Public invited to series of water access planning workshops for North Puget Sound

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and local partners will host a series of virtual workshops this month to discuss development of a 10-year management plan for WDFW-managed water access in North Puget Sound.

WDFW’s North Puget Sound Region (Region 4) includes Island, King, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties and is home to approximately 125 water access areas and 16 fish hatcheries, including nearly 100 boat launches. These sites receive millions of visits every year from individuals and families accessing fishing, boating, and other water-based adventures. 

These WDFW-managed lands provide public access to streams and lakes throughout the region and to some portions of the Puget Sound nearshore. WDFW is in the early stages of developing a plan to address management and public use of these water access and hatchery lands for the next 10 years. The management plan does not direct fishery management in Puget Sound or elsewhere in the region.

“This long-term planning effort will help set investment priorities for the next 10 years to provide continued access to the region’s lands and waters for the public to enjoy recreation experiences and make memories with their families,” said Shane Belson, lands planner with WDFW. “These public workshops are a valuable opportunity to gather feedback about how people are already using these lands, and to determine what may be needed in the coming decade.”

Anyone interested in attending any of these virtual workshops is asked to pre-register online; additional information about each meeting will be sent following registration. All workshops will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for the following counties:

• Tuesday, Oct. 22: Whatcom County
• Wednesday, Oct. 23: Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties
• Monday, Oct. 28: Snohomish County
• Wednesday, Oct. 30: King County

Additional public input opportunities will be available as the process develops. More information about WDFW-managed water access areas is available at the WDFW website. This work is part of the Department’s 10-Year Recreation Strategy for WDFW-managed Lands (PDF). 

WDFW manages more than 1 million acres of land and hundreds of water access areas throughout the state. By actively managing lands, restoring habitats, and preserving wild places, the Department serves as stewards for Washington’s natural places, protecting the state’s land and water for wildlife and people.