Forterra completes the acquisition and transfer to Tulalip Tribes for long-term stewardship and cultural access
Highlights:
- Forterra purchased 40 acres of unique freshwater bog habitat and surrounding forested wetlands at Woods Lake in Snohomish County.
- Forterra transferred this property to the Tulalip Tribes for culturally-informed ecological stewardship.
- This purchase was made possible by funding from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) and Snohomish County Conservation Futures.
- Given the fragility of this habitat, visitation to these areas should be minimized and coordinated with the Tulalip Tribes Natural and Cultural Resources Department.
Nov. 27, 2024. TULALIP, Wash. – Forterra and the Tulalip Tribes complete a longtime goal of protecting 40 acres of unique freshwater bog habitat and surrounding forested uplands at Woods Lake in Snohomish County – an area at risk of encroaching development. Forterra completed the transfer of ownership this week to the Tulalip Tribes for culturally-informed ecological stewardship.
Forterra began pursuing protection of Woods Lake bog back in 2007. A partnership was formed where Forterra pursued and secured grant funds to make the initial purchase possible and the Tulalip Tribes would own and manage the ecological, wildlife and cultural values for the long term. Key grant funding came from RCO’s Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program’s Riparian Protection category and Snohomish County Conservation Futures.
Forterra and the Tulalip Tribes share a history of conservation partnerships in the Skykomish Basin. In 2015, Forterra secured RCO and Conservation Futures funds to purchase and transfer 1.25 miles of salmon habitat along the lower reaches of Wallace River to the Tulalip Tribes, which actively stewards the site today. Then in 2021, Forterra transferred a small parcel on the North Fork of the Skykomish to the Tulalip Tribes.
“We are grateful for the engagement of the seller and proud to demonstrate, once again, that persistence matters,” said Forterra President and CEO Michelle Connor. “We are honored to transfer stewardship to the Tulalip Tribes, ensuring both the ecological protection of this property and supporting indigenous culture and lifeways.”
“In acquiring this land, Forterra and the Tulalip Tribes have taken an important step in preserving this unique and fragile ecosystem. We are grateful for their dedication to the cause and look forward to protecting this land,” said Brett Shattuck, Tulalip Tribes Natural Resources Restoration, Acquisition and Stewardship Senior Scientist.
“The Tulalip way of life is closely connected with the environment. Our culture is dependent on the ecosystem, especially cedar which is used for many traditional purposes. It’s crucial to protect and preserve local habitats such as Woods Lake, not only for the betterment of the planet but also to maintain our way of life for the next seven generations,” stated Teri Gobin, Chairwoman of the Tulalip Tribes.
The property is adjacent to state-managed forestlands, altogether protecting 93% of the lake’s shoreline. The pristine freshwater lake is surrounded by a scrub-shrub and forested wetland. The forest includes red cedar, hemlock, alder, and an understory of sword fern and salal. The upland forest transitions to scrub-shrub wetlands before grading into a unique mix of bog-adapted plants. Bog ecosystems are considered imperiled by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources Natural Heritage Program.
Given the fragility of this habitat, visitation to these areas should be minimized and coordinated with the Tulalip Tribes Natural and Cultural Resources Department, which plans to offer opportunities for tribal members and visitors through its Rediscovery and environmental education programs.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Sandi Peck
Forterra
(360) 870-1038
Brett Shattuck,
Restoration, Acquisition, and Stewardship Senior Scientist
The Tulalip Tribes
(360) 716-4618
bshattuck@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov
ABOUT FORTERRA
Forterra is a Washington state nonprofit that drives land-based solutions to support a healthy environment and resilient communities for all. In its 35 years, Forterra has helped conserve more than 275,000 acres of geographically diverse lands and places at risk. The land trust’s work stretches from the estuaries and forests of Washington’s coastline to the farmlands and river canyons of Yakima, reaching more than 100 counties, cities, and towns. Visit www.Forterra.org.
ABOUT THE TULALIP TRIBES
The Tulalip Tribes are the successors to the Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skykomish, and other tribes and bands who signed the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott. The mission of the Tulalip Tribes Natural Resources Department is to carry out the tribes’ co-management responsibilities consistent with treaty rights, including protecting the resources upon which the people have depended since time immemorial. Today, the Tulalip Tribes’ Natural Resources Department is at the forefront of protecting, honoring, and restoring ecosystems for the health of our people. Visit nr.tulaliptribes-nsn.gov to learn more.
