Legacy Lands Program

Legacy Lands, celebrating 40 years

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In 2025, Clark County's Legacy Lands program celebrates its 40th anniversary. Since 1985, the program has helped protect, preserve and restore 5,500 acres of natural space, protecting air, water and wildlife habitat, and providing recreational opportunities in some of the area's most scenic locations.

The Clark County Council proclaimed October as Legacy Lands Month. Join us at these events to celebrate the occasion!

Oct. 22
Salmon Creek Greenway Trail Guided Walk

Join us for a guided walk exploring one of the most beloved Legacy Lands locations. Staff will talk about the greenway's history and efforts to restore water quality in Salmon Creek.

Park at the west entrance to Salmon Creek Regional Park, located at 800 NE 117th St.
Walk begins at 5 p.m. and lasts approximately one hour.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather.

Oct. 29
Gordy Jolma Family Natural Area Project Open House

Clark County and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe are partnering on a project to restore habitat along Salmon Creek and provide nature-based recreational opportunities at this former golf course, acquired through the Legacy Lands program. Join us at the open house to view the final draft project plans and provide feedback.

Go to the Gordy Jolma Family Natural Area webpage for more information about the project and the Oct. 29 open house: clark.wa.gov/public-works/gordy-jolma-family-natural-area.

Nov. 8
Bird Walk with Vancouver Audubon

Join the Vancouver Audubon for a guided walk at Frenchman's Bar Regional Park to view and learn about migrating birds, including sandhill cranes.

Begins at 8:30 a.m.
Park at Frenchman's Bar Regional Park.
Dress for the weather.
Be prepared to walk for a couple of hours.
Bring binoculars, if you have them.

Clark County’s diverse natural landscape is made up of broad river valleys, narrow creek canyons, wetlands, lakes, riparian zones, forests, mountains, meadows, foothills and farms. The Legacy Lands program (Clark County’s Conservation Futures Program) protects these lands highly valued for habitat, scenic corridors, low-impact recreation and other qualities that enhance our local environment. In 2025, the Clark County Conservation Futures program, Legacy Lands, will celebrate its 40th anniversary.

NATURAL AREAS

The county has more than 5,000 acres of protected land. Concentrations of public conservation ownership occur along some of most scenic rivers, streams and lakes. Many of these areas are open for public use while others provide critical habitat for protected species. Open the Legacy Lands brochure to find a natural area near you.

Visit your local conservation properties for adventures close to home including hikes, horseback rides or picnics. We provide you a listing of properties, facilities and features to help plan for a one hour trek or an all day adventure. View property list here.

Download Legacy Lands brochure

The Legacy Lands program is guided by several key documents that were developed with local partners and stakeholders. The program targets key conservation properties and areas for conservation and protection.

FUNDING

The program’s primary county revenue source is the Conservation Futures levy. Conservation Futures funding has supported over 100 distinct acquisition projects in Clark County. Almost all of these combined local revenues with grants and donations to accomplish the acquisitions.

Acquisitions also occurred through the State Department of Natural Resources Trust Land Transfer Program and privately owned land donations. The county also coordinates its acquisitions with other land conservation entities such as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, State Department of Fish and Wildlife, cities and towns and private land trusts.

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