Washington

From the shores of pristine Lake Chelan to the mouth of the Pacific Ocean, the Fund, working in cooperation with public and private partners, has helped to safeguard more than 7,500 acres across Washington.

Lake Chelan

Stehekin, a remote settlement within Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, was once targeted for condominium development. In partnership with the National Park Service and the local community, the Fund reached agreement with the landowner to acquire 27 acres on behalf of the Park Service as an addition to the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.

Stehekin at Lake Chelan, Washington.

Photo by Angel Quant/Flickr

Lewis and Clark National Historical Park

In honor of the bicentennial celebration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Fund embarked on a major campaign to commemorate the legendary journey by protecting open space, river corridors and resources associated with the passage. Through our Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Initiative,with our partners we have set aside more than 25,000 acres along the famous route.

Thanks in part to support from the Centex Land Legacy Fund, we protected more than 1,000 acres in 2005 for the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in Oregon and Washington, including land critical to the Fort to Sea Trail and Clark’s Dismal Nitch. Dismal Nitch marks Lewis and Clark’s dramatic arrival at the Pacific Ocean. In 1805, the Corps of Volunteers for Northwest Discovery spent six days trapped along the rocky shoreline near the mouth of the Columbia River. Members of the Corps battled thunderstorms, wind and high waves before they abandoned most of their supplies, buried their canoes and sought shelter in the cedar forest.

Today the stands of spruce and hemlock surrounding the sites shelter beaver, black bear, mountain lion and Roosevelt elk.