WDFW Wildlife Areas & Water Access Sites

Wildlife Areas
Wildlife Areas provide habitat for fish and wildlife as well as land for outdoor recreation. Find maps, driving instructions, and other information for WDFW's wildlife areas.

Water Access Sites
WDFW maintains Water Access Sites throughout Washington state offering boaters and bank fisherman access to lakes and waterways.

WDFW Wildlife Area Management Plans
The Department of Fish and Wildlife manages over 850,000 acres of land around the state for fish and wildlife, habitat conservation and wildlife related recreation. These lands are divided into wildlife area complexes consisting of 27 different wildlife management areas. Draft wildlife area management plans for each of these areas have been developed with the help of local citizen advisory groups. The plans will form the basis for all future operations, management decisions, and budgeting on these lands.

Wildlife Areas Habitat Conservation Plan
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is developing a habitat conservation plan (HCP) for activities on state owned and managed Wildlife Areas.

Fish and Wildlife Commission Adopted Revisions to WAC 232: Public Conduct in Wildlife Areas & Access Sites Owned or Controlled by the Department of Fish and Wildlife
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) developed a package of new rules for public conduct on WDFW wildlife areas and water-access sites to protect fish and wildlife resources and ensure public safety through establishment of a new chapter (13) in Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 232. At its Dec. 7 meeting, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission approved a number of the proposed rules and deferred action on three others.

WDFW Land Management

Land Line: Newsletter of the WDFW Land Management Division
This newsletter will appeal to those with an interest in WDFW management issues on public or private lands in Washington. WDFW manages land for fish and wildlife needs and for recreation such as hunting, wildlife watching, fishing, camping, hiking, and boating. We plan to produce this newsletter twice a year. Our goal is to keep you informed about these and related issues and to start a dialogue so we can better address your questions and needs.

Land Use Planners Guide to Salmonid Protection and Recovery - DRAFT
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is providing this guidance on planning for salmon, steelhead and trout to assist the integration of local land use planning programs and state salmonid recovery efforts.

Lands 20/20: A Clear Vision For The Future
Washingtonians’ unique quality of life is inextricably linked to the diversity and accessibility of natural wonders so uniquely captured within our state’s boundaries. From teeming shoreline or temperate rainforest, through broad grasslands or pine and fir forests, to looming plateaus or glaciated peaks, people from near and far enjoy the singular outdoor opportunities that Washington offers. Washington’s diverse fish and wildlife and their habitats make a significant contribution to our quality of life through hunting, fishing, hiking, wildlife watching, and other forms of recreation, as well as through the economic benefit derived from these activities.