Laserfiche WebLink
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AMONG <br /> WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, <br /> KITTITAS COUNTY,THE NATURE CONSERVANCY,and KITITAS CONSERVATION <br /> TRUST <br /> This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is entered into by the Washington Department of <br /> Natural Resources ("WDNR"), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife ("WDFW"), <br /> Kittitas County ("the County"), The Nature Conservancy ("TNC"), and Kittitas Conservation <br /> Trust("KCT") (collectively referred to as "the Parties"). <br /> BACKGROUND <br /> A. This MOU involves a collaborative effort by the Parties to conserve property known as <br /> Cle Elum Ridge, which is shown in Attachment A(the"CER Property"). The CER <br /> Property is currently owned by Central Cascades Forest, LLC ("CCF"). TNC is a <br /> member of CCF and is responsible for managing CCF's property, including the CER <br /> Property. <br /> B. CCF wishes to sell the CER Property, and TNC has been working with the local <br /> community, the County, KCT, WDNR, and many others to develop an acquisition <br /> approach that includes a conservation outcome for the long-term stewardship and <br /> ownership of the CER Property. Such a conservation outcome includes the concept of a <br /> community forest ownership model for the CER Property. <br /> C. The Parties have been meeting to work collaboratively to discuss the opportunities and <br /> various needs and concerns and wish to memorialize their commitment to ongoing <br /> efforts to achieve mutually agreeable outcomes for all the Parties through this MOU. <br /> D. TNC and the County recently contracted for an economic analysis of the public benefits <br /> and impacts of a community forest scenario for the CER Property. That study is <br /> complete. <br /> E. The CER Property is adjacent to the Teanaway Community Forest("TCF"). DNR owns <br /> the TCF in fee title and WDFW owns a habitat restoration and working lands easement <br /> over the TCF. WDNR and WDFW jointly manage the TCF through an Interagency <br /> Agreement. For the purposes of the remainder of this MOU, where referencing WDNR <br /> and WDFW in their roles as joint managers of the TCF, WDNR and WDNR will be <br /> referred as the"State TCF Owners."The TCF has a local advisory committee that <br /> provides input to the State TCF Owners regarding the management of the TCF. <br /> F. The Parties have been working together and in collaboration with other community <br /> members to pursue the potential acquisition of the CER Property in order to ensure <br /> long-term ownership and management of the CER Property as a community forest, <br /> maintain viable working forest operations and management on the CER Property, <br /> 1 <br />