The Metropolitan King County Council is calling on County Executive Dow Constantine executive to continue the legacy of programs such as Forward Thrust and voter approved levies to protect the environment by developing a work plan to protect and conserve valuable land and water resources.

“Protecting and conserving land and water resources is vital during a time of unprecedented growth in King County,” said Council Chair Larry Phillips, co-sponsor of the motion. “Our action today ensures our region will continue to remain a unique and beautiful place to live for generations to come.”

“We live in one of the fastest growing counties in the nation,” said motion co-sponsor Councilmember Rod Dembowski, who represents Northshore and north Kirkland on the council. “Conservation enhances the region’s quality of life and is an essential building block for our vibrant economy. As we grow, the opportunities to protect special land and water resources diminish. That’s why I believe we must double down on our communities efforts to ensure future generations continue to enjoy the beautiful landscape of King County.”

Starting with the regional collaboration that helped restore Lake Washington in the 1950’s, King County has made a commitment to identify, protect, and conserve the county’s land and water resources. Forward Thrust helped to fund the preservation of 4,000 acres of park lands and 53 miles of waterfront and riparian corridors, the County’s Conservation Futures Program has preserved more than 100,000 acres of resource lands and farmlands, and voter approved levies have ensured the protection of parks and open space throughout the county.

The motion adopted by the Council at its November 16 meeting declares that it is County policy to ensure that King County remains one of the greenest metropolitan areas in the world by protecting and conserving land and water resources. It recognizes that continuing to protect and conserve these valuable resources will enhance the county’s quality of life, strengthen the region’s economy, enhance biodiversity, provide recreational opportunities and promote sustainable forestry and farming and locally grown food.

The motion asks the executive to develop a work plan for implementing a preservation and conservation program to identify, protect, conserve, and maintain water and land resources, including farmland and forest lands, ecological lands, river and stream corridors, trail corridors, and historic resources on farmlands.

The motion supports the goals of the recently adopted update to the King County Strategic Climate Action Plan, the County’s blueprint for reducing carbon pollution and preparing for climate impacts, which was signed into law this week by Phillips and Constantine.

The proposed plan would be developed through a collaborative regional process with stakeholders and would be transmitted to the Council by March 2016.