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The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is changing the way we communicate with our subscribers to “Land Line.” We are replacing the twice-annual electronic newsletter, “Land Line,” with more frequent news updates and information about WDFW land management. As an e-mail subscriber for Land Line, you’ll receive these e-mails automatically in your e-mail inbox, without linking to a download. As always, you can easily unsubscribe by following the instructions on our WDFW Mailing Lists website. We hope you find this change provides you with more timely and useful information. If you have any questions, please contact Madonna Luers at Madonna.Luers@dfw.wa.gov
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“Land Line” News Notes are produced for e-mail distribution about 10 times a year to provide information about department land management on both public and private land for fish and wildlife habitat needs and for recreation such as hunting, wildlife watching, fishing, camping, hiking, and boating.
Check out proposed land acquisitions on-line
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) proposals to acquire land for fish and wildlife habitat and public recreation are now available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/acquisitions/
The new webpage is an opportunity to learn about 21 priority land-acquisition proposals before WDFW seeks funding for them later this year, says Jennifer Quan, WDFW lands division manager. Previous acquisitions or those already underway are not included.
The proposals were recently presented at the state’s annual Land Acquisition Coordinating Forum, which brings together state agencies, local governments, non-governmental organizations, tribes, landowners and other citizens to share ideas about state land actions for habitat and recreation purposes. (More information on the forum is available at http://www.rco.wa.gov/boards/hrlcg.shtml.)
WDFW will seek funding for the current proposals from state and federal grants administered by the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund, the North American Wetland Conservation Act and the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation.
WDFW’s policy is to purchase land only from willing sellers. The department typically uses grant funding that limits purchase prices to fair-market value as determined by a third-party appraisal. Regardless of funding source, all land acquisitions proposed by WDFW must be approved by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, a nine-member citizen panel appointed by the governor to set WDFW policy.
Quan noted that WDFW is proposing only about half as many property acquisitions this year as it did during the previous two-year major funding cycle.
“Funding is tight – whether for land acquisition or operations and maintenance – so we really have to focus on those properties that provide the greatest benefits for fish and wildlife,” Quan said.
Quan said land acquisition plays an essential role in meeting WDFW’s legislative mandate to protect fish and wildlife, while also providing sustainable recreational and commercial opportunities.
WDFW currently owns or manages about 900,000 acres in 32 wildlife areas, along with 700 public water-access sites. Those properties provide habitat for fish and wildlife, as well as fishing, hunting and wildlife-watching opportunities that contribute several billion dollars to the state’s economy each year. |
