Biweekly report Aug16-31 2023 - Lands Division

Year
2023
Dates
Division/Region
Report sections

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.

Biweekly report Aug1-15 2023 - Lands Division

Year
2023
Dates
Division/Region
Report sections

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Trail Inventory Projects: Browning and Andersen continue to manage trail inventory projects in Quincy Lakes, L. T. Murray, and the Methow wildlife areas. The Quincy Lakes project is in the final stages and a report is being written by the contractor. Re-routes around culturally sensitive areas have been mapped. Browning and Andersen are preparing a contract with Methow Valley Trails Collaborative to do a trails conditions assessment of the Pipestone area in the Methow Wildlife Area.  

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Skagit Wildlife Area Planning: The Skagit Wildlife Area Advisory Committee meeting was held on Aug. 15. The focus of the meeting was to collect comments on the draft management plan. The draft plan was also sent to the tribes on July 24. The plan is expected to start the SEPA 30-day public review by early September. A SEPA public workshop will be held at Padilla Bay on Sep. 5. 

State-Tribes Recreation Impact Management: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) is working with federally recognized tribes and other state agencies to develop a framework for managing recreation impacts on state lands. A second meeting of the Steering Committee will be held on Aug. 17. 

L. T. Murray Wildlife Area Planning: The State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) review has concluded on the plan. The final draft was sent to regional and statewide program managers for internal review. The final plan will be submitted for the director’s signature in September.  

Cowlitz Wildlife Area Planning: Planning, Communications and Public Engagement (CAPE), and GIS staff members with the assistance of Braeden Van Deynze are developing a recreational user survey. It will be available to the public over the next year starting this fall.  

Providing Education and Outreach

Public Lands Visitation Study: The Department, along with other state natural resource agencies including the Department of Natural Resources, State Parks, and the Recreation and Conservation Office, partnered with Earth Economics to determine public visitation and the economic contribution of outdoor recreation on state-managed public lands and measure how spending circulates within the state’s economy. The report found that visitation on state public lands increased by 12% from 2019 to 2020. This includes a 7% increase on WDFW managed lands, and it supported $5.9 billion in spending on goods and services. This spending supported more than 37,000 full and part-time jobs, $1.65 billion in wages, and more than $435 million in local and state tax revenue. 

For more information on the study, see WDFW’s recent blog post

You can read the final report online here: Outdoor Recreation on State Lands in Washington 

The Ambassador Program: The ambassador program has completed six weeks of programming. The most meaningful interactions with visitors have been at Lewis Butte in the Methow Valley. Visitors were excited to learn about wildlife and recreation best practices from the ambassadors. The ambassador program will be testing out new sites in Scatter Creek and Fir Island in September when visitor numbers tend to be quite high. 

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. 

Biweekly report Jul16-31 2023 - Lands Division

Year
2023
Dates
Division/Region
Report sections

Providing Conflict Prevention and Education

Partnership Coordinator Browning and Recreation Planner Andersen continue to manage the TREAD (Trails, Recreation, Education, Advocacy, and Development) contract. All re-routes have been completed and are ready to be sent off for Cultural Resource review. TREAD will now write a report detailing findings, methods, and recommendations for Quincy Lakes trails.

Browning and Andersen continue to support two interns, one in the Methow Wildlife Area and one in the LT Murray Wildlife Area, as they conduct trail inventories using the Field Maps App.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Skagit Wildlife Area: The draft wildlife area management plan was submitted to the tribes and the Wildlife Area Advisory Committee separately on July 24. The Washington State Department Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) 30-day process is expected to begin by early September. A public workshop has been tentatively scheduled for Sep. 5 at Padilla Bay. Staff members received comments from the Wildlife Diversity Advisory Committee in July.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area: The final draft wildlife area management plan was submitted for SEPA review in mid-June, which ended on July 14. Planning team staff members are responding to comments prior to final internal review. The plan will undergo final graphic design by Communications and Public Engagement (CAPE) prior to signature by Director Susewind in August.

Cowlitz Wildlife Area: A public scoping open house and field trip was conducted in early July for the draft wildlife area management plan. The planning team is working with CAPE and our social scientists to develop a recreational survey to gather data on use preferences and demographics on the wildlife area.

