WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE     Print Version
NEWS RELEASE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091

OLYMPIA -- A land management plan which seeks to balance human uses with fish and wildlife needs in a wildlife area near Riffe Lake has been drafted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and will be discussed in an open house Friday and Saturday.

The public session will be held at the Cowlitz Wildlife Area Headquarters, 350 Hwy 7 in Morton. The open house will run from 5 to 9 p.m., Sept. 12, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 13.

The Cowlitz Wildlife Area covers 12,235 acres surrounding Riffe Lake, as well as lands north of the lake. The land is owned by Tacoma Public Utilities but is managed by WDFW.

The plan calls for plantings and other habitat enhancements for blacktail deer, dabbling ducks and other species which inhabit the area, while recommending additional trails and parking lots and continued use of the lake for water sports. The plan does call for limitations on off-road vehicle use in the area, however.

After the open house, public comments will be collected and considered for inclusion in the plan, which is to be completed by the end of the year. Copies of the plan are available by calling Paul Dahmer at (360) 902-2612.

Written comments on the plan may be submitted until Oct. 13 and should be addressed to: Neil Rickard, WDFW, Habitat Management Program, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia WA 98501-1091.