DNR plans to lease about 2,543 acres of forestland in the Stemilt Basin to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The Stemilt-Squilchuck Watershed, which is an important water source for farmers and others in Chelan County, would be managed for wildlife, open space and recreation. Positive reactions to the planned lease were reported by the Wenatchee World.
The area is about 8 miles south of Wenatchee. An upfront lease payment of $1.89 million will be funded through the legislatively approved 2009-11 Trust Land Transfer (TLT) Program. The lease payment is about 93 percent of the land’s present market value.
The way for the lease was cleared when the Board of Natural Resources earlier this week (Jan. 6) approved an exchange of trust designations between parcels held by two state land trusts: the Common School Trust and the Agricultural School Trust – a procedural step required for the property to qualify for TLT funds.
DNR will retain title to the land but WDFW could gain ownership by making an acceptable buy-out offer, such paying the 7 percent difference between the lease amount and the appraised market value of the property.
WHOOPS! The DNR website is scheduled to be down all day Saturday for regular maintenance – January 8th… Sorry
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