Violet Prairie Section 6 Management Plan: The draft Violet Prairie Section 6 Management Plan (unit of the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area) was submitted to the United States Forest Service (USFS) on July 20 for their initial review and feedback. This plan includes measures for the Mazama pocket gopher, Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly, western gray squirrel, Oregon vesper sparrow, and streaked horn lark.

Kiosks: Browning is working with CAPE to design and order kiosks for regions 2, 4, and 6. Kiosks will include regulatory and warning signs intended to protect visitors and wildlife.

Teanaway Community Forest: Range Ecologist Burnham conducted periodic monitoring, similar to the monitoring conducted for the last several years, and notified the grazing technical team of the results. This season is the first under a new Department of Natural Resouces (DNR) lessee and adjusted grazing plan, so it will be interesting to observe any differences.

Image
Ungrazed understory in Teanaway community forest.
Photo by WDFW
Ungrazed understory in Teanaway community forest.

LT Murray and Asotin Creek Wildlife Areas: Range Ecologist Burnham conducted ecological integrity monitoring at permits areas located on the LT Murray and Asotin Creek wildlife areas.

Image
LT Murray long-term monitoring plot.
Photo by WDFW
LT Murray long-term monitoring plot.

WSU Stocking Rate Tool: Burnham helped beta-test and comment on a dynamic stocking rate tool being developed by Washington State University Extension.

Weed Control:

  • Spartina (0.021 acres treated, 32.5 acres surveyed)
  • Yellow flag iris (0.025 acres treated, 14.5 acres surveyed)
  • Japanese knotweed (0.03 acres treated, 3.66 acres surveyed)
  • Invasive cattail (0.03 acres treated 3.8 acres surveyed)
  • Blackberry and Scotch broom treatment at Grayland site
  • Surveys throughout Willapa Bay area, showing good control, with very little found
  • Treatment of knotweed at Grays Harbor Public Utility District site, under contract

 

Controlled Burns in Western Washington Wildlife Areas in July 2023: The drier than normal winter and spring in Western Washington inspired Scatter Creek Wildlife Area managers to consider early summer controlled burns. They reached out to district biologists and the prescribed fire team to discuss the feasibility. In years past, prescribed fire was used in the fall, but with forecasted El Nino conditions, there is a worry that the fall burning period will be quite short.

“There is a window of opportunity between too dry and too wet to complete prescribed burns,” says Prescribed Fire Planner Edwards. “Add on top of that, crew availability and an extensive amount of pre-burn work and there is not much time in hot years like this one to use fire as a restoration tool.” The consensus from the group was that burning in July was a good goal.

In July, WDFW and Ecostudies Institute burned three units in two days, two units at West Rocky Prairie and one unit at Scatter Creek. West Rocky Prairie burns targeted Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly habitat. The Scatter Creek burn was an oak site, which was logged after the 2017 wildfire. The intended ecological effects were achieved, the fire cleared out logging debris under the oaks and Scotch broom and other invasive species on the prairie.

The burn was a collaboration with input from multiple groups. The Scatter Creek Wildlife Area managers developed the plan and organized pre-burn planning, unit prep work, provided funding, and gathered the crew. District biologists assessed the site for impacts to wildlife and the prescribed fire team provided insight into fireline development and tactics to produce desired fire effects. The Chehalis Tribe added cultural insight and support for fire returning to the landscape and the Ecostudies Institute provided resources and equipment. Department of Natural Resouces enthusiastically permitted the process during a regional burn ban. The burns were met with support from the surrounding communities.

The burns provided training for WDFW and Ecostudies personnel, including Burn Boss Trainee Edwards. Prescribed fire is becoming a more commonplace and necessary tool in our state and providing a safely trained, highly capable workforce is a huge aspect of returning fire to the landscape. These skills can be applied during wildfire response, making prescribed burning a useful tool for all wildland firefighters.

Image
Scatter Creek South Oak Unit before the burn.
Photo by WDFW
Scatter Creek South Oak Unit before the burn.
Image
Scatter Creek South Oak Unit before the burn.
Photo by WDFW
Scatter Creek South Oak Unit after burn.
Image
WDFW employee learning to blackline.
Photo by WDFW
WDFW employee learning to blackline.

