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Puget Sound

Applying Public Benefit Rating System to Preserve Natural Resources and Habitat

Category:  Submerged, Intertidal, Wetland, and Upland

Cost:  Unknown  

Description:  A technical guidance document for voluntary use by local governments. Describes how to use Current Use Assessment Programs as an incentive for private landowners to preserve important natural resources. The natural lands or 'open space' component of Current Use Assessment Programs under the Open Space Taxation Act, RCW 84.34, provides a powerful incentive to private landowners to preserve important natural resources, by offering direct property tax relief for retaining natural features in their undeveloped condition. 
In recent years land development and use have lead to increased watershed problems such as flooding, declining water quality and water supply, and fish and wildlife habitat loss. These problems are in the forefront of local community issues now demanding immediate attention. Expanding the use of "public benefit rating system" criteria to select properties with attributes that address watershed related issues is a common-sense strategy to conserve dwindling natural resource functions on the landscape. The cumulative resource protection contributions of enrolled landowners thus can help to relieve the community's infrastructure and liability costs, while providing for smarter growth that incorporates natural features and their functions.

Outcome:  Tax relief incentives to help private landowners protect and preserve habitat on their property through "highest and best" use principals.

Contact:  Jane Rubey, Department of Ecology, (360) 407-6300

Citation:  http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/pubs/99-108/99-108.html