In October of 2025 the Forterra land trust facilitated the $3.49 million purchase of 113 acres in the Frederickson area. The property purchase from Tacoma Water (City of Tacoma) was made possible with a $2.7 million grant from Pierce County Conservation Futures.
The acquisition protects critical forest and watershed lands in a fast-developing area while supporting the needs of a small community facing the loss of open space, tree canopy, and wildlife habitat.
“I’ve followed this property for years, and it’s gratifying to see it protected,” said Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello. “With development pressure rising, conserving this land has been a long-term goal. This outcome provides vital environmental benefits while expanding community access in the growing, underserved area of Frederickson.”
This unique project protects a critical watershed and wildlife habitat while expanding public access with trails. At the same time it preserves a way to safely engage in target shooting.
“We’re proud to lend Forterra’s specialized real estate expertise to this collaborative effort. We’re grateful to our partners at Pierce County, Tacoma Water, the Tacoma Sportsmen’s Club Land Conservation Foundation and the Tacoma Sportsmen’s Club for navigating a complex transaction.” said Forterra President and CEO Michelle Connor.
Property Highlights:
- More than a mile of Clover Creek headwaters — an urbanized stream corridor with riparian buffers that help maintain cold water temperatures and ecological function.
- Five distinctive wetlands, including four Class 1 wetlands covering 14.5 acres — home to a beaver lodge, dams, and ponds that improve water quality, reduce flooding risk, and support wildlife habitat.
- Traditional recreational public outdoor rifle, pistol and archery ranges.
- Expanded public access – with new interactive trails planned.
“Our vision for this land brings together the intersection of conservation, public access, and a long-standing recreational tradition. We’re excited to welcome the public to explore new trails with interpretive learning,” said Tacoma Sportsmen’s Club Foundation President Michael Slevin.
The land lies within the regional recharge area for the Clover and Chamber Creek aquifer system. Its conservation aligns with multiple watershed priorities, including the 2018-2023 Chambers Clover Creek Watershed Council Action Agenda and the Salmon Habitat Protection and Restoration Strategy for the Puyallup and Chambers Watersheds, both of which identify the upper reaches of Clover Creek as critical to preserve.
About Forterra
Forterra is a land trust that works across Washington’s communities and landscapes, from the ranches and shrub-steppe of eastern and central Washington to the estuaries, farms, and forests of Washington’s coast, reaching more than 100 counties, cities, towns, and rural communities.
Forterra manages the Morse Wildlife Refuge in Graham and the Clover Creek Refuge near Spanaway. For 36 years, the land trust have innovated and scaled land-based solutions to address the climate crisis, conserve and care for wild and working lands, and support equitable, green and prosperous communities.
Visit Forterra.org.
For more information contact Sandi Peck, Forterra Vice President, Communications at:
Speck@forterra.org (360) 870-1038