Natural Resource Lands
Managing King County's Working
and Ecological Lands
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March 26, 2008
External link - Seattle P-I
King County has acres of newly acquired public space, but few are using it
Jan. 4, 2008
King County protects open space, habitat while housing density increases in urban core
Sims says best-in-nation TDR Program is perfect tool for smart growth
Sept.13, 2007
External article, Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Logging at Center Forest is attempt at balance
Sept.13, 2007
Vashon’s Island Center Forest grows by 86 acres
Aug. 2, 2007
King County sets Ring Hill Forest timber harvest
Draft Vashon-Maury Island Greenprint Map (Acrobat pdf)
Nov. 13, 2006
Sims
pays tribute to Harvey Manning
Long-time trails and wildlands
preservation advocate leaves legacy of habitat protection
Nov. 12, 2006
Sims
honored with national Public Official of the Year Award
Oct. 3, 2006
Sims’
2007 budget to propose major investments in King County’s
‘green infrastructure’
Executive bolsters commitment
to open space, trails in new budget
Aug. 10, 2006
New
access coming to Three Forks 'Old School Site'
May 26, 2006
King
County opens new trails in Taylor Mountain Forest
March 22, 2006
Global
warming initiative announced
Island Center Forest Site Management Guidelines
Oct. 15, 2005
External link - Seattle P-I
Sims
proposes $20 million for county's open spaces
Oct. 14, 2005
Sims
unveils historic green space and trail investments for King
County
Oct. 3, 2005
Sims
says innovative deal will conserve land, boost recreation,
protect Black Diamond's character
Sept. 26, 2005
King
County issues warning against illegal hunting
Cedar
River Public Access
June 7, 2005
Landmark
agreement new model for conservation
Conserves open space, protects working forests, fosters recreational
improvements and promotes planned community growth
May 19, 2005
(External Link, Seattle P-I)
A
green vision for 100 years
April 22, 2005
Executive
Sims lays out open space conservation vision
-- the Greenprint for King County
April 21, 2005
(External Link, Seattle P-I)
Planners
make blueprint for green space Feb.
5, 2005
King
County, state DNR join Vashon community to celebrate conservation
of 237 acres of open space
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The King County Natural Resource Lands (NRL) Program manages more
than 8,000 acres of natural and working resource lands owned by
King County. These lands comprise a diversity of landscapes ranging
from historic farm lands in the Lower Green River Valley and working
forest lands near the I-90 corridor, to riparian ecosystems along
the Cedar River.
 Lands
managed by the Natural Resource Lands Program are divided into two
management categories: ecological lands and working resource lands.
Ecological lands are managed to protect valuable ecological systems
such as riparian corridors and wetlands, and to preserve native
habitat and biodiversity. Working resource lands are farms and forests
that are managed to meet several objectives, including the production
of food and wood products. Ecological and working resource lands
provide low-impact passive recreational opportunities where appropriate.
» Look up individual King
County ecological properties
» Look up individual King
County working resource properties
Ecological and working resource lands are just one part of King
County's 25,000 acre open space system. The King
County Parks and Recreation Division manages an additional 16,000
acres of sites in two management categories: active recreation (supporting
ballfields, organized recreation activity, and regional trail systems)
and multi-use sites (supporting active and passive recreation, with
less intensely developed facilities and natural areas.) The King
County Open Space System plan describes policies for Parks and
Natural Resource Lands sites.
» Read the Natural Areas
Rules Sign
» Learn about Parks
and Natural Lands Rules, King County Code Title 7.12 (Acrobat
PDF)
Acquisitions
In addition to planning for and managing ecological and working
resource lands, the Natural Resource Lands Program helps coordinate
the acquisition of future King County working resource and ecological
properties that further implement the goals of the Natural Lands
Program. The acquisition process is guided by programmatic plans
for ecological and working resource sites, the King County Open
Space System plan, and models developed for the Greenprint
for King County.
Stewardship/Volunteer Opportunities
Many of the working resource and ecological properties need your
help! You can help care for these properties in many ways:
- Volunteer for a King County park volunteer event, such as planting
trees or removing litter and/or invasive vegetation from an ecological
or working resource property. You can also help as part of the
Adopt-a-Park or Park Ambassador program. To find out more about
future volunteer events, please contact Tina
Miller or read about King County's Adopt
a Park program.
- Please be mindful that King County working resource and ecological
properties are sensitive areas and help ensure that low-impact
passive recreation does not damage the ecological conditions on
these sites.
- Pass on your awareness of King County's working resource and
ecological properties to others!
Natural Resource Lands Staff
Connie Blumen,
NRL Program Manager
206-263-6371
Benj Wadsworth,
Natural Lands Planner
206-296-7805
Ingrid Lundin,
Natural Lands Planner
206-684-1557
Tina Miller,
Volunteer Coordinator
206-296-2990
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