Senator Murray Announces $31.5 Million for Critical Forest Conservation Projects in Eastern WA and North Kitsap from Inflation Reduction Act She Helped Pass

$30 million in federal funding will go to Stimson Timberland Legacy Project in Eastern WA and $1.5 million to North Kitsap Community Forest Project from the landmark Inflation Reduction Act, legislation Murray was instrumental in passing as Assistant Majority Leader

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $31.5 million in federal funding for two critical forest conservation projects in Washington state–$30 million for the Stimson Timberland Legacy Project in Eastern Washington and $1.5 million for the North Kitsap Community Forest project in Kitsap County. The awards come from the Forest Legacy Program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service and are funded by the Inflation Reduction Act Senator Murray helped pass as Assistant Majority Leader. The funding will advance efforts to conserve forests crucial to rural communities, mitigate wildfire risk, protect wildlife habitats, and provide public access to forests. 

“Washington’s forests are irreplaceable treasures that provide far-reaching benefits to families, local economies, and visitors from all over,” said Senator Murray. “This funding will be put to great use on key forest conservation projects in Washington state and across the country and provide a boost to local communities who rely on our forests for clean water, jobs, and recreation opportunities.” 

The Stimson Timberland Legacy Project—awarded $30 million in federal funding—will conserve nearly 88,000 acres of working forests that are key to rural economies, mitigating wildfire risk, sequestering carbon, and providing critical public access in Eastern Washington. The property is in a region facing high development pressure and increasing land values, threatening the long-term viability of its forest industry. 

The North Kitsap Community Forest project—awarded $1.5 million in federal funding—will conserve Kitsap Forest land, similarly working to protect forest products industries, water quality, and wildlife habitats.

Since it was created in 1990, the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program has conserved approximately 3.1 million acres of forestlands in fifty states and three territories. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, the Forest Service has been able to protect larger properties through the program than ever before. With this unprecedented investment, one out of every six acres this program has protected in its lifetime was protected this year. These forests sequester carbon, protect water quality and wildlife habitat, support the forest products industry, and create opportunities for recreation and other public benefits. 

Senator Murray has been a longtime champion of protecting Washington’s public lands and natural resources. In the draft appropriations bills for fiscal year 2025 that Senator Murray played a lead role in writing and negotiating, she secured $18.96 million for Land and Water Conservation Fund projects in Washington state funded by the Great American Outdoors Act—including $5.06 million for the Spirit of Mount Spokane Forest Legacy Project and $8 million for the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Earlier this year, Murray announced over $28 million in funding for habitat restoration projects across Washington state and an additional $19 million for Okanogan-Wenatchee forest conservation. 

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