Corridors
Thinking holistically in a given geography, we address the important connections between people, land and work—linking city and rural town, working lands and wild lands.
Our effort is currently focused on the enhancement and sustainability of the lands and communities along our great natural corridors—the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway, Great Northern Corridor/Highway 2 and the Puyallup/Carbon River Valley. We chose these regions for their diverse economic, ecological and cultural characteristics and the synergy that can be gained by coordinating projects in the specific geography of each corridor.
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Land conservation
Our traditional ‘bread and butter,’ we preserve critical land forever while investigating new ways to secure substantial conservation and materially improve communities while providing market return.
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An engaged community
Working with a range of rural community leaders and residents we re-envision vibrant rural and major town centers and explore creative, new opportunities for economic growth and development. Key to this effort is nurturing deep and ongoing relationships with Tribal nations.
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Economic development
Aiming to provide sustainable economic opportunities for our rural towns while improving the health of our landscapes, we seek and promote a range of initiatives, including innovative green products, historic status reinvestment and outdoor recreational opportunities.
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Increased access to natural areas
Forterra collaborates to further develop and improve access to recreational opportunities while enhancing the protection and restoration of the corridors’ unique natural resources
The corridors we are working in:
Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway
Forterra’s been leading conservation and community building efforts in the Yakima River Corridor including Teanaway River Valley, Swiftwater Corridor and Yakima River Scenic Byway. With projects ranging from landscape-scale conservation acquisitions, to education and outreach, to construction of interpretive facilities, Forterra continues to lead the way, bringing a comprehensive approach to maximize the public and community value of this corridor.
Great Northern Corridor/Highway 2
This corridor has the components of a vibrant, resilient region, with employment, food and wood production, recreation and habitat restoration stretching from Everett to Stevens Pass. We’ve built long-standing partnerships with large forest landowners, taken a growing role in farmland conservation, created a new Green City relationship with Everett and launched the Skykomish Initiative bringing new energy to the revitalization of the historic town and surrounding scenic areas.
Puyallup/Carbon River Valley
This corridor connects Mt. Rainier to Commencement Bay. It follows the course of the Carbon River, from Mt. Rainier National Park through the historic communities of Wilkeson and Carbonado, and from the confluence with the Puyallup River to Puget Sound. Forterra is a leader in this corridor as a convener and partner of multiple stakeholder groups focused on cultural heritage protection, natural resource conservation, wildlife habitat protection and investments in recreational infrastructure.
Our vision of success is for Skykomish to be a recreation hub—a thriving center for outdoor activities that offers amenities like lodging, food and entertainment for visitors. Instead of stopping for a few minutes on their way to another town, families will choose to spend their weekends here.
Related Perspectives and News
A Proud Partnership
Forterra is working to conserve Little Skookum Inlet, 816 acres of riparian habitat, wetland and forest with two miles of marine shoreline in Mason County. Generations of Native Americans, family foresters and shellfish farmers have tended to this inlet. Protecting this place will prevent the property from being developed while protecting critical habitat for shellfish and salmon. Our project partner, Port Blakely Tree Farms, has stewarded the forest at Little Skookum for over 150 years and was just named Puget Sound Business Journal’s Family Business of the Year.
Mass Timber: The Innovative Future of our Built Environment
New building code changes in Washington to permit mid and high-rise mass timber buildings, allowing the state to take a huge step forward for the sustainable future of our built environment and will revolutionize the way we design, build and grow.
Saving Lake Serene
Forterra officially closed on the last-remaining privately owned section of the popular Lake Serene Trail in October 2018. Thanks to massive community support, the purchase of this 190-acre property preserved the trees along the trail and guaranteed permanent public access to Lake Serene Trail’s breathtaking views, waterfalls, and reflective alpine lake—forever.
Forterra awarded Olmsted Medal
Forterra was recently awarded the prestigious Olmsted Medal of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). Conferred annually at ASLA’s national conference, the Olmsted Medal is one of the Society’s premier honors.
700 acres of wildlife habitat near Easton conserved
Forterra and partners conserved nearly 700 acres of wildlife habitat in the Upper Kittitas Valley in December 2014. On December…
Land conservancy Forterra buys 190 acres to permanently protect Lake Serene Trail
The hiking trail, east of the town of Gold Bar, travels through thick timber to Lake Serene, a spot at…
Saving Dead Man’s Pond
Forterra, a nonprofit formerly known as the Cascade Land Conservancy, purchased the 5-acre property in west Puyallup for $336,000. Forterra…
Mukilteo Saves Historic Japanese Gulch for Community
The City of Mukilteo has purchased 98 acres within Japanese Gulch for $5.4 million dollars from the court-ordered Metropolitan Mortgage…