$1,000,000 appropriated in County supplemental budget for East Hylebos Watershed Conservation on former Weyerhaeuser Property

November 13, 2017

Summary

The purchase is the start of a multi-year fundraising campaign to aid in the long-term vision for conservation of this land alongside development.

Story

The Metropolitan King County Council unanimously adopted a supplemental budget that includes a $1,000,000 appropriation for East Hylebos Watershed Conservation that will acquire and protect open space on the former Weyerhaeuser campus.

“I’m glad that King County will continue to partner with the City of Federal Way on conservation efforts on such a unique and historical South King County property,” said Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer, whose district includes the East Hylebos Watershed.

The project targets 53 acres of category 1 wetland, wetland buffer, lakefront, and associated forests along North Lake in the headwaters of the East Hylebos Watershed. The purchase is the start of a multi-year fundraising campaign to aid in the long-term vision for conservation of this land alongside development. The county funding requests a match of $1,000,000 from the City of Federal Way’s Surface Water Management funding.

Additionally, the County Council passed an ordinance authorizing the county executive to enter into an interlocal agreement with the city of Federal Way to provide landmark designation and protection services, as well as an ordinance approving an agreement to transfer land between King County and the city of Algona.

Both ordinances were sponsored by Councilmember von Reichbauer.