Jacobs Point, comprising 82 acres on scenic Anderson Island, will be permanently protected for public recreation and salmon habitat thanks to a conservation partnership, according to Pierce County officials.

The conservation group Forterra (formerly known as Cascade Land Conservancy) purchased Jacobs Point on Dec. 20 with the help of grants from Pierce County and the state of Washington. The property’s conservation value includes one mile of unaltered Puget Sound shoreline along Oro Bay, mature forested uplands and wetlands, and amazing views of Puget Sound and Mount Rainer.

The property will be owned and managed by the Anderson Island Park and Recreation District.

“The conservation of Jacobs Point brings great value to the region for people and the natural world, and it marks more progress on our Cascade Agenda goals,” said Forterra President Gene Duvernoy. “Key conservation projects like this remain core to our mission and help advance multiple goals critical for the region.”

The Cascade Agenda, the long-range action plan for the region’s lands and communities spearheaded by Forterra, aims to conserve almost 1.3 million acres of land.

Jacobs Point provides valuable habitat for endangered Chinook, chum and pink salmon that use the Nisqually Delta and Nisqually Reach. The property was purchased from the Young Life organization for $1.8 million, well under its appraised value of $2.5 million. Funding was provided by the Pierce County Conservation Futures program, which uses a specially-designated property tax to conserve threatened lands, and an Aquatic Lands Enhancement grant from the state Recreation and Conservation Office.

“This is another success story with our partners at Forterra and the state,” said Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy. “We will continue to work with them to conserve properties that protect natural resources and enhance the outdoor recreational opportunities that make Pierce County such a great place to live.”

As part of the Anderson Island Park and Recreation District’s management of the property, Jacobs Point will feature new public recreation opportunities. Those include public access for land trails, a stop for non-motorized watercraft on the Cascadia Marine Trail, interpretive signs and viewpoints with views of Mount Rainier.

The Jacobs Point agreement is just the latest example of a partnership among Forterra, Pierce County and the state Recreation and Conservation Office. Other recent projects include the planned preservation of 500 acres of Orting Valley farmland and the purchase of the 94-acre Devils Head property on the Key Peninsula.

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Coalition preserves Pierce County ‘jewel’ (07/14/10) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1805444&more=0

Partnership saves 100-acre Pierce County farm (05/24/10) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1775369&more=0