10-Acre Parcel near Paradise Valley Conservation Area and Miller Pond Acquired For Future Public and Conservation Use
In 2017, Washington State Conservation Office (RCO) determined that the Farmer Frog lease at Paradise Valley Conservation Area was incompatible with the original acquisition funding that was used to acquire the property. The funding source used was U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Salmon Recovery funding, matched with Snohomish County Conservation Futures tax dollars.
Originally, the county was told that in order to satisfy the conversion, replacement lands of equivalent use and value would need to be acquired to satisfy the conversion. The county obtained Conservation Futures grant funding to acquire 10 acres of sensitive habitat adjacent to the Paradise Valley Conservation Area and also acquired the 4.36-acre Miller Pond property, in part with the intent to satisfy the replacement lands required by the RCO. After consultation with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, it was determined that replacement lands would not be accepted, and that payment of fair market value as established by independent appraisal and review would be the remedy. Due to the multiple benefits of continuing to acquire conservation lands for future public and conservation use, the county will proceed with the acquisition of the adjacent 10-acre parcel at the Northeast corner of Paradise Valley Conservation Area. Miller Pond Park has been conserved for future park purposes as well.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Kye Iris | Real Property Administrator
6705 Puget Park Drive, Snohomish, WA 98296
O: (425) 388-6623 | kye.iris@snoco.org