County picks sites for conservation

From city trails to mountain tops, this year’s crop of Spokane County Conservation Futures picks offers up everything from places for an evening bike ride to thickets for birthing baby moose.

Spokane County Parks Advisory Committee members this week selected six of 20 nominated properties to pursue purchasing for preservation as natural areas. They range in size from under two acres to 1,100 acres.

Some link existing park and conservation properties to one another. Others stand on their own as prime spots to protect for wildlife and recreation.

Conservation Futures properties are purchased with money collected through a voter-approved 6-cent per $1,000 valuation property tax – $12 per year on a $200,000 home.

The current approval runs out at the end of 2007. Spokane County Park Planner Steve Horobiowski estimated that upcoming collections coupled with the money it has on hand now, leave it $3.2 million for purchases through 2007.

Parks officials, however, succeeded in the past at winning state grants to make Conservation Futures money go further and purchase more property.

Spokane County commissioners must approve the Conservation Futures list before the Parks Department can pursue purchasing the six chosen sites. None has been appraised yet by the county.

Antoine Peak

Parks Advisory Committee members gushed over this 1,100 acres south of Mount Spokane. It boasts meadows, panoramic views and a year-round pond, and is breeding ground to elk, moose and other animals.

“It’s absolutely spectacular,” said Horobiowski, who said he was pleased to see it nominated rather than sold for “trophy houses.”

All agreed it would be a prime acquisition, but the price could be high.

“We do need more support to acquire a property like this,” said Parks Advisory Committee member Karen Stevenson.

The department would likely pursue state grants and other donations.

On the upside, revenue from two communications towers and a rental house on the property could provide funding for ongoing management of the land.

Fourteen miles of jeep trails on the site would provide routes for horseback-riding, biking and hiking in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter.

The bluff

South Hill west-enders have enjoyed hiking and biking along the trails above Latah Creek for years. So when this 10-acre area was slated for development two years ago, neighbors sprang into action to oppose the project.

The bluff property is actually two separately nominated sites between 16th and 23rd avenues, under two different nominations. Together they will connect city-owned property to the south with High Bridge Park on the north, forming a complete linkage from Qualchan to the Centennial Trail.

“I was hoping that we’d get picked,” said Save Our Bluff’s Heidi Gann. “We’ve been talking this up for a long time.”

Parks committee members said that the area’s popularity was one of its key selling points, but one member initially objected to its location within the city limits of Spokane.

“I have trouble accepting that,” said committee member Ralph Stearns, who said he would prefer Conservation Futures money be used to purchase land in unincorporated areas where it would be managed by the county, not the city.

“The program is looking for the best properties in the county regardless of jurisdictional boundaries,” said Parks Director Doug Chase.

White Bluff

Elk, deer and cougar all call this 754-acre property bordering Riverside State Park home.

The diverse landscape includes wetlands, fields and forest and could be a good spot for horseback riding, said Horobiowski. It would also provide public access to an isolated section of the park.

Palisades Park area

A key selling point for this 17-acre property is its location between Riverside State Park and Spokane’s Palisades Park. Coupled with a purchase now under way, this site could link the two parks.

It offers views of Spokane, pine forest and basalt cliffs.

Seven Mile/Riverside State Park

If the county purchases this 70-acre site, it would open up access to 80 acres of landlocked Riverside State Park land.

The Seven Mile property includes several ponds and wetlands used by wildlife.

Riverside State Park would likely manage the property.