Providing Recreation Opportunities

Kitsap Lake, Kitsap County: The water access team removed a hazard tree at Kitsap Lake. This tree was broken roughly 30 feet up and was leaning over the back of the restroom towards the parking area. The access team was able to attach a cable to a truck and shake the lower portion of the tree subsequently forcing the upper part to fall in a controlled manner.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Morely Access, Grays Harbor: Access staff members dealt with a slew of littering issues including dumping of tires, construction debris, and abandoned vehicles. Shown below is a full trailer of 46 car and semi-truck tires dumped at the Morely Access Area on the Humptulips River. The cost for recycling commercial size tires is significantly more than passenger vehicle tires. This one trailer load cost over $350 to recycle.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Boston Harbor, Thurston County: Access staff members removed a dead madrone tree at the Boston Harbor ramp project. The project is nearing completion and includes a new boat ramp, restrooms, and parking area. Access staff members limbed and chipped most of the debris into the nearby planting strip. They left a ten-foot section that will remain as a post for the bat boxes that will be installed later this year.

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

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Photo by WDFW

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

McNeil Island Site Visit: Biologist Laushman, Wildlife Program staff members, and Lands Division staff members visited restoration areas on McNeil Island to look at previous work done and to discuss upcoming projects.

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Photo by WDFW

Providing Recreation Opportunities

Trail Inventory and Assessment: Planning and Recreation staff members are close to putting a statewide route inventory and conditions assessment contract up for bid to take place in 2024. Staff members are also gathering information from land managers to solidify a contract for cultural resource review of Quincy Lakes.

The contract with TREAD for trail conditions assessment in Quincy Lakes is coming to a close. TREAD sent over the final report and data from the project. One more meeting with our Science Division GIS team and TREAD should wrap up the project.

Methow Wildlife Area Planning: Lands staff members have been working with the Wildlife Program GIS team in the development of a habitat mapping tool that will be used for the recreation planning process. The team plans to introduce the tool to the Methow Wildlife Area Planning Team at the December meeting. This tool will be used to help identify sensitive areas for the recreation planning process.

Conserving Natural Landscapes

Skagit Wildlife Area Planning: The Skagit Wildlife Area planning team completed a goal and objective prioritization exercise. The planning team was split into five subgroups to rank a list of objectives under their respective goals. The goals and objectives were provided from the draft Wildlife Area Management Plan and were expected to go through State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) study in early 2024. The subgroups consisted of species and habitats, waterfowl, salmon recovery, recreation, and operations & maintenance. The process was considered successful despite a few glitches with the system. Overall, it was well received by the planning team members.

Providing Education and Outreach

Ambassador Program: Staff members had the final debrief with Washington Trails Association on the Ambassador Program. Planning and Recreation staff members discussed strategy with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Communications and Public Engagement (CAPE) team on how CAPE can support the Ambassador Program in 2024 by highlighting the program in news releases.

The Region 4 listening sessions contract is currently up for bid and will close on Dec. 11. Planning and Recreation and CAPE staff members will review the proposals to decide on the winning bid.

Conducting Business Operations and Policy

Regional Water Access Management Planning: A working planning framework has been finalized and will remain in draft form as it is applied to the Region 4 planning pilot called for in the 10-year recreation strategy. Initial meetings have been held with the Region 4 core team and CAPE to begin initial preparations including messaging strategy, planning team development, and other organizational elements.