Legislature Provides Big Win for Tribal Partnerships, Conservation

In the final hours of the 2025 session, the Washington State Legislature approved $16.7 million in the capital budget, fully funding four Trust Land Transfer (TLT) projects aimed at protecting 5,600 acres of ecologically valuable forest lands across the state. 

Photo: Spada Lake as viewed from Bald Mountain in the Morning Star NRCA, protected via TLT in 2024, Paul McFarland

This year marks the first full implementation of the new framework for selecting TLT projects, established by the passage of the ‘TLT revitalization bill’ (HB 1460) in 2023. The updated process includes a new application, eligibility analysis, and priority ranking by a public advisory committee. The four projects that received funding this year will protect over 5,600 acres of state trust land, transferring these parcels to Tribes across the state who will manage them permanently for their conservation values.  

“We were excited to see continued strong support for the Trust Land Transfer program for the third year in a row by the State Legislature, despite a challenging budget year,” said Tom Uniack, Executive Director for Washington Wild. “Trust Land Transfers allow for the long-term management of ecologically significant state lands while allowing DNR to provide increased benefits to trust beneficiaries.   

In 2023, the State Legislature approved more than 4,000 acres of Trust Land Transfer protections to state forest lands. In 2024, as part of a supplemental budget process the Legislature protected more 2,200 additional acres. This year 5,600 acres were approved for protection.  

The funded projects include: 

• Beckler (676 acres): Riparian and forest habitat near Skykomish. Transferred to the Tulalip Tribes. 

• Okanogan G (42 acres): Land along the Methow River. Transferred to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. 

• Tract C North (4,566 acres): High-elevation riparian habitat feeding the steelhead-bearing Klickitat River. Transferred to the Yakama Nation. 

•  South Lake Ozette (372 acres): Includes stands of old growth, adjacent to Olympic National Park. Transferred to the Quileute Tribe. 
  
  
  

  The Klickitat River, J Bucky

An excellent example of forward-thinking public policy, the Trust Land Transfer (TLT) program enables the transfer of ecologically valuable but economically underperforming state trust lands to entities better equipped to manage them for conservation or recreation. Often described as a “win-win-win,” TLT delivers benefits across the board: it supports trust beneficiaries such as public schools, emergency services, and libraries; protects vital ecosystems; and empowers communities to help shape the future of public lands. The program also safeguards working forests at risk of development, conserves critical wildlife habitat and ecosystems that provide clean air and water to us all, and contributes to climate resilience by preserving carbon-rich forests and key watersheds that mitigate flood and drought impacts. 

In addition to the above four projects, the legislature also approved an assessment that would consider a new conservation area for the Elwha River watershed near Port Angeles. 

With this funding secured, conservation advocates and Tribal partners are poised to ensure the long-term stewardship of these ecologically and culturally significant lands.