Managing Wildlife Populations
Environmental Planner English is preparing a final draft of the L. T. Murray Wildlife Area management plan for State Environmental Policy Act review and public comment, following external review by the Yakama Nation, the L. T. Murray Wildlife Area Advisory Committee, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Diversity Advisory Committee. A public open house on the plan is scheduled for June 21, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Kittitas County Fairgrounds.
English initiated scoping for the Cowlitz Wildlife Area in May, which included an initial Wildlife Area Advisory Council meeting on May 9 followed by an internal scoping meeting with the internal planning team on May 16. A public open house is tentatively scheduled in Morton this July.
The Methow Wildlife Area planning team meeting was held in Winthrop on May 9. The discussion included recreation planning and suitability mapping, proposed winter closures, and restrictions on non-motorized seasonal recreation.
Methow Wildlife Area Advisory Committee meeting was held in Winthrop on May 11. Wildlife area staff members provided a wildlife area update. The meeting was focused on reaching a consensus on the seasonal closures to protect wintering mule deer. The next step includes developing an outreach approach for gaining public support for the winter closures.
The highlights of the year-long recreation user survey results were provided.
The first draft of the Skagit Wildlife Area management plan was reviewed by the planning team members. We are pleased to report the draft plan received comments from 15 planning team members, essentially most program participants contributed. The next steps include revising and preparing the next version for tribal and advisory committee review in June. A response to the comments received on the draft goals and objectives from the advisory committee is being prepared.
The Lands Division has collaborated with the Fish Program to develop an initial draft regional water access management planning framework. Modelled largely on the established wildlife area framework, it will facilitate the development of 10-year regional plans for the Department’s water access lands, including roughly 475 designated water access areas. Current plans are to first apply the framework as a pilot in the North Puget Sound Region.
Providing Recreation Opportunities
Environmental Planner Browning and Program Specialist Andersen hired TREAD, a trails advocacy organization, to do a trails assessment process in Quincy Lakes Wildlife Area. Once the assessment is completed, we will be one step closer to being able to designate trails there and manage the high level of recreation to better protect wildlife.
Providing Education and Outreach
The Ambassador Pilot Program will be launching on July 1. Browning is working closely with the contractor, Washington Trollers Association, to publish news releases, hire seasonal employees to manage volunteers, and begin volunteer recruitment.
The WDFW Sign Standards and Guidelines have been finalized and were emailed out to staff on May 15. The guidelines will be uploaded to the Land Manager Toolkit shortly.
Hardware for 19 kiosks in Region 4 have been ordered. Browning is working closely with Community and Public Engagement (CAPE) and the GIS team to finalize the artwork, maps, and design of the kiosks.