For future South Sound planning, there are only two units left at Scatter Creek Wildlife Area that can be burned in these dry conditions, neither of which are Taylor’s checkerspot units. This makes the two units we burned at West Rocky Prairie earlier this month even more impressive and will hopefully relieve some of the pressure for the post-rain burn lineup.

Other areas across the state are also in the planning phases for prescribed burns to reduce hazardous natural fuel loading and improve habitat. This includes a small burn in the Long Beach area to help rebuild the Oregon silver spot butterfly habitat by reducing vegetation that is restricting native plants that help feed and support the butterfly population. In Eastern Washington, burns are being planned for implementation this fall and next year to reduce natural fuel loading created from timber harvests and decades of natural vegetation buildup that would add to wildfire devastation but will improve big game habitat.

Prescribed fires are conducted when weather and fuel moisture conditions allow fire specialists to conduct the needed operations at low fire intensities and reduce the vegetation buildup. When burns are conducted in conjunction with timber thinning operations, forests are restored by removing crowded and unhealthy trees. This helps them survive wildfires much better. Burning will reduce the thinning debris and replace nutrients back into the soil allowing needed forage to grow such as grasses and shrubs that support wildlife.

Forest Thinning:

Work in Colockum Phase 1, 863 acres, has started. Because of potential safety issues with a bridge in LT Murray Wildlife Area, the contractor has turned both of their crews to Colockum Wildlife Area and has been proceeding with work there at an increased pace. Work is anticipated to stretch into 2024.

Thinning in LT Murray Wildlife Area, approximately 588 acres, is delayed due to the safety inspection of a bridge, which would be used by trucks hauling logs. The Forest Health Program has been working with Capital and Asset Management Program (CAMP) and others to resolve the issue. As of end of the month, Scientist Tveten reached out to colleagues in the Department of Transportation and obtained steel plates for the bridge that will allow the project to proceed. The work is anticipated to start the second week of August. Tveten’s knowledge and contacts saved the Department at least $5,000 and resolved this issue quickly. Longer-term, we need to determine who “owns” the bridge, when it may need to be life cycled, and potentially get it on the capital budget list. This work will be happening over time.

Thinning in West Rocky Prairie, approximately 95 acres, was initiated and completed by the end of July. This work supports cultural resources, where tribes burned and managed the area for oaks and camas for thousands of years. The project also supports oaks and a variety of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) species. Whereas West Rocky area is a difficult spot with all the competing resources and conflicts, the forest health team has worked with Diversity and through the restoration pathway to advance this project and mitigate, where necessary.

Providing Education and Outreach

The Ambassador Program just completed its fifth week of programming this past weekend. Teanaway Junction is seeing the highest number of visitors at about 50 each weekend. Ambassadors are continuing the educate visitors on how to recreate responsibly.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Recruitment:

  • Range Ecologist Burnham worked with Human Resources (HR) and cross-program staff members to evaluate the referred candidates and interviewed them for a Fish and Wildlife biologist position.
  • Biologist Zimmerman worked with HR to recruit for crew and also for the (somewhat) recently reallocated Natural Resource Scientist.
  • Forest Health Scientist Tveten and team recruited for the vacant forester position. Three offers were refused by candidates. Given the time of year, the team decided to wait until after field season before reposting. Reasons for turning down the position included location and pay.
  • Section Manager Walls completed the position description for the natural resources scientist for the Ecological Assessment project. The description is currently in HR review.

State Noxious Weed Control Board: Biologist Heimer prepared and gave an overview presentation to the State Noxious Weed Control Board in Olympia about what WDFW has been doing over the last couple of years.

Oregon Spotted Frog Project: Biologist Heimer received the imazapyr soil and litter residue results from Washington State Department of Agriculture’s (WSDA) Hop & Chemical Lab. The samples were taken from plots where reed canary grass (RCG) was treated at different rates to determine efficacy. The RCG control is important in maintaining Oregon spotted frog breeding habitat. The residue sampling was done to give researchers an idea of what imazapyr concentrations had on developing embryos that may be exposed to in the treatment sites. Soil sample results were all “No Detects”. Litter samples showed an increasing concentration of imazapyr residue associated with higher application rates 242 days after treatment.

Stewardship Section Budget: Section Manager Walls completed the Public Lands supplemental package for Forest Health. This will restore $2 million in funding to bring it back to total of $6 million. Walls also completed support on spending plans for the section, as well as the Ecological Assessment project proviso that was funding in this session.

