Schweikert Farm Acquisition

Heernett Environmental Foundation (HEF) tried to acquire and conserve 27 acres along the Chehalis River and Scatter Creek mainstem in south Thurston County. Through a year and a half of negotiations and collaborative efforts with the land owner, the sponsor could not come to final terms and agreements for a purchase. The long process of acquiring the property played a role in the loss, as the recession slowed in 2014 and 2015, property values, especially farm land, began to rise dramatically in value. There were very few large, intact, farm land parcels within this region which had been sold recently and it was difficult to find comparable properties that would meet the criteria for the purchase.
This project would have addressed priority actions within the Chehalis Basin Strategy, including conservation of ecological and biological functions for this 1/2 mile reach of Scatter Creek and over 1,500 linear feet of the Chehalis River. This project aimed to protect over 10 acres of established riparian habitat, potentially over 3,000 linear feet of active salmonid habitat, and essential hydrologic features unique to this basin. Acquiring this property, with its high level of productive habitat and ground water connectivity, would have provided abundant long-term functional benefits to both the lower reach of Scatter Creek and the upper Chehalis River, as well as support environmental, social, cultural values in this region. This acquisition would have also promoted future restoration phases, including but not limited to; enhancing riparian zones, enhancing/protecting water storage areas, and improve instream complexity/diversity for aquatic wildlife.
This specific property is located adjacent to 48 acres of habitat for salmon and wildlife already conserved by the sponsor. The project would have conserved active floodplain reaches of the Chehalis River, and would have provided critical protection for coho and chum salmon, and cutthroat habitat.

The goal was to conserve riparian habitat on the mainstem and tributary of the Chehalis River. The acquisition was unable to close. The project would have conserved habitat for coho and chum salmon, and cutthroat trout.