Habitat and Recreation Lands
Coordinating Group
In 2007, the Washington State Legislature created the Habitat and Recreation Lands Coordinating Group to improve the visibility and coordination of state habitat and recreation land purchases and disposals.
Since then, the lands group has established a process for making state habitat and recreation land purchases and disposals more visible and coordinated.
- The Annual State Land Acquisition Coordinating Forum brings 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.
- The Biennial State Land Acquisition Performance Monitoring Report shows whether state agencies achieved their initial acquisition project objectives.
Lands group members include representatives of state and local governments, private landowners, and conservation organizations. The Recreation and Conservation Office provides staff support.
The lands group meets quarterly, and is scheduled to sunset on July 31, 2012. Its work will culminate in final recommendations to the Legislature in December 2011.
2012 Annual State Land Acquisition Coordinating Forum
The lands group hosted the fourth Annual State Land Acquisition Coordinating Forum on March 13, 2012. The annual forum is a chance to learn about habitat and recreation lands that state agencies hope to receive state and federal funding to purchase in 2013. It is also a chance for state agencies to coordinate plans for future purchases. Local governments, non-profit organizations, tribes, legislators, and citizens are invited to attend.
Agencies presented maps and information about planned projects, described their prioritization processes, and explained why the land is important for the state. The forum is informal, intended to generate questions and discussion to help identify opportunities for coordination about state habitat and recreation land acquisitions and disposals.
