The Nature Conservancy in Washington

Press Releases		Contact Info
February 05, 2008: Forest Landscape Restoration Act The Nature Conservancy urges Congress to support the Forest Landscape Restoration Act to restore forest health, prevent severe fires and boost rural economies.		Robin Stanton 206-343-4345 ext. 338 rstanton@tnc.org
December 21, 2007: $4 million for Puget Sound Restoration in Federal Budget The Nature Conservancy praised Congress for including more than $4 million for restoration work in Puget Sound in the final spending bill that the U.S. House and Senate passed on Wednesday, December 19.		Robin Stanton (206) 343-4345 x338 rstanton@tnc.org
December 21, 2007: Spartina Control Gets a Boost from Federal Budget The Nature Conservancy and the Friends of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge praised Congress for including $990,000 for spartina eradication in the federal spending bill that Congress passed on Wednesday, December 19.		Robin Stanton (206) 343-4345, ext 338; rstanton@tnc.org Carole Wiegardt, Friends of the Willapa Refuge, (360)665-3712
December 21, 2007: Conservancy Praises Congress for Ebey’s Stewardship Seattle Congress took action this week that will provide for long-term stewardship of lands at the heart of Ebey’s Landing Historical Reserve on Whidbey Island.		Robin Staton (206) 343-4345 x338 rstanton@tnc.org
October 25, 2007: Yakama nation joins south central Washington forest partnership The Yakama Nation has joined the Tapash Sustainable Forests Collaborative, an innovative partnership focused on restoring the health, natural structure, and productivity of forests and shrub-steppe in south central Washington.		Robin Stanton, The Nature Conservancy, (206)343-4345, ext 338, rstanton@tnc.org Betsy Bloomfield, The Nature Conservancy, (509)248-6672, bbloomfield@tnc.org Phil Rigdon, Yakama Nation, (509)865-5121
September 26, 2007: Nature Conservancy Buys 130 Acres on the Black River The Nature Conservancy has purchased 130 acres on the Black River, a slow-moving spring-fed stream that meanders through dense thickets, spaghnum bogs, forested wetlands, and farmlands south of Olympia.		Robin Stanton, The Nature Conservancy (206) 343-4345, ext 338; rstanton@tnc.org
August 28, 2007: Helicopter, Giant Logs, Enhance Habitat for Salmon Project in the Stillaguamish River Estuary is an Experiment in Restoration		Robin Stanton, The Nature Conservancy 206-343-4345 ext. 338 rstanton@tnc.org
August 16, 2007: Nature Conservancy Buys Land in Dabob Bay The Nature Conservancy has purchased 28 acres of uplands and a half interest in about 30 acres of tidelands in Tarboo-Dabob Bay, located on Hood Canal in Jefferson County. The acquisition will protect important Puget Sound shoreline.		Robin Stanton, The Nature Conservancy 206-343-4345 ext. 338 rstanton@tnc.org
June 28, 2007: Congress appropriates $500,000 to protect Ebey’s Landing The U.S. House and Senate have taken action that will both protect lands at the heart of Ebey’s Landing Historical Reserve on Whidbey Island for all time, and also provide for the long-term stewardship of this significant area.		Robin Stanton, The Nature Conservancy 206-343-4345 ext. 338 rstanton@tnc.org
June 21, 2007: McCartney Creek 2007 picnic series Public invited to enjoy evenings along McCartney Creek, while neighbors and naturalists share stories about Moses Coulee.		Nancy Warner nwarner@tnc.org or (509)665-9595
April 11, 2007: Tieton River Canyon conservation effort complete A four-year effort to protect more than 10,000 acres in the Tieton River Canyon recently culminated with the transfer of the final piece of the puzzle for long-term conservation.		Robin Stanton 206-343-4345, ext. 338 or rstanton@tnc.org Betsy Bloomfield, 509-248-6672 or bbloomfield@tnc.org
August 14, 2006: Weyerhaeuser pledges $1 million gift to Nature Conservancy In their largest combined gift to a U.S.-based conservation organization, Weyerhaeuser Company and the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation have pledged $1 million to The Nature Conservancy, offering to support a range of forest conservation and biodiversity projects in both the Northwest and the Southeast.		Leslie Brown, Nature Conservancy, 206-343-4345, leslie_brown@tnc.org; or Frank Mendizabal, Weyerhaeuser, 253-924-3357, frank.mendizabal@weyerhaeuser.com
