Friday
May 09, 2008

Voters Approve Conservation Futures Program 2007-11-13 Voters in Spokane County approved continuation of the Conservation Futures Program that was on the November ballot by a 61% approval rate. Since the inception of the program in 1994 it has resulted in the acquisition of 20 parcels totaling 4300 acres. These lands are in, near or just outside the rural/urban interfaces. In addition to the monies raised by this program, $3,774,132.40 in matchings funds have been brought into the County since 2002 for wetland restoration, habitat enhancement and land acquisition. The program's goal is to secure lands for the use and enjoyment of open space, to maintain and preserve access to Spokane County's lakes, rivers and streams, to protect recreational opportunities while providing for wildlife corridors and habitat. To balance our growth and development with the need for a few special protected places and to ensure that these properties will be there for our children while improving air and water quality. "Take a Hike" on these properties and enjoy the outdoors. Many thanks to the Coalition for the Future 2007 who supported the campaign for to all those who voted for this program. Planned Conservation Futures Hike on October 21st 2007-10-10 Event: Hike from Iller Creek to Big Rock Date: Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007 Time: 12:00 PM (noon) Meeting place: Holman Road Trailhead Leader: Jeff Lambert, 509-999-5100 This is a good hike for beginning to intermediate hikers. The Iller Creek drainage begins at the south end of the property and flows down through the cool, north-facing valley along a lush riparian corridor. The area hosts 163 species of invertebrates, 86 bird species, 15 mammals and 2 amphibians. It provides White-tailed deer and Rocky Mountain elk winter range. From I-90 take Argonne Road exit 287 and go south on Argonne Road / Dishman-Micha Road to Schafer Road. Turn right on Schafer, then right on 44th Road, and then left of Farr Road. Turn right onto Holman Road and park at the end. Planned Conservation Futures Hike on October 28th 2007-10-10 Event: Hike at Slavin Ranch Date: Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007 Time: 12:00 PM (noon) Meeting place: Trailhead along Keeney Road This is an easy hike around a wonderful wildlife habitat. There are ponds and grassy meadows. From I-90 take the Pullman / Colfax Highway exit 279 onto 195. Go south on 195 for approximately 8 miles and turn right onto Washington Road and go to interestion with Keeney Road. The Slavin Ranch property boards west side of Keeney Road for 1/2 mile. MORE NEWS: News Regarding CF Campaign Rimrock Drive in Palisades Park Now Vehicle Free Grant Dollars Aid Conservation Futures Purchases Outdoor Groups Building Recreation Trail on Conservation Futures Property The Little River That Could Spokane County Purchases 79-Acre Site Adjacent to Iller Creek Conservation Area Now is the Time to Nominate Conservation Futures Property Let's Do The Right Thing For Conservation Conservation Futures program acquires land for habitat and recreation Spokane County Conservation Futures Program Overview 2005 2005 Spokane County Conservation Futures Program Updated Property Evaluation Criteria Mountaineers and Back Country Horsemen Build Trails at Slavin Conservation Area Spokane County Adds to Conservation Futures Program with Purchase of Property Bordering on Newman Lake LOCAL BACKCOUNTRY HORSEMEN RECEIVE GRANT FOR IMPROVEMENTS Conservation Futures Update

Q: Is all of it available for equestrians? A: No. Some of these lands are in sensitive ecological areas, like the Little Spokane River’s blue heron rookery near Indian Painted Rocks. This was the first acquisition in the County under this program. View All FAQ RECENT AND UPCOMING EVENTS: Click Here to Add Your Event CLICK HERE FOR FULL CALENDAR Where ARE these properties? Click Here and WAIT 30 seconds (!!) for a larger map to download, showing more detail about the overall view of all current Conservation Futures properties. This little view gives you a good idea of how the City of Spokane is virtually surrounded by these purchases. Conservation Futures adds Antoine Peaks 2007-09-12 Property: Antoine Peaks August 17, 2007 – Spokane County officials announced that they have closed on the purchase of 385 acres from Timberwood Ranches LLC on Antione Peak. The purchase completes Phase 1 of the Antione Peak project and is the latest addition to the county’s Conservation Futures program. The acquisition occurred through the use of conservation futures and matching grant funds received from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, under the Urban Wildlife Habitat Category. The Conservation Futures land purchase price was $2,897.000. An additional five-acre parcel was donated by Timberwood Ranches to Spokane County Parks and Recreation adjacent to the Conservation Futures acquisition. The value of the donated five-acre parcel was appraised at $45,000. Antione Peak is a 3,375 foot mountain in the Spokane Valley between Lincoln and Forker Roads. The 385 acres are located on the north side of the mountain with views of Mt. Spokane, a five-acre pond, and several miles of existing roads and trails that will be open for non-motorized recreation (hikers, bikers, skiers, horseback riders, etc.). It is considered to be an Urban Wildlife Habitat and is home to Moose, Elk, Bear and other species. County staff will soon be working on providing access to the conservation area from Lincoln Road on the east side of the property. For more information, please contact Parks, Recreation and Golf Director Doug Chase at 477-2720 or 953-9060. Palisades Has Views You Can Use 2005-07-31 Property: Rimrock from July 2005 issue of Out There Monthly magazine Rimrock is a Nice Spot for the Fourth of July – and All Year Round Perched on the rim of the Spokane River valley