SEATTLE – On December 29, Forterra completed two land transactions spanning 376 acres along the western edge of the Cascade Mountains, 300 of these holding pristine old growth forest. The acreage represents some of the last unprotected stands of ancient western hemlock and silver fir, habitat critical for northern spotted owls and marbled murrelets. Forterra worked closely with the Washington Department of Natural Resources on the sale, which resulted in one more success in a long collaborative effort to preserve the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Valley for the next generations.

Titicaed old-growth forest. (Photo courtesy of Charlie Raines/Forterra)The transactions were secured with contributions including $1.2 million in grant funding to the Washington Department of Natural Resources from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund via the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Both parcels were bought from a local private company, Cugini Land and Timber, which has owned, logged and milled timber for three generations. The lands will be managed under a conservation easement retained by the Department of Natural Resources, which guarantees they will remain untouched forever.

The two completed transactions are: • Blethen Lake, located in the upper Quartz Creek area in the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Valley. A total of 220 acres includes a secluded lake, 160 acres of old growth forest and 50 acres of talus, shrub and meadow. The land provides nesting habitat for both spotted owl and marbled murrelet. This parcel has now been added to the Mt. Si Natural Resources Conservation Area. • Titicaed Creek, located in the North Fork Tolt River watershed. A total of 156 acres includes 128 acres of old growth as well as Titicaed Creek and tributary. Marbled murrelets have nested on this land, which has never been logged.

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