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Indicator: Acres in Forest and Farm Land

Data and Data Discussion provided by King County Benchmark Program

Proportion of King County Acreage in Forest and Farmland

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Upstream Indicators
  •   Organic Farm Trends --- The number of certified organic farms in King County has more than tripled from 7 in 1995 to 23 in 2002, and remained relatively constant since then. The amount of acreage in organic production increased substantially in 2007.   (view data graph)
  •   Urbanization and Impervious Surface Changes --- The number of acres of urban land, clear-cut, and regenerating forest have increased in King County since 1986. Acres of grass and deciduous, mixed and coniferous forest have decreased. Acres of rural forests and privately owned working forests have declined in recent years  (view data graph)
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Downstream Indicators
  •   303d Listed Watercourses --- Although approximately 50% of watercourses included on the 1998 Washington State 303(d) list have been de-listed, the total number of listed water segments has increased in the past decade. The most significant increase in listings has occurred with regards to temperature.   (view data graph)
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Related Goals

When sprawl is unregulated, farm and forest land disappears. Sprawl happens when policy-makers and citizens fail to recognize the value of natural resources and the services they provide.

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Sustainability Snapshot:

"Farms and forests are economically and environmentally productive land types, indelibly tied to our local and regional cultural heritage. Farms provide a stunning visual landscape, revenue, employment and more localized food distribution systems. Smaller farm and forestry operations represent multi-generational traditions, many artisan in nature, which provide both a sense of place as well as niche marketing opportunities. The loss of these land types means lost economic productive capacity, wildlife habitat (which itself is a revenue source) and increased infrastructure costs. Larger forestlands provide intact landscapes that can maintain habitat continuity." (Excerpted from U.S. EPA website for Puget Sound Georgia Basin Ecosystem) Like forestland, open farmland contributes less runoff than developed impervious surfaces, provides surface water storage, and facilitates groundwater recharge.

Sustainability Trend:

Though in decline from historical levels, King County has maintained its forest and farmland with very little change in total acreage since 1995.

Data Discussion

The Indicator Defined

Proportion of King County acreage in forest and farmland.

Data Interpretation/Evaluation

Despite increases in population, the acreage of forest and farmland in King County has remained relatively unchanged since 1995. Over the last 10 years, about 875,000 acres have been maintained as forestland. This is a reversal of the trend set between 1972 and 1996 when King County forestland decreased by 33%.

Decreases in farmland acreage during the late 1980's leveled out by 1992 and have remained relatively constant since that time. There are 42,000 acres designated as farmland in the Agricultural Production Districts of King County. This has remained constant at about three percent of the county for the last 25 years. An additional 25,000 acres of active farming is found throughout the rural area.

While farm acreage has remained unchanged, there has been a change in the number and size of farms. From 1997 to 2002, there has been an increase in the number of farms in King County and a decrease in their size. Large farms have split land into smaller acreages to allow for direct-market animal and horticultural operations.

Data Source and Limitations

Acres of Forest Land provided by King County Department of Natural Resources, Office of Rural and Resources Programs.

Acres of Farm Land provided by King County Department of Natural Resources, Office of Rural and Resources Programs Farm Survey (2004) and the United States Department of Agriculture Census of Agriculture (2002 Census).

There are technical and definitional challenges in counting forest and farm acreage that may cause minor difference in acreage from year to year. 

Acres of forest cover reflect the number of acres in the Forest Production District and the Rural Forest Focus Area land use designations. Two-thirds of these designated forest lands are in public ownership. The measure does not reflect changes in private land ownership patterns that can affect land management regimens and the function of forest systems.

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