Black Diamond Natural Area

Black Diamond Natural Area is located in rural King County outside of Black Diamond. King County acquired approximately 645 acres in fee in Spring 2006. The site is managed as three geographic units:

• Ravensdale Creek - this unit includes Ravensdale Lake & Creek, located north of Black Diamond on both sides of SR 169. The lake, creek corridor, and a few large wetlands have a forested buffer; most of the site is young forest or shrubs. Trails appropriate for non-motorized use enter the site off of SR 169 (there is no access off of Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road). King County Parks' Green-to-Cedar River Regional Trail is planned for future development west of Ravensdale Creek.
• Crisp Creek - this land is mostly steep forested slopes in the vicinity of Crisp Creek, off of 218th Ave SE, southwest of Black Diamond.
• Icy Creek - this unit is located near Icy Creek and the Green River in the vicinity of SR 169, southeast of Black Diamond. The property supports stands of young and mature forest, located adjacent to hundreds of acres of State of Washington Parks and lands managed by Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Current priorities for Black Diamond Natural Area have been to preserve and protect the site until a site management plan can be developed. King County's natural areas are managed for the following goals: to conserve and enhance ecological value and to accommodate passive recreational use that does not harm the ecological resources on the site.

Black Diamond Natural Area entered King County ownership through the implementation of the 2005 "Black Diamond Open Space Protection Agreement." This agreement established the terms of Phase 1 Black Diamond Annexations, including the dedication of these 645 acres of open space to King County.

It is anticipated that a Phase 2 annexation by the city will result in dedication of roughly 300 more acres of open space to King County. Until Phase 2 occurs, King County holds conservation easements on several hundred acres of Plum Creek-owned land to protect that land from development.

For more information about the 2005 Black Diamond Open Space Protection Agreement between King County, Black Diamond, Plum Creek and Cascade Land Conservancy, please see the following news releases and materials:

• Landmark agreement new model for conservation
• Black Diamond Area Open Space Protection Agreement fact sheet
• Black Diamond Area Open Space Protection Agreement area map (Acrobat pdf)
• Sims says innovative deal will conserve land, boost recreation, protect Black Diamond's character