State proposes interagency land transfer that includes Skagit County parcels

The state Department of Natural Resources is proposing an interagency land transfer that includes about 870 acres in Skagit County.

The proposed Richland 16 Land Exchange would allow the department to eventually sell about 50 acres the state owns in Richland adjacent to a school district. The property is vacant and is in the Common School Trust.

The Common School Trust funds K-12 school construction statewide.

To make that change, the department is required by law to put parcels worth an equal value into the Common School Trust.

The department intends to change the type of state ownership for parcels in Benton, Clark, Kitsap, Skagit and Snohomish counties to make the exchange.

The Skagit properties include about 463 acres east of Anderson Mountain, about 320 acres northwest of Lake Cavanaugh, and about 90 acres next to Blanchard State Forest.

Those properties are currently in the Land Bank. The Land Bank is a holding area for properties waiting to be trust land.

Bob Winslow, state Department of Natural Resources property acquisitions specialist, said the change would not affect funding for schools or Skagit County, or what activities are allowed on the parcels, such as timber harvesting.

The shift essentially just makes it easier for department staff to manage the properties, said Winslow.

"Effectively, the citizens of Skagit won't notice a change," said Winslow.

The transfer was first proposed in 2022, but configuration of the Richland properties changed, causing the department to redo its transfer process.

The department is holding a public comment session at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Skagit County Public Utility District's Aqua Room at 1415 Freeway Drive, Mount Vernon.

The department is accepting written public comment through 5 p.m. June 25, after which it will make a proposal to the Board of Natural Resources.

Those interested can email comments to exchanges@dnr.wa.gov with the subject line Richland 16 Land Bank Exchange, or mail them to Department of Natural Resources, Asset Mgmt. Division, Attn: Richland 16 Land Bank Exchange, Mail Stop 47014, Olympia, 98504.

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This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 7:04 AM.