and winding down a lush canyon behind Greenwood Cemetery is Palisades Park and Conservancy Area. Located just a few minutes west of downtown Spokane, the park provides more than 600 acres for public use. To make sure that the public has an enjoyable experience there, the Palisades neighborhood group has adopted Palisades Park. Recently, they created a map indicating the trails and the parking areas. The trail signs are color-coded and numbered to coincide with the map. Palisades volunteers provide hundreds of hours each year picking up trash, marking trails, and making visitors feel welcome. According to the Palisades website, they provide “a helpful, watchdog approach to all park users.” And it’s true! Don’t be surprised if a neighbor stops to chat about the birds and flowers. The Palisades folks have taken it upon themselves to be park ambassadors. Palisades Park and Conservancy Area is a combination of Indian Canyon Park and Palisades Park, brainchilds of Aubrey White. Newspaper publisher W.H. Cowles and White visited the area in 1895. Later White wrote that “From this trip began my own and Mr. Cowles’s joint action for building up Spokane’s park system to a point worthy of the city that he saw in the future.” In 1910 the Spokane citizens agreed with White and Cowles and passed a park bond that financed the purchase of Indian Canyon, Palisades, and other parks. Recently, the County purchased an 8-acre addition to Palisades Park using money raised through the Conservation Futures program. Palisades Park is “conservation land” to preserve open space and wildlife habitat. “Unlike traditional parks, such as Manito Park, it provides a natural outdoor experience,” says Taylor Bressler of Spokane Parks and Recreation. Unpaved trails through the forested valley or the shrubby uplands bring visitors in close contact with native plants and animals. Adjacent to Riverside State Park, Palisades Park provides plenty of room for large mammals. Shrubs, evergreens, and deciduous trees provide varied habitat for moose, elk, deer, small mammals, and birds. Arrowleaf balsamroot and larkspur provide yellow and blue wildflower highlights. Several loop trails in the park provide a nice outing for traveling by foot, mountain bike, or horse. According to Palisades member Robbi Castleberry, “Walk or ride quietly through the park and you WILL see animals.” Even if you do not, you can enjoy the beauty of the natural park. This is a popular area for birdwatchers too. From the vantage point of the basalt cliffs, you can look across or down into the treetops to observe birds without craning your neck. Early in the morning, the songbirds serenade you with there myriad calls. Or walk along the cliff and watch the violet-green swallows dart and swoop after gnats. When you go: Rimrock Drive winds through the park following the edge of the basalt cliffs. The views are incredible. Downtown Spokane spreads before your eyes the Spokane valley and Mt. Spokane rise up in the distance. The Palisades neighborhood welcomes you to enjoy the Fourth of July fireworks. Pack a picnic, load the kids in strollers, and come on up. But plan on walking into the park. For safety reasons, on that night the part of Rimrock is closed to vehicular traffic. Park along Basalt, Greenwood, or on Rimrock south of Greenwood. Volunteers from Palisades will man the barriers to help make sure your evening is an enjoyable experience. There are several ways to get to Palisades Park. Drive about a mile north from the Sunset Highway along Government Way to Greenwood. Take Greenwood up the canyon. If you bear left where the road forks, you’ll follow Indian Canyon Drive to access the trailhead for the waterfall. If you bear right you’ll come out at the top of the canyon at Rimrock Drive. You’ll see the Palisades sign. To receive a map of the park, send a check for $3.00 to Palisades, 4625 W. Bonnie Dr., Spokane, WA 99224. The map will cost $3.50 if you use a credit card on the Palisades website (www.Palisadesnw.com). Palisades Park is open to non-motorized recreation. Dogs on leash and horseback riding are permitted. No shooting (including paintball) or fireworks are permitted. The park is open 4:00 AM to 11:00 PM in summer and 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM in winter. The Palisades neighbors remind you to practice “Leave No Trace” when visiting. Pack out your trash, leave the flowers for others to enjoy, and don’t disturb the wildlife. But please do visit Palisades Park. “If you use it, it will be a better and safer park for people and for the animals that live there,” says Castleberry. By Vicki Sola MORE PROPERTIES NEWS: Feryn Ranch - Feryn Ranch is For the Birds McKenzie - Newman Lake Goes Public Iller Creek - Hiking Just Minutes Away McKenzie - Spokane County Adds to Conservation Futures Program with Purchase of Property Bordering on Newman Lake Spokane River - Spokane County acquires new Spokane River park Trolley Trail - Trolley Trail Very Friendly Downriver - Spokesman Review Details Disc Golfing at Downriver Trolley Trail - Hiking Trolley Liberty Lake - Inland Northwest Land Trust Hike to Liberty Lake Cedars Enjoyed by All Downriver - Downriver Has Disc Golf Haynes Estate - Haynes Estate is a Treasure for the Future Holmberg - Holmberg Makes a Nice Natural Addition to Holmberg Park Trolley Trail - Trolley Trail Rimrock - Rimrock Piece is a Vital Part of Palisades Park Camp Sekani - Camp Sekani Photos Austin Ravine - Austin Ravine Photos Cedar Grove - Cedar Grove is AWESOME Iller Creek - Iller Creek and the Rocks of Sharon Rimrock - 4th of July on Rimrock Uno - Latah Creek Properties Liberty Lake - Liberty Lake Views Entertain Riders Van Horn, Edburg and Bass - Pictures!!! Van Horn, Edburg and Bass - Riverside State Park Helps with Management Van Horn, Edburg and Bass - Enjoying the Little Spokane River Natural Area James T. Slavin - The Diamond S Ranch