There are many reasons to save this amazing property
active Wildlife CORRIDOR
Winterbrook Farm is part of a larger wildlife habitat corridor. This property is the only opportunity to connect the Cedar River to the Issaquah Alps. If this property is developed this important corridor will be lost forever. Elk, deer, coyotes, bears, bobcats, cougars, ducks, geese, eagles, red tail hawks, and owls are a few of the species that populate this area. For more information on the elk see http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/elk.html and http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/00773/.
Conserving this land in line with Dow Constantine’s Land Conservation and Preservation Work plan. Its aim is to protect high conservation value lands in King County within a generation. The southern 40 acres of this property are mixture of forest and open pasture. It is ideal habitat for the many animals that are currently using this property including a herd of 30 elk. For more information on this plan see http://kingcounty.gov/land-conservation.
Conserving the Farm is also justified by any one of the principles cited (climate change, landscape processes including connectivity, “locally important species” including elk, etc) in the 2016 King County Comprehensive Plan found here: http://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/Council/documents/CompPlan/2016/FullCouncil/adoptedplan/Attachment_A-KingCountyComprehensivePlan-120516.ashx?la=en
Salmon habitat
McDonald Creek is one of two salmon bearing streams that transverse this property. Residents on both sides of Winterbrook see salmon every year in the creeks. McDonald Creek is a tributary to Issaquah Creek, which flows through the city of Issaquah and drains into Lake Sammamish. There are also large wetlands surrounding the creeks.
CONNECTION for regional trails
The Winterbrook property to the only opportunity to connect the recreational trails on the Issaquah Alps to the Log Cabin Reach Natural Area and in the future the Cedar River Trail. These areas are utilized by hundreds of people throughout WA State for hiking and recreation.
Agriculture
Winterbrook is one of the few areas along May Valley Road that can still be utilized for agriculture purposes. Preserving agricultural land in King County is one of the goals of Executive Dow Constantine’s, “Local Foods Initiative.” The northern 40 acres of this property are ideally suited to agriculture.
A complete description of this Initiative can be found at: http://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/local-food/documents/2015-KC-Local-Food-Report.pdf
historic farmhouse and barn
The Winterbrook farmhouse was built in 1920, the barn in 1930 and milking parlour in 1944. These structures are eligible for a King County Landmark designation status. The barns would be eligible for grants with King County’s Barn Again Historic Barn Preservation Program. These structures are all older than the Colasurado Barn on May Valley Road that just received a $41,439 Heritage Barn Restoration Grant.