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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Conservation Purchase Funds Near $2 Million

Spokane County is holding nearly $2 million in taxes to be spent on conservation lands.

Last fall, voters said yes on an advisory vote to continue the conservation tax for five more years.

Now, the county and city are taking nominations on lands that could be purchased under the program this year.

City officials said they want more land inside the city to be included.

Spokane city Parks Director Ange Taylor said the city has received little of the money in the four years the conservation futures program has been funded.

In 1996, the city purchased the old Riverpark Convalescent Center property near Riverside State Park with $250,000 from the conservation futures fund.

That’s from nearly $4 million collected so far.

The county bought 1.75 miles of shoreline on the south bank of Long Lake, and an 80-acre cedar grove east of Liberty Lake.

County officials also have been holding some of the money to buy a piece of land adjacent to the Dishman Hills Natural Area.

“I’m hoping the city will see some benefit from the program,” Taylor said.

“I don’t want to get into a turf war. I want to make sure we get the best parcels for future generations to enjoy.”

Taylor and other city officials put pressure on the county to improve the selection process so the city could obtain some of the money for lands within the city.

The criteria for ranking the properties was changed this year to give smaller city parcels equal footing with larger rural lands.

Also, the city has two representatives on an advisory committee that will consider the acquisitions and make recommendations to county officials. County commissioners will make the final decision later this year.

Wyn Birkenthal, county parks manager, said the acquisitions so far were based on the conservation value of the property, not on whether they were in the city or county.

“Some of the land we’ve bought is truly of regional significance,” he said.

Local officials are putting emphasis on buying land that’s valuable for wildlife, near water, in the process of being developed, near other recreation lands or accessible to the public.

In the county, a 200-acre wetland on the southwest flank of Mount Spokane is being nominated.

In the Spokane Valley, property on the mountainside south of Liberty Lake has been suggested. This privately owned land is adjacent to the county’s existing holdings at Liberty Lake Park.

Another large parcel of about 1,100 acres may be available in the Newman Lake area, Birkenthal said.

Also, land once proposed for a state transportation gravel pit along the Spokane River near Flora Road could be considered for preservation.

Four public meetings will be held. They will be March 18 at the Spokane downtown library; March 26 at Mead Junior High School; April 2 at Cheney High School, and April 9 at the Spokane County parks office at 404 N. Havana. All four meetings will be at 6:30 p.m.

Members of the public will get a chance to look at the properties being nominated, and comment on the potential acquisitions.

Last fall, voters approved an advisory vote to continue collecting nearly $920,000 a year for conservation lands. The property tax amounts to six cents on every $1,000 of assessed value.

, DataTimes