Wildlife area management planning

Fall view of the Klickitat River
Photo by WDFW
Fall view on the Klickitat Wildlife Area

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) manages over 1 million acres of land divided into 33 wildlife areas across the state. These lands help protect critical land and water habitat for wildlife and people, provide recreation opportunities for the public, and include nearly all species and habitats found in Washington.

Each area is guided by a management plan that addresses the status of wildlife species and their habitat, habitat restoration, public recreation, weed management, and other activities to meet the department’s mission of preserving, protecting, and perpetuating fish, wildlife, and ecosystems. Plans are revised periodically to reflect current conditions and the progress of past activities, as well as identify new management priorities and actions. The agency has completed eight new plans recently, all available online for the public to review.

The most current plans are also available on each wildlife area page.

The planning process is guided by WDFW’s Wildlife Area Management Planning Framework, which identifies the agency’s directives and requirements for managing wildlife area lands. Each wildlife area has an advisory committee. These committees assist in the development of the management plan and provide input on management activities.

For more information about the multi-year wildlife area planning effort or advisory committees, contact Lauri Vigue at 360-902-2549 or lauri.vigue@dfw.wa.gov.