July 31, 2006: McCartney Creek picnics and workparties The Nature Conservancy of Washington is sponsoring picnics and workdays at the McCartney Creek Preserve in Moses Coulee this summer and fall.		Anne Miller, The Nature Conservancy, 509-665-9737, or aamiller@tnc.org
May 17, 2006: Tieton Forest Collaborative agreement signed The Nature Conservancy, the USDA Forest Service, and the Washington State Departments of Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources created the Tieton Forest Collaborative, a coalition that will encourage greater cooperation and coordination on issues ranging from forest health to recreation.		Leslie Brown, The Nature Conservancy, 206-343-4345x379; Bette Cooney, USDA Forest Service, 509-653-1416; Margaret Ainscough, WDFW, 360-902-2408; Patty Henson, DNR, 360-902-1023
March 15, 2006: Groups form new alliance to save Puget Sound’s shorelines Saying the time to act is now, three leading conservation organizations—with support from a top regional foundation—launched on Tuesday an $80 million campaign to restore and protect Puget Sound’s ecologically rich shorelines and ensure they’re available for people to enjoy for generations to come.		Kathy Fletcher, People For Puget Sound, 206-382-7007, kfletcher@pugetsound.org; or Roger Hoesterey, The Trust for Public Land, 206-587-2447, roger.hoesterey@tpl.org; or David Weekes, The Nature Conservancy, 206-343-4345, dweekes@tnc.org
February 17, 2006: Nalini Nadkarni re-elected to the Nature Conservancy’s board of trustees Nalini Nadkarni, a professor at The Evergreen State College in Olympia and renowned forest canopy specialist, returns to the board of trustees for the Washington chapter of The Nature Conservancy.		Leslie Brown, The Nature Conservancy, leslie_brown@tnc.org
February 02, 2006: Gordon Orians joins Nature Conservancy board Jan. 2006: Dr. Gordon Orians, renowned behavioral ecologist and professor emeritus of biology at the University of Washington, has been elected to the board of trustees for the Washington chapter of the Nature Conservancy.		Leslie Brown, The Nature Conservancy, leslie_brown@tnc.org
November 29, 2005: Skagit Delta Project receives EPA funding The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected the Skagit Delta Project in Washington as one of 12 projects nationwide to receive funding under the agency's Targeted Watershed Grants program.		Leslie Brown, The Nature Conservancy, leslie_brown@tnc.org , or Bevin Reid, EPA Region 10, Seattle, WA (206) 553-1566
November 04, 2005: Woodard Bay Conservation Lease The Nature Conservancy announced a first-in-the-nation conservation lease of submerged lands, ushering in a promising new tool for marine conservation and setting the stage for important restoration of the marine environment.		Leslie Brown (206)343-4345 x379 leslie_brown@tnc.org
September 27, 2005: Tieton River Canyon funding successfully completed The Nature Conservancy's three-year fund raising campaign to conserve 10,400 acres along the beautiful Tieton River is complete.		Leslie Brown (206) 343-4345 ext. 379 leslie_brown@tnc.org lbarson@tnc.org Len Barson
September 08, 2005: CEO of Seattle-Northwest Securities to chair Nature Conservancy Seattle – John Rose, CEO of Seattle-Northwest Securities Corp., the region’s largest underwriter of bonds, was recently elected chairman of the board of trustees for the Nature Conservancy’s Washington state chapter, the organization announced Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005.		Leslie Brown leslie_brown@tnc.org
August 31, 2005: Prairie parcel purchased by Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy has purchased 125 acre parcel of native prairie habitat in South Puget Sound. The property, located in Thurston County, Washington, borders Fort Lewis.		Leslie Brown (206)343-4345 x379 leslie_brown@tnc.org
August 31, 2005: Kevin Morse hired as Nature Conservancy’s Skagit Delta manager Kevin Morse hired as Nature Conservancy’s Skagit Delta manager New position is homecoming for former Skagit economic development expert		Bob Carey 360-419-9825 (206) 343-4345, ext.379 leslie_brown@tnc.org