Ecological Assessment project: Section Manager Walls has worked closely with Lands Division Manager Wilkerson, Lands Planning and Recreation Manager Sisolak, and Science Division Manager Martorello on developing the needs, questions, and first steps for the Department side of the Ecological Assessment work. They will determine, and their work feeds into, and is part of discussion with Department of Natural Resorces, Parks, and tribes on recreational impacts. The key first steps are getting a handle on the existing tools to evaluate ecological integrity, such as the Natural Heritage Program’s Ecological Integrity Assessment, and also to outline WDFW’s needs for measuring both integrity and stressors, and how that information would affect things, like planning, operational, and stewardship activities.

Biweekly report Jul1-15 2023 - Lands Division

Year
2023
Dates
Division/Region
Report sections

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Browning and Andersen have been crafting a request for a proposal for a Trails Conditions Assessment Contract with Methow Valley Trails Collaborative in the Methow Valley. Browning and Andersen continue to manage the Trails Conditions Assessment Contract for Quincy Lakes with TREAD (Trails Recreation Education Advocacy and Development).

Providing Education and Outreach

The Ambassador Program is entering its third week of programming. Volunteers and Washington Trails Association staff members are making meaningful outreach connections with visitors.

Biweekly report Jun16-30 2023 - Lands Division

Year
2023
Dates
Division/Region
Report sections

Providing Recreation Opportunities

The contract with TREAD for trails conditions assessment in Quincy Lakes is ongoing. Partnership Coordinator Browning and Recreation Planner Andersen are managing the contract and having weekly meetings with TREAD. Browning and Andersen have also been writing a scope of work for a trail inventory in Cowlitz and Methow wildlife areas that will begin in July.

Providing Education and Outreach

The Ambassador Program will be launching on July 1. Partnership Coordinator Browning has been coordinating volunteer talking points and logistics with the Washington Trails Association (WTA). WTA held an online training session the week of June 25.

Browning has been creating content for kiosks that will be delivered by June 30 to Region 4. Three panel kiosks are being designed currently for a few different locations around the state.

Other

Travel Management Rulemaking: Staff members recently held a meeting on several draft rules related to travel management. The draft rules will address illegal trail building, keeping motorized routes on roads that are open to that use, and adopt policy that would consider all routes closed unless designated open. There is a lot of internal (and outreach) work that needs to be done before the third rule can be pursued, but the official rulemaking process will begin on the other two.

Route Inventory: There has been a big effort to determine the process for inventorying all the roads and trails on WDFW managed lands. More recently staff members have developed a tool through a GIS app that contractors or interns can use to collect baseline data on each route, including those that are unauthorized. Now that we have a process in place, WDFW staff members are hoping to streamline the work and expand beyond the Columbia Basin and Methow wildlife areas to other wildlife areas across the state.

Utilizing Closures to Evaluate Recreation Impacts: WDFW natural resource economist, biologists, and staff members involved in the Methow Wildlife Area plan have been discussing the opportunity to use seasonal closures to measure the impacts of recreationists on mule deer habitat use and fitness. It might also be used to evaluate use patterns by the recreationists.

Biweekly report Jun1-15 2023 - Lands Division

Year
2023
Dates
Division/Region
Report sections

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) closed on the acquisition of 174± acres in Grant County, known as the Lake Lenore property, in Region 2. This property was owned by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (State Parks) yet managed by WDFW. This property was approved through Lands 20/20 in 2019 and by the Commission in December 2020, and was a no-fee transfer from State Parks to WDFW for continued public recreation. This property will be managed as part of the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area and will continue to provide public recreation and water access to Lake Lenore, with the potential to develop a future formal shooting range on the property.

Image
Lake Lenore property.
Photo by WDFW

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) closed on the acquisition of the 94±-acre Nemah Tidelands property in Pacific County, Region 6. This property was approved through Lands 20/20 in 2018 and by the Commission in March 2022 and was acquired at the appraised value of $564,000 using a Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program Water Access grant from the Recreation and Conservation Office. Acquiring this property provides WDFW a unique opportunity to provide direct public access to nearly a mile of Willapa Bay tidelands for shellfish harvest.

