DNR program revitalized to preserve parks, open space and wildlife habitat

by Kirk Kirkland

The secret is out! An obscure Department of Natural Resource program called Trust Land Transfer now can be used to protect DNR forests from being logged — which local communities want to use for recreation, and preserving wildlife habitat.

The Trust Land Transfer (TLT) method uses state capital budget funds to buy more productive commercial forests elsewhere which can then be harvested to increase the long term income for schools, libraries, and other local government services.

This year, advocates are asking the legislature to fund 9 projects to transfer forest lands from DNR to Tribes, counties, and other public agencies. These timberland and shrub steppe properties identified in the program have been economically under performing for a variety of reasons, including their isolated nature, endangered species habitat and importance to local Tribes.

In 2023 new state legislation reformed the process and appropriated $17 Million to protect 5 special places around the state. Reform done by passing HB 1460 made the transfer program more transparent and responsive to community needs.

TLT uses the legislative appropriation to buy commercial forests which when managed as a commercial forest will fund school construction, alongside DNR’s other 2.2 million acres of working forests..

Local organizations like the Issaquah Alps Trails Club (IATC), advocated for the transfer of the DNR forest that became West Tiger Mountain Natural Resource Conservation Area (NRCA). “The Issaquah Alps Trails Club continues to be a leader in conservation advocacy.

The program protects their backyard treasures from development and overuse. And it promotes an eternal vision for the Issaquah Alps.” said Jim Freeburg the new executive director of Stewards of Washington State Lands. This organization was incorporated by Freeburg and other advocates this year.

The Trust Land Transfer program was the tool used to create the Mt. Si NRCA, a favorite hike in the I 90 corridor. The program also added acreage to the Middle Fork Snoqualmie NRCA (Mailbox Peak), and added hundreds of acres to Lake Sammamish State ark.

Other TLT funds were used for Squak Mountain State Park, and the Iron Horse Trail.

“Since its inception in 1989, the legislature has invested over $800 million in TLT projects– that’s real money going into conservation. In short, it’s been a critical element in reshaping the map to protect the wild places we love,” said Freeburg

Five years ago, the Land Trust Transfer program was in danger. The funding had dwindled to nothing as priorities shifted and challenges to the program became apparent.

At that point, the Issaquah Alps Trails Club, North Cascades Conservation Council, Northwest Watershed Institute, and other conservation groups convinced DNR and former state Senator Mark Mullet and current state Representative Lisa Callan to pass new legislation in 2023. Since then, the legislature has appropriated $45 million to revitalize the program.

“We hope that this year the legislature again will recognize the demand and make a supplemental capital budget appropriation in the 2026 session,” said Freeburg. DNR received 40 applications for the TLT program over the summer, and yet the legislature only funded 4 out 29 eligible projects in 2025.

The Stewards of Washington State Lands organization has evolved out of an informal coalition that helped to revitalize the TLT program over the past five years. Freeburg has been a long time partner with the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust and more recently, Washington Wild.

Pierce Country TLT projects:

In this coming legislative session, there are no new projects in Pierce County up for consideration. However the county has already been a beneficiary of the TLT Program in the past:

To State Parks:

Kopachuck (1991) 4 acres/$68,000

RF Kennedy (1995) 110 acres/$1.2 million

To Pierce County:

Nisqually Interpretive Center (2001) 61 acres/$1 million

Fairfax (2002) 400 acres/$5.5 million

Pierce Wetland (2007) 158 acres/$2.3 million

To Peninsula Metro Park District

Kopachuck (2007) 19 acres/$800,000

To DNR Natural Areas (NRCA)
Ashford (2013) 78 acres/$1.1 million

In 2025, the TLT program benefited people around the state when the state Legislature appropriated $17 million for four parcels:

Beckler 6, King County, Tulalip Tribes
Okanogan G, Okanogan County, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
Tract C North, , Yakima County, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation (partial)
South Lake Ozette, Clallam County, Quileute Tribe

In addition, the legislature funded an assessment to consider a new natural area in the Elwha River watershed above Port Angeles.

Lobbying Strategy

Pierce County legislators are well positioned to move this proposal forward as Senator Trudeau plays an important part as the Capital Budget Chair . Other influential legislators include Senators Conway and Gildon who sit on the Ways and Means Committee. In the House, Reps. Leavitt and Morgan sit on the Capital Budget Committee. “The capital budget development process, is a little different as no public hearing is held early in the process for people to show their support,” said Freeburg

The capital budget bill goes through a public process like all legislation, (including a public hearing) but nearly all the lobbying work is done before the bill hearing.

Prior to becoming a non-profit director, Freeburg helped to be build an informal coalition that included groups like the Sierra Club, Washington Wild, the Alpine Lakes Protection Society and a long list that included Conservation Northwest. “We’ve definitely been a “behind the scenes” group. Part of the forming of an independent nonprofit is to start getting in front of the public,” said Freeburg.

“Our coalition formed five years ago because DNR’s trust land transfer (TLT) program had essentially gone dormant. Without a coordinated advocacy effort the legislative funding dwindled. TLT was first started in 1989 and we know the world has changed since then. Property values have gone up and the public has different expectations for public land.

“So to revive the program we needed to make some changes which required new legislation. That took some time, but once our coalition succeeded in passing new legislation and getting funding in the first year, we have to keep up the momentum and start generating new projects.”

Before an application for a TLT project can be made to DNR, a receiving agency has to be found. Due to state and federal law, only Tribal and public agencies like counties, Washington State Parks, or Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife can be recipients. Non-profit organizations can assist in the application process and seek out receiving agencies.

Special Program for Special Places

DNR exists to manages state trust lands to produce revenue for trust beneficiaries through timber harvest, agriculture, and other activities. These revenue are then used to support schools, roads, hospitals, and libraries.

However, some of these forest lands have limited potential to generate income due to physical condition, or lack of road access, or other constraints. Many of these lands have a higher ecological value with more public benefits such as hiking, horseback riding, and bird watching.

As we look to 2026, Jim Freeburg is continuing to advocate for Trust Land Transfer funding during the upcoming legislative session in Olympia. “We need this tool to continue smart forest land management policy in the state.”

Save The Date for Lobby Day — January 28

In collaboration with conservation groups from around the state, the Stewards of Washington State Lands are hosting a Trust Land Transfer Lobby Day in Olympia on January 28.

Lobby Day sign up here.

If you are interested in attending, contact Jim Freeburg at jim.freeburg@stewardsWA.org.

If you are interested in learning more about the Stewards of Washington State Lands, reach out to its board president, John Sherwin at (president@stewardswa.org)