The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program Habitat Acquisition Advisory Committee evaluates grant proposals for conservation projects, primarily for property acquisition, in the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program.
Evaluators score projects in these grant categories:
Critical Habitat
These grants provide funding to protect habitat for wildlife including endangered, threatened, or sensitive species. Project sites may include high-quality habitat or degraded habitat that once restored will support the target species.
Natural Areas
These grants provide funding to protect high-quality, representative, native ecosystems or unique plant or animal communities; endangered, threatened or sensitive species; and rare geological features or similar features of scientific or educational value. Project sites must have, to a major degree, retained their natural character and be managed primarily for resource preservation, protection, and study.
Urban Wildlife Habitat
These grants provide funding to conserve wildlife habitat in cities. Projects must be within 5 miles or inside a city or town (or its adopted urban growth area boundary) with a population of at least 5,000; or within 5 miles of an adopted urban growth area in a county that has a population of at least 200 people per square mile.
Qualifications
- Live in Washington
- Have an interest in public policy
- Enjoy finding creative solutions and appreciate other perspectives
- Are interested in and knowledgeable about buying land for habitat, natural resource management, watershed planning, biology, botany, ecology, forestry geology, or zoology
Support
- RCO will provide the training needed to evaluate grants
- Stipends are available to eligible committee members
Time Commitment
- 2-4 full days of virtual meetings every other summer (even years)
- 3-8 hours for written evaluation, completed remotely
- Policy feedback time commitment varies
2022 Dates
| Item | Date |
| Natural Areas Written Technical Review | May 11-June 6 |
| Critical Habitat & Urban Wildlife Technical Review Meeting | May 18-19 |
| Natural Areas Written Evaluation | July 25- August 18 |
| Critical Habitat & Urban Wildlife Evaluation Meeting | August 17-18 |
| Results Meeting | August 31 |
Committee Members
Community Members
- John Gamon, Sumner
- Dave Hays, Olympia
- Pene Speaks, Olympia
- Pat Stevenson, Bellingham
- Matt Tweedy, Yakima
Local Agency and Nonprofit Members
- Lincoln Bormann, San Juan County Land Bank, Friday Harbor
- Mickey Fleming, Chelan Douglas Land Trust, Wenatchee
- Lydia Mendoza, Columbia Land Trust, Astoria
- Heather Ramsay Ahndan, King County, Seattle
State Agency Members
- Janet Gorrell, Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Joe Rocchio, Department of Natural Resources
Vacancies
- Community member, local agency, and nonprofit representatives
Term Length
4 years
General Resources