Palouse Prairie project faces ‘use it or lose it’

State ag officials have told Whitman County to use or lose it’s 2,000-acre allotment under the Palouse Prairie portion of the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement program.

In 2008, the federal Farm Service Agency and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife created the program to restore or enhance 8,200 acres of wildlife habitat across the state.

The agencies set aside 2,000 acres in Whitman County to expand and protect the unique Palouse Prairie.

Landowners now have until Jan. 14 of next year to offer land for contracts or the 2,000-acre allotment to Whitman County will be moved to other pr...