SPOKANE, Wash. — The office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray announced $31.5 million in federal funding will be awarded to two critical forest conservation projects in Washington state, including $30 million for the Stimson Timberland Legacy Project in Eastern Washington.
The awards come from the Forest Legacy Program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service and are funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. The funding will advance efforts to conserve forests crucial to rural communities, mitigate wildfire risk, protect wildlife habitats, and provide public access to forests.
The Stimson Timberland Legacy Project will conserve nearly 88,000 acres of working forests that are key to rural economies, mitigating wildfire risk, sequestering carbon, and providing critical public access across Pend Oreille, Stevens and Spokane counties.
“Washington's forests are irreplaceable treasures that provide far-reaching benefits to families, local economies, and visitors from all over,” said Senator Murray. “This funding will be put to great use on key forest conservation projects in Washington state and across the country and provide a boost to local communities who rely on our forests for clean water, jobs, and recreation opportunities.”
As part of a regional conservation effort spanning three states, this project seeks to help sustain forestry jobs, reduce wildfire risks and protect at-risk wildlife habitats. Public access to these lands will continue, enhancing Washington’s outdoor recreation economy and supporting the local forest-based industries vital to rural communities.
The office of Senator Murray says the property is in a region facing high development pressure and increasing land values which is threatening the long-term viability of its forest industry.
In 2024 alone, the USDA says the Forest Service has invested nearly $420 million to safeguard over half a million acres by partnering with states, tribes, local communities and landowners to protect at-risk private forestlands from development, ensuring long-term ecological and economic viability.
Additionally, these projects seek to contribute essential benefits to underserved communities by fostering a recreation-based economy, creating jobs and increasing public access to green spaces.
To learn more about the grants and the projects awarded money, visit the USDA Forest Service website.
