Community Environment Government

Grants awarded to conserve Nelyaly, Little Minter Creek properties

Pierce County grants will fund two more local conservation efforts.

Three of five approved earlier this month for Conservation Futures dollars are in Gig Harbor or Key Peninsula. They include:

• $596,000 to Great Peninsula Conservancy to extend the city of Gig Harbor’s txʷaalqəł Conservation Area another 11.4 acres to a total of 51.9 acres.
• $2.3 million to PenMet Parks to buy two parcels totaling 3.57 acres with 265 feet of waterfront abutting the Tacoma DeMolay Sandspit Preserve on Fox Island.
• $1.8 million to Great Peninsula Conservancy to purchase 60 acres adjacent to Haley State Park on Key Peninsula.

Two properties added

Two projects withdrew from the 2021-23 cycle, so the council added two to replace them, according to Councilwoman Robyn Denson. The first-term councilwoman represents District 7, covering the area west of the Narrows Bridge, Ruston and North Tacoma.

Added Tuesday were Nelyaly Creek in Rosedale and Little Minter Creek Farm and Forest on Key Peninsula. Great Peninsula Conservancy sponsored both.

The organization will receive $1 million to buy 21 acres of forest along Nelyaly Creek that the owner wants to sell, according to documents. It abuts Sehmel Homestead Park.

The stream is home to coastal trout, and coho and chum salmon. The woods will be managed for wildlife, noxious and invasive species, species diversity and forest health. No commercial timber harvesting will be allowed. Public access to trails and other amenities will be required.

Little Minter includes farm

The conservancy will also receive $1.5 million to buy 45 acres that includes part of Little Minter Creek, wetlands, forest and a large, intact farm. The owners want to sell the property next to 360 Trails and Gateway Park. It will require forest management and farm plans, disallow commercial logging and allow public access.

One of requests withdrawn from last cycle was a $2.5 million grant to PenMet for a $3 million purchase of 116 acres adjacent to its Narrows Park.

“We just heard from our Community Development meeting that it officially withdrew,” Denson said of the Narrows property. “I certainly hope Narrows will be back, but it just wasn’t going to happen this year, apparently.”