Hi:

Thought this might be of interest to the birding community.

Jim Brewster
Tacoma
BrewsHome at thewiredcity.net

----- Original Message -----
From: WDFW Public Affairs
To: Jim
Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2006 8:54 AM
Subject: WDFW News Release: Reardan's Audubon Lake to be dedicated Oct. 14


WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

September 21, 2006

Contact: Howard Ferguson, 509-892-1001, ext. 328

Reardan's Audubon Lake to be dedicated Oct. 14

Reardan's Audubon Lake, long a favored spot of birders, will be dedicated as
a public wildlife-viewing site Saturday, Oct. 14.

The 1 p.m. ceremony will be conducted at the access point on the south side
of the property, off Railroad Avenue, east of Highway 231 and north of
Highway 2. Directional signs will be posted for the dedication.

Following the ceremony, refreshments and displays about planned site
amenities will be offered at the Reardan Schools' Smith Gymnasium on the
corner of Spokane and Aspen streets. Free guided tours to the north side of
Reardan's Audubon Lake, including a quarter-mile walk to an overlook, will
depart from the school after the ceremony.

The dedication ceremony celebrates cooperative efforts to secure the
277-acre Lincoln County site for public wildlife watching. Partners in the
effort included the Inland Northwest Land Trust, Spokane Audubon Society,
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Reardan Area Public
Development Authority and Susan Eastman, the former landowner.

The site was acquired by WDFW earlier this year. Funds to hold the
acquisition rights were provided by the Land Trust and Audubon Society, and
acquisition funding was provided by the Washington Wildlife and Recreation
Program of the state Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation. Long-term
management of the property will be shared by WDFW and the Reardan Area
Public Development Authority.

"Preserving this unique property as a wildlife-viewing site protects
critical wildlife habitat while generating economic benefits for the
community from nature tourism," said Howard Ferguson, district wildlife
biologist for WDFW in Spokane.

The property, 30 miles west of Spokane and north of the town of Reardan,
includes wetlands, vernal ponds, grasslands and channeled scablands. The
site supports more than 250 species of birds and other wildlife, including
13 species and four habitat types of special concern. Long popular with
bird-watchers, the site is expected to be a key component of the planned
Northeast Washington Birding Trail.

Planned site improvements include fencing, parking, toilets, walking trails,
wildlife-viewing blinds, interpretive signs, and native grassland
restoration. Until the public amenities are completed, the Spokane Audubon
Society will manage access to the site. Advance permission for wildlife
viewing, environmental education or research activities may be obtained by
contacting the society at 509-838-5828.



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