Pierce and King counties adopt biodiversity resolution

Conservation of White River biodiversity is the goal of a recent joint resolution between Pierce and King counties.

Since both counties share a common boundary on the river and both support conservation of shorelines, wetlands, open space, forest, and native fisheries and wildlife habitat, the resolution to coordinate planning, zoning, communication, voluntary landowner incentive programs and other practices made sense.

WDFW wildlife biologist Michelle Tirhi said the data-collecting “Bio-Blitz” on the White River earlier this year, which paired professional biologists with local landowners and volunteers for a day in the field, provided the foundation for the joint resolution.

“We confirmed the presence of almost 90 percent of the native plant and animal species that we predicted to occur along the Lower White River,” she explained, “which shows just how biologically diverse that area is.”

The resolution means that both counties’ planning actions, technical consultations, voluntary conservation and tax incentives, and strategic land purchases will be coordinated to maintain that diversity.

The Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance, comprised of agency and non-profit entities committed to preserving the biodiversity of Pierce County, sponsored the joint resolution. The Alliance recently testified before the county’s Planning Commission and asked for the intent of the resolution to be integrated into several county programs.