2005 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Announcement of Proposals Received
· Recovery Land Acquisition grants
· Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition grants
· Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance grants

A total of 14 proposals were submitted to the State of Washington by April 7, 2005 for consideration under the 2005 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund – a federal grant source for conservation-related land acquisition and for habitat conservation planning. Seven projects were proposed under the HCP Land Acquisition grant program, two projects were proposed under the Recovery Land Acquisition grant program, and five projects were proposed under the Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance grant program. A brief summary of each project proposal follows below.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) are currently reviewing all project proposals. The three agencies will use an interagency evaluation team to score and rank all proposals by grant program.

Each state agency will determine which proposed projects it will sponsor in the 2005 grant cycle. Grant proposals will then be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for regional and national competition by mid-May.

Some or all of these proposed projects could be selected for a federal grant award, with award announcements likely by October 2005. All land acquisitions that result, can only be made from willing sellers, for fair market value, based on current appraisals.

Questions or concerns about any of the following potential projects may be directed to the agency contact indicated for each project.

Projects Proposed for the HCP Land Acquisition Grant Program

Project Name: Cedar River Phase 3 Acquisition
Location: Cedar River Watershed, King County
Proposal: Purchase 100 acres of lower river habitat to benefit birds, fishes, amphibians
State Agency Sponsor: WDFW
Partners and Supporters: Seattle Public Utilities, Cascade Land Conservancy, King County Water and Land Resources Division, Cedar River Council
Agency Contact: WDFW - Elizabeth Rodrick (360) 902-2696

Project Name: Bacon Creek Habitat Acquisitions
Location: Skagit River Watershed, Skagit County
Proposal: Purchase 51 acres of in-stream and streamside habitat to benefit bull trout, bald eagles, Chinook salmon
State Agency Sponsor: WDFW
Partners and Supporters: Seattle City Light – Environment and Safety Division, Skagit Watershed Council – Restoration and Protection Committee, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, Skagit Land Trust, Skagit River System Cooperative, Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group
Agency Contact: WDFW - Elizabeth Rodrick (360) 902-2696

Project Name: Hoh River Conservation Corridor
Location: Hoh Watershed, Jefferson County
Proposal: Purchase 1,176 acres of riparian and upland forest habitats to benefit bull trout, marbled murrelets, northern spotted owls, bald eagles
State Agency Sponsor: DNR
Partners and Supporters: Western Rivers Conservancy, Hoh River Trust, Olympic Environmental Council, Washington Fly Fishing Club, Trout Unlimited, Rayonier Timber, Washington Trollers Association
Agency Contact: DNR – Omroa Bhagwandin (360) 902-1059

Project Name: Lake Blethen High Cascade Timberlands
Location: Snoqualmie Watershed, King County
Proposal: Purchase 160 acres of forested habitat to benefit marbled murrelets and northern spotted owls
State Agency Sponsor: DNR
Partners and Supporters: Cugini Land and Timber Company
Agency Contact: DNR - Brad Pruitt (360) 902-1102

Project Name: Methow Watershed – Phase 3
Location: Methow, Okanogan County
Proposal: Purchase 600 acres of riparian and upland forest habitat to benefit northern spotted owls, grizzly bears, gray wolves, Canada lynx, salmon
State Agency Sponsor: WDFW
Partners and Supporters: Methow Conservancy
Agency Contact: WDFW - Elizabeth Rodrick (360) 902-2696

Project Name: Swamp Lake/Amabilis Mountain
Location: Yakima River Watershed, Kittitas County
Proposal: Purchase 297 acres of forested habitat to benefit northern spotted owl, lynx, gray wolf, wolverine
State Agency Sponsor: DNR
Partners and Supporters: The Trust for Public Land, Mountains to Sound Greenway, Cascade Conservation Partnership, Kittitas Conservation Trust, Kongsberger Cross-country Ski Club
Agency Contact: DNR - Brad Pruitt (360) 902-1102

Project Name: Tieton River Project Phase 2
Location: Tieton Watershed, Yakima County
Proposal: Purchase 7,093 acres of riparian and upland forest habitat to benefit northern spotted owl and bull trout
State Agency Sponsor: WDFW
Partners and Supporters: The Nature Conservancy, The Cascade Conservation Partnership, Yakima County Commissioners
Agency Contact: WDFW - Elizabeth Rodrick (360) 902-2696

Projects Proposed for the Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Program

Project Name: Ellsworth Creek Watershed Phase II
Location: Willapa Watershed, Pacific County
Proposal: Purchase 296 acres of forest habitat to benefit marbled murrelets, bald eagles, salmon
State Agency Sponsor: WDFW
Partners and Supporters: The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Agency Contact: WDFW - Elizabeth Rodrick (360) 902-2696

Project Name: Nelson Creek Property Acquisition
Location: Elochoman Watershed, Wahkiakum County
Proposal: Purchase 180 acres of land to benefit Columbian white-tailed deer
State Agency Sponsor: WDFW
Partners and Supporters: Columbia Land Trust, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Julia Butler Hansen Columbian White-Tailed Deer Refuge
Agency Contact: WDFW - Elizabeth Rodrick (360) 902-2696

Projects Proposed for the Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance Grant Program

Project Name: Washington DNR Aquatic Resources HCP
Location: 2.4 million acres of state-owned aquatic lands in Washington State
Proposal: Develop an HCP to cover up to 86 species that may be affected by authorized activities on DNR-owned aquatic lands
State Agency Sponsor: DNR
Applicant: Washington Department of Natural Resources
Agency Contact: DNR – Omroa Bhagwandin (360) 902-1059

Project Name: Washington State Hydraulic Project Approval HCP
Location: Waters of Washington State
Proposal: Develop an HCP to cover approximately 45 aquatic species that may be affected by activities authorized by issuance of state hydraulic project approval permits
State Agency Sponsor: WDFW
Applicant: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Agency Contact: WDFW – Jane Banyard (360) 902-2572

Project Name: WDFW Wildlife Area HCP
Location: WDFW-owned lands throughout Washington State
Proposal: Develop an HCP to cover up to 125 species that may be affected by management activities on state-owned wildlife areas
State Agency Sponsor: WDFW
Applicant: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Agency Contact: WDFW – Jane Banyard (360) 902-2572

Project Name: Family Forest HCP for Lewis County
Location: 136,353 acres of privately-owned timberlands in Lewis County
Proposal: Develop an HCP to cover up to 74 species that may be affected by timber management activities on family forest holdings
State Agency Sponsor: DNR
Applicant: Family Forest Foundation
Agency Contact: DNR – Omroa Bhagwandin (360) 902-1059

Project Name: Walla Walla Basin Bi-State HCP
Location: Walla Walla Watershed, Walla Walla County
Proposal: Develop an HCP to cover at least 2 listed fish species that may be affected by agricultural and municipal water uses
State Agency Sponsor: WDFW
Applicant: WallaWalla County
Agency Contact: WDFW – Jane Banyard (360) 902-2572