March 25, 2005: Nature Conservancy transfers Ebey’s Landing easement to NPS The Nature Conservancy has transferred an easement protecting 325 acres of forestland at Ebey’s Landing on Whidbey Island to the National Park Service, donating to the public more than half of the value of this $3.5 million land protection agreement, the Conservancy announced Wednesday.		Leslie Brown (206) 343-4345 ext. 379 leslie_brown@tnc.org
January 28, 2005: Nature Conservancy purchases 2,000 acres at Tieton River Canyon The Nature Conservancy just purchased an additional 2,000 acres of the Tieton River Canyon from Plum Creek Timber Co., bringing the campaign to protect this ecologically rich landscape halfway to completion, the organization announced Thursday.		Leslie Brown (206) 343-4345 ext. 379 leslie_brown@tnc.org Betsy Bloomfield (509)248-6672 bbloomfield@tnc.org
November 03, 2004: The Nature Conservancy of Washington receives national USFWS award The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gave the Nature Conservancy of Washington its 2004 National Land Protection Award, a nationwide honor that recognizes a "significant contribution" to land protection for fish and wildlife.		Leslie Brown (206) 343-4345, ext.314 leslie_brown@tnc.org
June 29, 2004: New Agreement to Usher in Comprehensive Approach to Conservation In a move that could usher in a new approach to conserving Washington’s rich natural resources, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Washington Department of Natural Resources and The Nature Conservancy have agreed to create a series of assessments that will guide their conservation work for years to come and improve the stewardship of wildlife habitat across Washington state.		Leslie Brown (206) 343-4345, ext.314 leslie_brown@tnc.org
June 29, 2004: Nature Conservancy purchases 2,600 acres at Tieton River Canyon In its biggest step yet since announcing its campaign to save the Tieton River Canyon, the Nature Conservancy of Washington has purchased more than 2,600 acres of this dramatic landscape west of Yakima, the conservation organization announced Tuesday.		Leslie Brown (206) 343-4345 ext. 379 leslie_brown@tnc.org
November 20, 2003: Patsy Collins Leaves Legacy of Hope Seattle philanthropist Priscilla "Patsy" Bullitt Collins, in a parting gift that will conserve precious lands and waters in the United States and abroad and educate countless young women in developing countries, donated her $71.5 million charitable trust to CARE, The Nature Conservancy, and the Trust for Public Land.		Leslie Brown Phone: (306) 343-4344, ext. 379
November 17, 2003: Wildlife gets a new lake place Last month, 80 acres were transferred to the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge with the interim help of the Nature Conservancy of Washington.		Leslie Brown (206) 343-4345 ext. 379 E-mail: leslie_brown@tnc.org
November 03, 2003: Key congressional committee approves $1.075 million for Tieton Project The Nature Conservancy of Washington applauded the decision by a congressional conference committee to appropriate $1.075 million to protect up to 2,000 acres in the Tieton River Canyon, a remarkable and expansive landscape 20 miles west of Yakima.		Len Barson (206) 343-4345, ext. 314 lbarson@tnc.org Leslie Brown(206) 343-4345, ext.314 leslie_brown@tnc.org
November 03, 2003: Key congressional committee approves $1 million The Nature Conservancy of Washington applauded the decision by a congressional conference committee to appropriate $1 million to continue efforts to remove thousands of acres of spartina from Willapa Bay. Spartina, or cordgrass, is a fast-growing and fast-spreading weed that is taking over the inter-tidal mudflats and native salt marshes of Willapa Bay, destroying habitat for thousands of shorebirds, waterfowl, and other estuarine-dependent animals.		Len Barson (206) 343-4345, ext. 314 lbarson@tnc.org Leslie Brown(206) 343-4345, ext.314 leslie_brown@tnc.org
June 24, 2003: Tieton River project receives $2.5 million from Legislature Ellensburg – June 17, 2003 – The Legislature has appropriated $2.5 million to purchase 2,500 acres within the much-loved Tieton River Canyon, a significant victory in The Nature Conservancy’s public/private campaign to protect this ecologically diverse landscape in the foothills of the East Cascades.		Leslie Brown (206) 343-4345 ext. 379 Betsy Bloomfield (509) 962-1333
