under increased scrutiny, transparent land transactions help inform local and state decision-makers. INTRODUCTION Introduction 3 The lands group also includes The Biennial State Land representatives of nonprofit organizations, Acquisition Performance local governments, the Legislature, private Monitoring Report shows whether interests, and others. state agencies achieved their initial project objectives. The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) provides staff support and hosts the lands group’s Web site. The lands group has created a structure for improving the visibility and coordination of state land acquisitions. It has three components: The Annual State Land Acquisition Coordinating Forum brings Intro together state agencies, local governments, non-government organizations, landowners, tribes, and citizens to learn about and share ideas on proposals for state habitat and recreation land purchases and disposals. The Biennial State Land Acquisition Forecast Report gives information about the state land purchases and disposals that are being planned around the state. BACKGROUND BACKGROUND Background 5 Biennial State Land Acquisition expressed by the public, and on state and Plan federal legal requirements to provide Performance Monitoring Report The intent of the Lands 20/20 policy is to recreational opportunities and protect ensure that future land acquisitions are This is the fifth Biennial State Land threatened and endangered wildlife. Each consistent with the agency’s mission Acquisition Performance Monitoring Report. agency has distinct missions directed by statement: Preserve, protect and perpetuate Its goal is to monitor the success of state legislation designed to meet those needs. fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while habitat and recreation land acquisitions by Agency acquisition plans establish criteria providing sustainable fish and wildlife examining whether state agencies achieved for identifying priority purchases that will recreational and commercial opportunities. their acquisition objectives. Data from the best fulfill the agency mission, and report may be used to identify strengths processes for pursuing the priorities. In addition, land acquisition projects are to and weaknesses in state acquisition be consistent with the Conservation Department of Fish and Wildlife processes and to inform decisions made by Initiative Strategic Acquisition Priorities and state agencies, the Legislature, local Missions evaluated through the Lands 20/20 process, governments, and others. which provides more detail for The Department of Fish and Wildlife has implementing foundational values. The focus is on land acquired by the dual mandates to protect hunting and Department of Fish and Wildlife, fishing opportunities and to protect fish and Department Acquisition Principles Department of Natural Resources, and the wildlife. The agency is charged with Optimize, pursue, and use State Parks and Recreation Commission. The sustaining all wildlife species other than partnerships to identify and report does not focus on lands purchased plants, including invertebrates, fish and prioritize land acquisitions, nurture primarily for non-habitat or non-recreation marine invertebrates, amphibians and collaborative support, and leverage purposes, such as infrastructure or state- reptiles, and birds and mammals. The capacity. owned trust lands. agency has authority to acquire critical habitat lands to fulfill its missions. Evaluate whether acquisition is the State Agency Profiles best conservation alternative to The 2011 Department of Fish and Wildlife This section describes the habitat and achieve the desired result. Evaluate strategic plan includes the following recreation land acquisition missions and alternative tools before acquisition principles for land management: processes of the Department of Fish and (e.g. incentives, different land Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources, Conserve and restore biodiversity. stewardship by current owner, or education). If acquisition is the best and State Parks and Recreation Ensure the health of our ecosystems. Commission. alternative, then evaluate options to Ensure sustainable social and acquire the real property interests State agency acquisition goals are based on economic utilization of (e.g. easement, fee title, donation, recreation and conservation needs Washington’s fish, wildlife habitat, exchange). and natural resources. BACKGROUND Background 6 Pursue lands that provide long-term identify potential conservation sites within a preserves contain some of the most opportunities for public recreation geographic envelope. Internal policy and uncommon and sensitive plant and animal or that create access to existing the Lands Evaluation Tool screen projects communities native to Washington, public land. for grant categories. including several species that are found nowhere else in the world. Some preserves Pursue lands that will provide long- The agency evaluates compatibility with also include intact ecosystems that may be term ecological value in light of statewide and regional conservation used as reference sites of natural ecological climate change impacts, such as sea initiatives including the Governor’s priorities function.

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