Image
Violet Prairie Phase 1 Acquisition.
Photo by WDFW

Conserving Natural Landscapes

WDFW closed on the acquisition of a 1,513±-acre property in Douglas County, Region 2, which will be added to the Central Ferry Canyon Unit of the Wells Wildlife Area. This property was approved through Lands 20/20 in 2018 and by the Commission in March 2022 and was acquired at the appraised value of $580,00 using a Cooperative Endangered Species grant from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. This property consists of extensive shrubsteppe habitat for mule deer and Columbian sharptailed grouse, and habitat for the conservation of Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits and Washington ground squirrels.

Image
Acquisition property.
Photo by WDFW

WDFW closed on the first 1,035± acres of a multi-phased property acquisition to acquire a total of 1,567± acres in Thurston County, just west of Tenino, known as the Violet Prairie property. This property was approved through Lands 20/20 in 2016 and by the Commission in March 2022 and was acquired at the appraised value of $7,765,107.06 using a Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program Critical Habitat grant from the Recreation and Conservation Office and two Cooperative Endangered Species grants from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. This property includes intact, prairie-oak woodland and wetland habitat, adds significantly to the protected area of the Scatter Creek watershed, and protects occupied habitat for the federally threatened Mazama pocket gopher, Puget blue butterfly, Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly, and will eventually increase compatible public recreational opportunities.

Image
Violet Prairie Phase 1 Acquisition.
Photo by WDFW

Cowlitz Wildlife Area Planning: The public scoping phase of the Cowlitz Wildlife Area plan begins in July. A public open house and site visit for the planning team is scheduled for July 11.  A field visit is also scheduled for the Cowlitz Wildlife Area Advisory Committee in July.

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Planning: The final draft of the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Management Plan was submitted for SEPA review. Public comment begins on Friday, June 16. A public open house will be held at the Armory building at the Kittitas County Fairgrounds in Ellensburg on June 21 from 6-8 p.m.

Skagit Wildlife Area Planning: The draft Skagit Wildlife Area Management Plan is expected to be delivered to nine tribes on June 16 for their review and comment. Staff members have spent a considerable amount of time fine tuning the document. The draft plan will be delivered to the Wildlife Area Advisory Committee and the Diversity Advisory Committee by early July for their review and comment. The SEPA 30-Day public review is expected in August.

Methow Wildlife Area Planning: Planning staff members are working with Region 2 staff members in preparation for a public workshop tentatively to be held on Sep. 13 in Winthrop to discuss winter closures for the protection of mule deer. Discussions with Wildlife Science and Game have been ongoing with the possibility of a research project to measure how the mule deer are responding to the closure.

Providing Education and Outreach

The WDFW Ambassador Program will kick-off in two weeks on July 1. E. Browning and Washington Trails Association, the contractor, are focusing on volunteer recruitment. There are 30 volunteers signed up so far. Meetings with land managers have been very informative in gathering the educational talking points to deliver to the public.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Belson collaborated with L. Nelson to complete the DJ-Boating Access grant proposal for Fiscal Year 2023 to 2024.

Other

Management of an ongoing contract with TREAD (Trails, Recreation, Education, Advocacy, and Development) for trail conditions assessment in Quincy Lakes. TREAD has mapped re-routes around culturally sensitive areas and is organizing the data to be inputted into the WDFW database. This is one step in the process of getting trails at Quincy Lakes designated and managed more appropriately. 

Biweekly report May16-31 2023 - Lands Division

Year
2023
Dates
Division/Region
Report sections

Providing Recreation Opportunities

The forest health team is providing firewood cutting opportunities in Colockum Phase 1, Unit 1 area, via permit only. Permittees will be allowed to cut up to five cords per person.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Range Ecologist Burnham prepared for monitoring the Department of Natural Resources grazing lease in the Teanaway. Burnham prepared maps, photos, and equipment for other grazing sites and met with WDFW staff members and grazing permittees in the Simcoe Mountains Unit.

Prescribed Fire Program Manager Eberlein continued working with the Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Forest Service regarding fire activities, following Legislature intent for better coordination and combined efforts.

Prescribed Fire Program Manager Eberlein participated in the Yakima Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The near complete draft of the plan includes prescribed fire actions for the next eight years.

Prescribed Fire Program Manager Eberlein negotiated to add the Prescribed Burn Program team to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) coordinated emergency dispatch centers in northeast and central Washington. DNR has agreed to provide 24-hour safety support and communications for burning projects. The service will be provided for free for a period of at least one year to evaluate how much WDFW will use the dispatch support. There will be a future agreement after the evaluation.