January 06, 2003: Statewide Biodiversity Committee In response to legislation passed earlier this year, a group of leaders in both the public and private sectors has been established to create the state’s first comprehensive blueprint for biodiversity protection. The group includes business leaders, tribal representatives, agricultural leaders, timber industry representatives, academics, key federal, state and local officials and members of conservation groups.		Leslie Brown (206) 343-4344, ext. 379 E-mail: leslie_brown@tnc.org
May 03, 2002: 1,000 acres in Swauk Creek valley protected More than 1,000 acres surrounding the biologically rich Swauk Creek near Cle Elum have been protected from development, thanks to two significant donations to The Nature Conservancy of Washington.		Leslie Brown Phone: (206) 343-4344, ext. 379 E-mail: leslie_brown@tnc.org
April 22, 2002: Amphibians in Washington among nation’s most threatened Washington’s amphibians—from the Oregon spotted frog to the larch mountain salamander—are among the nation’s most threatened, with 32 percent of the state’s amphibian species imperiled, according to a new state-by-state analysis released today by The Nature Conservancy		Leslie Brown Phone: (206) 343-4344, ext. 379 E-mail: leslie_brown@tnc.org
January 31, 2002: Nature Conservancy makes $2,600 donation to Grant County Gift recognizes county's support, services.		Leslie Brown Phone: (206) 343-4345, ext. 379 E-mail: leslie_brown@tnc.org
December 18, 2001: Nature Conservancy completes $24.8 million campaign The Nature Conservancy of Washington has completed the largest private fundraising campaign for land conservation in state history, raising nearly $25 million to protect imperiled landscapes across the state, the organization announced Tuesday.		Leslie Brown Phone: (206) 343-4345, ext. 379 E-mail: leslie_brown@tnc.org
December 13, 2001: Innovative land deal protects century-old ranch in Klickitat County Ranch ecologically critical to health of Rock Creek watershed		Leslie Brown Phone: (206) 343-4345, ext. 379 E-mail: leslie_brown@tnc.org Peter Dunwiddie Phone: (206) 343-4345, ext. 342
October 18, 2001: Congress appropriates $2 million to protect Skagit River The Nature Conservancy of Washington applauded passage Wednesday of federal legislation appropriating $2 million to safeguard key stretches of the Skagit River and its major tributaries, considered one of the healthiest and most important salmon-bearing river systems in the state.		Leslie Brown Phone: (206) 343-4345, ext. 379 E-mail: leslie_brown@tnc.org
October 18, 2001: Congress appropriates $1 million to support conservation at Ebey's Landing The Nature Conservancy of Washington applauded congressional action that helps protect Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve by advancing an innovative public-private partnership.		Leslie Brown Phone: (206) 343-4345, ext. 379 E-mail: leslie_brown@tnc.org
September 24, 2001: Conservancy buys critical bird, salmon habitat in Snohomish County Purchase is largest land-conservation acquisition in county history		Bob Carey Phone: (360) 419-9825 E-mail: bcarey@tnc.org
July 11, 2001: Conservation leader to become new state director of Nature Conservancy Elliot Marks will continue to oversee five-state division		Leslie Brown Phone: (206) 343-4345, ext. 379 E-mail: leslie_brown@tnc.org
May 31, 2001: Nature Conservancy to purchase critical shrub-steppe habitat 16,000-acre transaction will create links to other protected lands		Leslie Brown Phone: (206) 343-4345, ext. 379 E-mail: leslie_brown@tnc.org
April 02, 2001: Nature Conservancy protects 2,800 acres of shrub-steppe Purchase ensures open space for wildlife and nearby property-owners		Leslie Brown Phone: (206) 343-4345, ext. 379 E-mail: leslie_brown@tnc.org Kevin Danby Rimrock Meadows Association Phone: (509) 754-3312
March 14, 2001: $2.5 million gift from Allen Foundation helps protect rare coastal forest Nature Conservancy commends foundation for history of support		Leslie Brown Phone: (206) 343-4344, ext. 379 E-mail: leslie_brown@tnc.org Jason Hunke Paul G. Allen Forest Protection Foundation Phone: (206) 342-2000