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KITTITAS COUNTY <br /> COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES <br /> 2025 STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br /> STUDY SEESION DATE: July 14, 2025 <br /> TOPIC: Cie Elum Ridge Update <br /> ACTION REQUESTED: Informational <br /> BACKGROUND: In November 2023, Kittitas County entered into a <br /> Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)with the <br /> Washington Department of Natural Resources <br /> (DNR),the Washington Department of Fish and <br /> Wildlife(WDFW), The Nature Conservancy <br /> (TNC),and the Kittitas Conservation Trust <br /> regarding the long-term management and ownership <br /> of the Cie Elum Ridge Property. The Cie Elum <br /> Ridge Property is currently owned by Central <br /> Cascades Forest, LLC and managed by TNC. <br /> The MOU parties have identified two potential <br /> ownership and management options: <br /> Option 1: DNR would purchase the northern two- <br /> thirds of Cie Elum Ridge(6,200 acres)as trust land, <br /> and TNC would purchase the southern one-third <br /> (3,500 acres) as a community forest,with a DNR <br /> conservation easement. TNC intends to co-manage <br /> its ownership with the Yakama Nation and the <br /> Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust and may <br /> transfer fee title to the Yakama Nation in the future. <br /> Option 2: DNR would purchase all 9,700 acres as <br /> trust lands, or as a hybrid of trust and community <br /> lands, depending on its preference. <br /> INTERACTION: Public Works, MOU Parties, Yakama Nation <br /> HANDLING: None <br /> ATTACHMENTS' Memorandum of Understanding,Presentation <br />