Koeneman Lake access closed due to fire danger

OLYMPIA - Due to extreme fire danger, public access to Koeneman Lake in southwest Kitsap County has been closed until further notice, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today.

Notice of the closure is posted at the entrance to the access trail leading to Koeneman Lake, said Terry Legg, WDFW westside lands supervisor.

WDFW maintains the access trail under agreement with private timber companies that own the forestlands surrounding the lake, Legg said.

"We really don't like to close our access sites to the public, but the risk of fire is just too great with the dry weather and the proximity of all that timber," said Legg, noting that the site will be reopened as soon as conditions improve. "This is a unique case of a remote lake with difficult access that requires special consideration during high fire danger."