Colockum Phase 1 thinning is underway. Work is expected to continue until mid-October.

Image
Colockum Phase 1.
Photo by WDFW
Colockum Phase 1.

Scatter Creek thinning to restore oak savannah is complete. While work with Washington DNR to showcase this project via video did not happen, we are seeking other ways to get the word out on this amazing work that supports pollinators, rare prairie ecosystem in the Puget Sound trough, and demonstrates a close partnership with WDFW Cultural Resources team and the Chehalis Tribe.

Image
Scatter Creek before treatment (May 2022)
Photo by WDFW
Scatter Creek before treatment (May 2022).
Image
Scatter Creek after treatment (May 2022)
Photo by WDFW
Scatter Creek after treatment (May 2022).

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Lands Division is hiring for multiple positions. The prescribe burn team hired two planning positions and one operations position. A range biologist position did not hire in first round but reopened for a second round. There is a forester hire underway. Some weed control crews are hiring and some have hired.

Biweekly report May1-15 2023 - Lands Division

Year
2023
Dates
Division/Region
Report sections

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. 

Biweekly report Apr16-30 2023 - Lands Division

Year
2023
Dates
Division/Region
Report sections

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Optimizing Fishing on WDFW Managed Lands: An internal steering committee comprised of Wildlife Program, Fish Program, and Enforcement leadership met on April 17 to continue work on a framework to support water access area planning. The framework will be piloted in Region 4. Planning will be supported by a demand survey being developed in collaboration with Washington State University (WSU).

States Organization for Boating Access Symposium: The 2023 States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) Education & Training Symposium will be co-hosted by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, Washington Recreation and Conservation Office, and Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Aug. 28 to Aug. 31, 2023, in Tacoma. The SOBA Symposium brings together state boating officials, consultants, engineering firms, manufacturers, suppliers, publishers, and other businesspersons interested in boating access. Environmental Planner Belson and Communications Consultant Couch are representing WDFW on the Washington organizing committee.

Wildlife Area Route Inventory: We have been working with our Geographic Information System (GIS) team to get data from wildlife areas on roads and trails that exist on the land. There are a few wildlife areas where this route inventory has been prioritized either because of intensive use or as part of a current planning process. The initial focus is the Quincy Lakes Unit in the Columbia Basin. We are in the process of developing an application that our contractor, the local trails collaborative, can use to collect trails inventory and conditions data that will link directly to our GIS platform. This model will be next applied in the Methow later this field season.

Program Development: An outline has been developed and writing has begun on a Travel Management Program manual that will encapsulate the different components of travel management for the agency. It will serve as a guide for wildlife area managers and land operating managers in managing roads, trails, dispersed recreation, trailheads, and camping areas.

Rulemaking: Draft rules have been developed related to closing user created routes, keeping motorized use on roads designated for that use, and then considering all routes closed to motorized, electric, and mechanized use unless they are designated as open to that class and during an appropriate season. These rules have been presented to the Travel Management Workgroup and will be further refined by the Rulemaking Committee.

Accessibility: An interdisciplinary subcommittee on accessibility on roads and trails has been formed with staff from across the agency. Providing needed accessible and adaptive recreational opportunities for the disabled and aging populations is a priority for this group. Their work will be incorporated into the Travel Management Program manual.

Recreation Impacts Management: The legislature partially funded a decision package to support work in the Lands Division to expand capacity for ecological integrity monitoring across WDFW managed lands. Funding will support collaborative work with Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Washington State Parks, and tribes, which will include efforts to develop a framework for monitoring recreation impacts on habitat and wildlife.

Coordination with Tribes: At the past two Centennial Accord meetings, multiple Washington tribes asked the governor to organize a task force with tribes and state land managers to address the impacts of recreation on treaty rights and resources. Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs hosted a kickoff meeting for tribes, the Governor’s Office, WDFW, DNR, and Washington State Parks on April 27.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Wildlife Area Management Planning: A draft of the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area plan is out for external review to tribes, the L.T. Murray Wildlife Advisory Committee, and WDFW Diversity Advisory Committee. A public open house on the plan is tentatively scheduled for June 14, at the Kittitas County Fairgrounds.

