Rivers and Habitat Open Space Program
The Rivers and Habitat Open Space Program (WAC 222-23) is available to eligible Washington state landowners who would like to sell a permanent forestland conservation easement to the state.
Two types of land are eligible for the program: 1) forestland habitat critical for state-listed threatened or endangered species (Critical Habitat), and 2) a specific type of river habitat called unconfined channel migration zones (CMZ), which are islands of timber within a river channel that is actively shifting. Since 2002, when funding first became available, the program has protected 1,332 acres of important habitat through 26 conservation easements.
The application window for the next 2025-2027 funding period is now closed. The application window for the 2027-2029 funding period will open sometime near the beginning of 2026.
FUNDING
Washington State Department of Natural Resources has $4.7million available to purchase Rivers and Habitat Open Space conservation easements for the 2023-2025 biennium. Generally, when the funding level exceeds $1 million, DNR expects to allocate approximately 70 percent of the funds for Critical Habitat and 30 percent for CMZs. If the demand is limited in either funding category, DNR may shift moneys between the funding categories.
Applications are provided funding in order of ranked priority. All remaining eligible applications are offered the opportunity to be considered for future funding. The program receives funding every two years, at the discretion of the WA State Legislature. Lands may be donated for a conservation easement at any time.
PRIORITY
Applications will be prioritized for funding based on, but not limited to, the following elements for the two types of applications:
| Critical Habitat Applications | Channel Migration Zone Applications |
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ELIGIBILITY
To qualify for a conservation easement under the Rivers and Habitat Open Space Program, your property must be:
- Located on forest land containing at least one of two habitat styles:
- critical habitat for state threatened or endangered species that has been designated a particular concern by the Forest Practices Board;
- a specific type of river habitat called a Channel Migration Zone as described in the Forest Practice Rules and Forest Practices Board Manual Section 2.
- Identified as either "designated forestland" or "current use forestland" on county assessor records, and
- Free of unacceptable liabilities such as hazardous substances or other site conditions that may jeopardize the preservation of fisheries enhancement or ecological protection of the project area.
In addition, you must allow DNR adequate legal access to the property to process the application and administer the easement terms and conditions and everyone with a legal interest in the property must be willing to convey or subordinate their interest to the state for the conservation easement.
APPLICATIONS
The application window for the next 2025-2027 funding period is now closed. The application window for the 2027-2029 funding period will open sometime near the beginning of 2026.
There are two applications available for this program. One is for forest land that contains habitat for state listed threatened and endangered species and the other application is for forest land within a channel migration zone. Select the proper application and instruction booklet that applies to your forest land. Be sure to include in your application the following items:
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A description of the forest land that includes the location and an estimated acreage,
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A description of the method used to determine whether the land qualifies for the program, and
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A map showing the approximate boundary of the qualifying land.
Return completed applications to:
Washington Department of Natural Resources Forest Practices Division
Rivers and Habitat Open Space Program MS 47012
Olympia, WA 98504-7012
RANKING
The Small Forest Landowner Office and a panel of qualified experts of Critical habitat for threatened and endangered species and Unconfined Channel Migration Zones, has reviewed the applications for fiscal years 2023-2025, and agreed upon a prioritization list for funding. The ranking is done using multiple criterion including: habitat quality, risk of habitat loss, etc. The Small Forest Landowner Office will be requesting from the legislature funding for all 4 applications. The legislative funding for the RHOSP program will be determined on or before June 30th 2023, and we will notify all applicants if funding is available at that time.
| Critical Habitat Priority | Channel Migration Zone Priority |
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1. Cugini – Hancock Creek
2. Bark Beaters – Hard Creek 3. McAvoy – Anderson Ridge |
1. BTG – Tilton River |
Direct questions and additional information requests to KelliAnne Ricks at (360) 480-9702 or kellianne.ricks@dnr.wa.gov
