Providing Recreation Opportunities
Travel Management: Andersen and Browning continued having discussions with land managers about conducting trail inventories on wildlife areas. Browning wrote a request for proposal (RFP) for an inventory project on Wooten, Cowlitz and Scatter Creek wildlife areas. The Quincy Lakes trail conditions assessment contract is in its final stages. TREAD is writing the report that includes recommendations for trail use.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
State-Tribes Recreation Impact Management: [GA(1] [C(2] Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is working with federally recognized tribes and other state agencies to develop a framework for managing recreation impacts on state lands. The Steering Committee met on Aug. 17. The meeting focused on developing a structure and scope for the work and discussion of contracting third party facilitation. The next steering committee meeting is scheduled for Sep.7.
Providing Education and Outreach
The Ambassador Program: The Ambassador Program has completed two more weeks of programming. There was greater visitation at the LT Murray Wildlife Area due to the coming of hunting season. There are three weeks left, and Browning and Washington Trollers Association (WTA) are pivoting the program to new locations on the west side where there is more visitation.
Lands Advisory Group Strategic Planning: To diversify participation and increase support from local communities, the strategic plan will provide statewide improvements and identify opportunities to enhance the roles of advisory committee members. These recommended changes will benefit staff members and community experiences while increasing public involvement in land management practices. Staff members will engage internal and external stakeholders in this planning process which is expected to continue through 2025.
States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) Symposium: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife co-sponsored and attended the SOBA symposium held in Tacoma during the last week of August. Lands Division was represented by Belson. Other WDFW attendees and presenters included Region 6 field operations, Real Estate Services, and Capital and Asset Management Program (CAMP). The director gave a welcome speech to attendees on the opening day.