Outcome: Protect the diversity of plants and wildlife

Continuity of terrestrial and aquatic habitat networks

About this indicator

In addition to designating and protecting critical areas, the Growth Management Act also requires local governments to identify open space corridors within and between urban growth areas that are useful for recreation, wildlife habitat, trails, and connection of critical areas. These open space corridors maintain wildlife connectivity, providing access to larger habitats. When ecosystems become fragmented and lack connectivity, fish and wildlife are prevented from meeting their need for food, water, cover and reproduction.

This indicator focuses on land conservation priorities highlighted by the King County Greenprint Program. These priorities provide stakeholders with guidance regarding strategic land acquisition and conservation goals.

The Greenprint analysis has identified six regionally significant acquisition and conservation priorities in King County. The highest value lands are found throughout the forests of the Cascade foothills and along major riparian corridors. Other priority areas include farmland, the Puget Sound shoreline, regional trails connections and the protection of open space to maintain the Urban Growth Boundary.

Key findings

• Acres of land owned and managed by King County and local jurisdictions as parks, open space, and resource lands: 174,700 (2005)

Last updated September 2007 (data is not available annually to update this indicator)

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Technical notes

Open space corridors are required by the Growth Management Act under RCW 36.70A.160. Data provided by the March 2005 Greenprint for King County, prepared by the Trust for Public Land Northwest for King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Water and Land Resources Division. Greenprint for King County describes a regional conservation strategy that King County plans to apply to protect open space resources for such purposes as salmon recovery, farm and forest preservation, flood hazard reduction, parks and regional trails. The Greenprint strategy is informed by Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, which is used to evaluate the King County landscape to identify land conservation options that provide the greatest public benefits. The Greenprint strategy and GIS model were conceived by the Trust for Public Land project team and King County staff.