Clark County seeks public comment on Legacy Lands property acquisitions

The Parks and Lands division of Clark County Public Works is seeking the community’s input on a draft update to the Legacy Lands Guidance Manual. The comment period is open through Oct. 18. After public comment and review by the Parks Advisory Board, the plan will be considered by the Clark County Council for approval. In 1971, the Washington Legislature established the Conservation Futures program. The Clark County Council adopted the Conservation Futures levy in October 1985. In 2006, the program’s name was changed to Legacy Lands. The county’s Legacy Lands program protects lands highly valued for habitat, scenic corridors, low-impact recreation and other qualities that enhance the local environment. Most Legacy Lands properties are open for public use. Some Legacy Lands properties provide critical habitat for protected species and are not easily accessible. The program is funded through a property tax levy of up to $0.0625 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation. To date, the program has preserved almost 5,400 acres in Clark County. Acquisitions have helped create many well-known and beloved parks and natural areas throughout the county, such as the Vancouver Lake Lowlands/Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park, the Salmon Creek Greenway, Lucia and Moulton Falls regional parks and Round Lake. The Legacy Lands Guidance Manual provides structure for the program and outlines how projects will be solicited from sponsors, a watershed-based approach for acquisition, property management guidelines and other program aspects. The draft manual is posted at clark.wa.gov/public-works/legacy-lands-program. Public comments about the draft manual can be submitted via email to PWConservation@clark.wa.gov or by calling Denielle Cowley, program coordinator, at 564-397-1652. Comments should be submitted by Oct. 18. Public comments will be shared with the Parks Advisory Board. The board can vote to send the draft manual to council, at which point, council will consider the manual for adoption. Information about the board and how to attend a board meeting is available at clark.wa.gov/public-works/parks-advisory-board. A County Council work session on Wednesday, Sept. 27 gave an overview of the Legacy Lands program and updates to the guidance manual. Information about the council work session can be found online at clark.wa.gov/councilors/clark-county-council-meetings.

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