Tweeters,

There will be a meeting on the proposed sale of land in eastern Washington from
DNR to WDFW to create a new wildlife management area to protect habitat for the
endangered pygmy rabbit and other sensitive species such as the Loggerhead
Shrike.

This land transfer has been approved and the meeting is to present information
on the Sagebrush Flats property and the proposed interagency transfer.

The meeting will be held March 19 at 5:30 p.m. in Room 172 (access through
rotunda on south side of building) of the Natural Resources Building, 1111
Washington Street SE, Olympia, WA

The property proposed for sale is about 3,600 acres of state trust land located
10 miles northwest of Ephrata in Douglas County. WDFW will manage the Sagebrush
Flat property as a state wildlife management area. This new state WMA is 10
miles east of my study site in Douglas County.

I have been involved in this issue for quite a while. I have known about the
transfer for some time and know some of the cattlemen and others involved.
I have much more info. Contact me with any questions.

Other contacts are WDFW: Ed Isenson at 360-902-2408 and DNR: Jane Grobins at
360-902-1721.

Later,

Dan Stephens (509) 662-7443
Dept. of Biology fax: (509) 664-2538
Wenatchee Valley College e-mail: dstephen at ctc.edu
1300 Fifth Street
Wenatchee, WA 98801