Snoqualmie Wildlife Area Advisory Committee

The 2,774-acre Snoqualmie Wildlife Area consists of six units located in Snohomish and King County. The wildlife area is situated within the Snohomish watershed, including the Skykomish and Snohomish rivers, which join to form the Snohomish River. Three wildlife area units, including the Stillwater, Cherry Valley, and Crescent Lake units, are located near the city of Duvall. The other three units, including the Ebey Island and Spencer Island units and the Corson Wildlife Preserve, are located near the city of Everett.

Habitats include open water, estuary, various types of wetlands, riparian areas, forested uplands, and seasonally flooded agricultural land. The various units contain a wide range of estuary/wetland and riparian-dependent aquatic and terrestrial species, as well as state sensitive bald eagles and federally threatened anadromous Chinook salmon populations.

WDFW acquired the wildlife area properties between 1964 and 2008, using federal and state funding. The primary purpose for the wildlife area is to preserve and enhance wildlife and their habitats, restore and enhance natural stream drainages and floodplain wetlands and to provide opportunities for hunting, and wildlife-related recreational opportunities.

The advisory committee provides input on wildlife area management activities, including the review of wildlife area management plan updates.  The committee also reviews and provides input during development of new plans for the area. A new plan is not currently scheduled to be written, but will be one of 33 new plans developed over the next five years.

Wildlife Area Advisory Committee (WAAC) Membership

WAAC members represent a range of interested stakeholder groups and/or recreationalists who may be impacted by, or have an interest in, management activities on the Wildlife Areas.  WAAC members:

• Represent a group or organization interested in wildlife area planning and management issues;
• Are committed to sharing information and bringing to the committee feedback from their respective constituencies; and
• Are interested and committed to working collaboratively, respecting others opinions; and
• Understand, and are comfortable with, the role of serving in an advisory capacity.

WAAC Role & Responsibilities

The role of the WAAC is to provide input and perspective for WLA planning and management activities.

Responsibilities include:

• Review information, discuss issues with other committee members, and provide constructive input on management activities.  Members also assist in development of wildlife area plans and updates
• Serve as spokespersons for respective interest groups, reporting back to agency staff and the committee about the interests and concerns of the larger stakeholder group
• Ask questions to understand the agencies mandate, goals and purpose of land management activities
• Identify an alternate who will serve when and if the primary representative is unable to participate. (Continuity is especially important as there will be a limited number of meetings and each meeting will build on the material covered at previous meetings);
• Accept input from a variety of user groups on resource issues
• Stimulate local interest in maintaining successful WAACs
• Act as a sounding board for wildlife area planning and management activities.
• Identify key issues of concern
• Provide input on how the WAAC could be more efficient and effective
• Be able to communicate about agency goals and wildlife area activities outside WAAC meetings
• Act in an advisory capacity, providing input and guidance to agency staff;
• The agency's role is to use this information, when appropriate, to make sound and informed decisions. WAACs are not decision makers. They are not required to reach consensus or necessarily agree with agency decisions.