Rivers and Habitat Open Space Program is sponsored by Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Conservation easements for forestland habitats critical for threatened or endangered species and unconfined channel migration zones.

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Small Forest Landowner Office 4. Rivers And Habitat Open Space Program * Family Forest Fish Passage Program * Forestry Riparian Easement Program * Rivers and Habitat Open Space Program * Regulation Assistance for Landowners [](https://dnr. wa.

gov/forest-regulation/small-forest-landowner-office/rivers-and-habitat-open-space-program) # Rivers and Habitat Open Space Program This photo shows a river with a channel migration zone The Rivers and Habitat Open Space Program (WAC 222-23) is available to eligible Washington state landowners who would like to sell a permanent forestland conservation easement to the state.

Two types of land are eligible for the program: 1) forestland habitat critical for state-listed threatened or endangered species (Critical Habitat), and 2) a specific type of river habitat called unconfined channel migration zones (CMZ), which are islands of timber within a river channel that is actively shifting.

Since 2002, when funding first became available, the program has protected 1,706 acres of important habitat through 31 conservation easements. **The application window for the next 2027-2029 funding period is now open. Please submit your application before 05/31/26.

** For the current (2025-2027) Washington State Department of Natural Resources has $4. 6million available to purchase Rivers and Habitat Open Space conservation easements. Generally, when the funding level exceeds $1 million, DNR expects to allocate approximately 70 percent of the funds for Critical Habitat and 30 percent for CMZs.

If the demand is limited in either funding category, DNR may shift moneys between the funding categories. Applications are provided funding in order of ranked priority. All remaining eligible applications are offered the opportunity to be considered for future funding.

The program receives funding every two years, at the discretion of the WA State Legislature. Lands may be donated for a conservation easement at any time.

Applications will be prioritized for funding based on, but not limited to, the following elements for the two types of applications: To qualify for a conservation easement under the Rivers and Habitat Open Space Program, your property must be: * Located on forest land containing at least one of two habitat styles: -critical habitat for state threatened or endangered species that has been designated a particular concern by the Forest Practices Board; -a specific type of river habitat called a Channel Migration Zone as described in the Forest Practice Rules and Forest Practices Board Manual Section 2.

* Identified as either "designated forestland" or "current use forestland" on county assessor records, and * Free of unacceptable liabilities such as hazardous substances or other site conditions that may jeopardize the preservation of fisheries enhancement or ecological protection of the project area.

In addition, you must allow DNR adequate legal access to the property to process the application and administer the easement terms and conditions and everyone with a legal interest in the property must be willing to convey or subordinate their interest to the state for the conservation easement. The application window for the coming 2027-2029 funding period is now open. Please submit your application by 05/31/2026.

There are two applications available for this program. One is for forest land that contains habitat for state listed threatened and endangered species and the other application is for forest land within a channel migration zone. Select the proper application and instruction booklet that applies to your forest land.

Be sure to include in your application the following items: * A description of the forest land that includes the location and an estimated acreage, * A description of the method used to determine whether the land qualifies for the program, and * A map showing the approximate boundary of the qualifying land.

**Return completed applications to:** Washington Department of Natural Resources Forest Practices Division Rivers and Habitat Open Space Program MS 47012 Please direct questions and requests for additional information to KelliAnne Ricks at (360) 480-9702 or kellianne. ricks@dnr. wa.

gov Conservation Easement Program Manager Kellianne. ricks@dnr. wa.

gov Rivers and Habitat Open Space Program brochure Forest Practices Board Manual Section 18 Application for Channel Migration Zone Conservation Easement Instruction booklet for Channel Migration Zone Application for Critical Habitat Conservation Easement Instruction booklet for Critical Habitat Conservation Easement Small Forest Landowner Office Rivers and Habitat Open Space Program statute: WAC 222-23 * Family/Small Forest Owner Resources * Forest Health Assistance * Forest Practices Application (FPARS) * Landowner Assistance Portal * Other Forest Regulation Resources * Other State Forest Resources * Agriculture and Grazing * More Land Lease Resources * More Aquatic Lease Resources * Other Aquatic Resources * Fire Business Documents * Fire District Assistance * Industrial Fire Precaution Levels") * Wildfire Ready Neighbors * Energy, Mining, and Minerals * Geologic Information Portal * Other Geology Resources * Contracting&Procurement * CIVIL RIGHTS/ACCESSIBILITY FacebookTwitterBlueskyInstagramYoutube