No. 08-046
April 8, 2008
Contact: Bob Redling, 360-902-1149
State DNR to Hold Three Public Hearings on Proposed Land Exchange with State Dept. of Fish & Wildlife
Evening meetings in Omak, Ellensburg and Tumwater
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold public hearings to gather comments about a proposed exchange of land with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The transaction, known as the WDFW Exchange, would consolidate state trust land ownership, increase habitat and recreation opportunities, and provide long-term revenue that helps build public schools, universities, and other public institutions.
Public hearings
April 21, 2008: Omak School District Administration Office
619 W Bartlett Avenue, Omak, WA 98841
April 22, 2008: Hal Holmes Community Center
201 North Ruby Street, Ellensburg, WA 98926
April 23, 2008: Washington State Light Industrial Park
Conference Room A & B (DNR Compound)
801 88th Avenue SE, Tumwater, WA 98512
Meeting format
6:00−6:45 p.m. Presentation of information about the exchange
6:45−7:00 p.m. Break
7:00–8:00 p.m. Public hearing
The meeting facilities are barrier-free. People with a disability who need assistance or information in a different format should call 360-902-1758 at least 10 days before the meeting. The State Telecommunications Relay Service phone number is 1-800-833-6388.
Exchange would aid stewardship of lands
Up to 117,000 acres of state trust lands managed by DNR would be exchanged for up to 55,000 acres of WDFW-managed land. Much of the DNR-managed land in the exchange is shrub-steppe, while large portions of the WDFW lands are forestland above 3,000 feet in elevation. The exchange would consolidate ownerships and help both agencies more effectively manage plant and wildlife habitats while providing for healthy and sustainable forestland and shrub-steppe lands.
“Here is an opportunity to realign the management of thousands of acres of critical habitat and working forestland so DNR and the Department of Fish and Wildlife can focus on their roles in protecting and nurturing some of Washington’s most treasured landscapes,” said Doug Sutherland, Public Lands Commissioner.
WDFW Director Jeff Koenings agreed the exchange will help each agency address its land management goals. “Larger, adjoining areas of wildlife habitat offer more benefit to animals than small, checkerboard ownerships,” Koenings said.
The exchange, which mostly involves WDFW's Oak Creek, Wenas, L.T. Murray, and Colockum wildlife areas in south central Washington, will not change the amount of land available to the public for wildlife recreation. WDFW land management staff will be on hand at the hearings, along with DNR staff, to answer questions.
Details of the exchange, including maps of the parcels, are on the DNR website at www.dnr.wa.gov in the “Leasing & Land Transactions” area. The web page also can be accessed at: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/BusinessPermits/Topics/LandExchanges/Pages/amp_exc_wdfw_land_exchange.aspx
Written testimony welcome until April 30
The hearings are intended to provide information and receive testimony about the proposed WDFW Land Exchange. If DNR determines that the proposal has significant benefits, a summary of the public testimony will be presented to the Board of Natural Resources for a decision at a regularly scheduled meeting.
Those who want to comment in writing about the WDFW Exchange should send written comments to DNR no later than April 30, 2008. Address written comments to: State of Washington, Department of Natural Resources, Asset Management and Protection Division, ATTN: Bob Winslow, WDFW Exchange, No. 86-079794, PO Box 47014, Olympia, WA 98504-7014. Comments also can be e-mailed to: exchanges@dnr.wa.gov. For more information, call 360-902-1600.
The public also will be able to comment on the proposed exchange at the time it is presented to the Board of Natural Resources for consideration. In addition, the public will be able to review the potential environmental impacts of the exchange this summer when the proposal is reviewed under the State Environmental Protection Act.
About the Washington State Department of Natural Resources
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages about 5.6 million acres of state-owned trust forest, agricultural, aquatic (submerged) and range lands, and commercial properties. DNR manages these properties to earn income to build schools, universities and other state institutions, and help fund local services in many counties. In addition to earning income, trust lands are habitat for native plant and animal species, protect clean and abundant water, and offer public recreation and education opportunities statewide.
Doug Sutherland, who administers DNR, is Washington’s 12th Commissioner of Public Lands since statehood in 1889.
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