A draft of the Skagit Wildlife Area plan is being reviewed by the internal planning team and the goals and objectives were presented to the Skagit Wildlife Area Advisory Committee on April 12. Planning is also underway for the Methow Wildlife Areas with planning team and Wildlife Area Advisory Council (WAAC) meetings scheduled for the second week of May.

Planning for the Cowlitz Wildlife Area commences in May with an initial WAAC meeting scheduled for May 9 followed by an internal scoping meeting with the planning team on May 16.

A Section 6 Management plan has been drafted for Violet Prairie and is undergoing internal review.

History of Invasive Cattail at Fir Island Farm: Weed Team Member Zimmerman developed a history of invasive cattail invasion and management at Fir Island farm, which will help to shape and improve detection and control of invasive cattails in existing and future wildlife areas.

Prescribed burn in Sinlahekin: Prescribed Burn Team Member Eberlein participated in a burn on a 51-acre prescribed burn in the Sinlahekin area. Led by DNR, the burn was a cooperative effort across multiple ownerships aimed at reducing impacts of potential future wildfires and improving habitat. Partnering across ownerships allows fire professionals to set fire lines for better burn control and more natural fire patterns.

Providing Education and Outreach

Ambassador Program: The Washington Trails Association (WTA) has been hired as the contractor to manage the volunteer ambassador program starting on July 1, 2023. Volunteer recruitment is underway. Ambassadors will be stationed at the following sites:

  • Lewis Butte and Pipestone in the Methow
  • Thorp
  • Teanaway Junction
  • Two sites in L. T. Murray in Region 3

Sign Standards and Guidelines: A process lasting over two years has concluded and the final version of the WDFW Sign Standards and Guidelines is now complete! The first round of 20 kiosks will be fabricated by the end of the biennium and installed in Region 4 in fall of 2023. Regulatory signs will be in Spanish and English on the new kiosks. Additionally, they will have a QR code that will link to translation in 11 languages. The sleek new kiosks will aid in making WDFW managed lands more welcoming and accessible.

Annual Fire Training: Prescribed Burn Team Eberlein hosted four annual fire training sessions, which are required for WDFW and Washington State Parks staff members to maintain and refresh national wildfire certifications and standards. In all, 51 WDFW and 34 State Parks personnel participated, including the three-mile walk with a 45-pound weighted vest in 45 minutes, equating to 147 miles and 2,205 pounds of weight.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Teanaway Community Forest: Burnham attended the quarterly Teanaway Community Forest Advisory Committee meeting. Staff members provided an update on the newly awarded grazing lease along the North Fork.

Annual Meeting, The Wildlife Society, Washington Chapter: Burnham presented a talk about grazing, fire, and fuels during an invited session on shrubsteppe. Other talks in the session addressed shrubsteppe wildlife, connectivity, planning tools, wind energy considerations, and the wide range of activities being conducted by the Foster Creek Conservation District.

Continued Prescribed Burning Strategic Planning: Prescribed Burn Team Eberlein continued coordination and participation in cross-agency planning and coordination to build consistency and support across State agency lands.

Other

Drone Training: Weed team members Heimer and Zimmerman continued their training in operating drones. This is in preparation for a new method for invasive weed management which will include mapping and spot-treating invasive species using drones.

Biweekly report Apr1-15 2023 - Lands Division

Year
2023
Dates
Division/Region
Report sections

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Coordination With Tribes: Lands Division staff members worked with representatives of Tulalip and Swinomish Tribes to develop an America the Beautiful Challenge pre-proposal for submittal to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Funding would support collaborative work with tribes across the state to address the impacts of recreation on wildlife, habitat, and treaty resources.

Ambassador Program: A contract has been awarded to the Washington Trails Association to work with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff to develop an ambassador program to pilot at six sites.

Travel Management: An internal working group is hard at work developing a Travel Management Program that will establish policies and procedures for managing roads and trails on WDFW managed lands. Early efforts will focus on rulemaking to discourage the creation of user-built trails.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Skagit Wildlife Area Plan: A draft of the Skagit Wildlife Area Plan has been completed and shared with the Skagit Wildlife Area Advisory Committee (WAAC). The WAAC met April 12 to receive a briefing on the plan. The WAAC will have until April 21 to submit comments on the draft.