The comment period is open Mon., Sept. 18 through Wed., Oct. 18

VANCOUVER – The Parks and Lands division of Clark County Public Works is seeking the community’s input on a draft update to the Legacy Lands Guidance Manual. The comment period is open Mon., Sept. 18 through Wed., Oct. 18. 

After public comment and review by the Parks Advisory Board, the plan will be considered by the Clark County Council for approval. A council work session about the Legacy Lands program and the updated guidance manual is scheduled for Wed., Sept. 27. 

In 1971, the Washington state legislature established the Conservation Futures program. The Clark County Council adopted the Conservation Futures levy in October 1985. In 2006, the program’s name was changed to Legacy Lands. The county’s Legacy Lands program protects lands highly valued for habitat, scenic corridors, low-impact recreation and other qualities that enhance our local environment. Most Legacy Lands properties are open for public use. Some Legacy Lands properties provide critical habitat for protected species and are not easily accessible. 

The program is funded through a property tax levy of up to $0.0625/$1,000 of assessed valuation. To date, the program has preserved almost 5,400 acres in Clark County. Acquisitions have helped create many well-known and beloved parks and natural areas throughout the county, such as the Vancouver Lake Lowlands/Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park, the Salmon Creek Greenway, Lucia and Moulton Falls regional parks, and Round Lake. 

The Legacy Lands Guidance Manual provides structure for the program and outlines how projects will be solicited from sponsors, a watershed-based approach for acquisition, property management guidelines and other program aspects. The draft manual is posted at clark.wa.gov/public-works/legacy-lands-program. Public comments about the draft manual can be submitted via email to PWConservation@clark.wa.gov or by calling Denielle Cowley, program coordinator, at (564) 397-1652. Comments should be submitted by Wed., Oct. 18. Public comments will be shared with the Parks Advisory Board. The board can vote to send the draft manual to council, at which point, council will consider the manual for adoption. Information about the board and how to attend a board meeting is at clark.wa.gov/public-works/parks-advisory-board. A council work session on Wed., Sept. 27 will give an overview of the Legacy Lands program and updates to the guidance manual. Information about the council work session can be found at clark.wa.gov/councilors/clark-county-council-meetings. 

To receive information about road and park projects, closures, opportunities for community input, and more, residents can follow Public Works on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and view information on Nextdoor. 

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Information provided by Clark Co. WA Communications.