Request for Proposals: Outreach Study for Aquatic Lands
We are seeking proposals from firms interested in participating in conducting a study with people who recreate, lease, or live near state-owned aquatic lands. The information gathered will be used to develop specific outreach strategies prior to completion of an Aquatic Lands Habitat Conservation Plan for the 2.6 million acres of aquatic lands in our care.
When completed, the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) will demonstrate how DNR will minimize and mitigate negative impacts to species resulting from otherwise lawful activities that we authorize or carry out on state-owned aquatic lands. The HCP ensures that we, as steward and land manager, are meeting the requirements of the federal Endangered Species Act. Many of the current uses of state aquatic lands are proposed for inclusion under the HCP, and we would like to enhance outreach to engage the public in productive ways and receive feedback to inform the work on the HCP.
In order to develop an Aquatic Lands HCP that thoughtfully addresses issues of public concern, it is critical that we involve people in decisions about the management of activities that occur on these state lands. However, our experience is that many people that use, lease, or live adjacent to state-owned aquatic lands have little knowledge of who owns the lands, or how and why they are managed. This limits our ability to engage these people in a meaningful dialogue regarding the ongoing management of these lands.
DNR will have the opportunity to share results, where appropriate, with partner public agencies with whom we are working on protecting and enhancing the health of aquatic habitat, particularly on the challenges faced in the health of Puget Sound.
Request for Proposals: Outreach Study for Aquatic Lands (299KB DOC)