Cle Elum Ridge became Washington's newest community forest.
The 2,600-acre property above Cle Elum, Roslyn and Ronald will stay protected from development while supporting public recreation, habitat and forest stewardship.
The Nature Conservancy announced that it acquired 2,600 acres along Cle Elum Ridge in Kittitas County, creating a new community forest above the towns of Cle Elum, Roslyn and Ronald.
WHAT HAPPENED
TNC says the land will remain protected from development and open for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, hunting and other outdoor traditions. The organization contributed $4.1 million to a stewardship fund intended to support annual maintenance. The forest sits within a larger landscape where partners have worked on habitat, wildfire resilience, water and recreation access. TNC and partners say they eventually intend to transfer ownership to the Yakama Nation while preserving the community-forest benefits.
WHY THIS IS HOPESLOP
A community spent decades asking that its ridgeline stay a forest instead of becoming another development map. The acquisition turns that long preference into land held for habitat, stewardship and public use—and gives the work a maintenance fund rather than just a ribbon-cutting moment.
ORIGINAL SOURCEThe Nature ConservancyRead the original report
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