HI ALL:
Some good birding news:

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

June 4, 2012
Contact: Commission Office, (360) 902-2267

Fish and Wildlife Commission approves land transactions

OLYMPIA - The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission approved several
land transactions, including the purchase of nearly 52 acres of property
along Dungeness Bay in Clallam County during a meeting here June 1-2.

Purchasing the land, located about five miles north of Sequim, will allow
the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to protect and
restore key coastal wetlands important for fish, shellfish and wildlife.

The property will become part of the North Olympic Wildlife Area, managed
by WDFW to provide habitat for a variety of fish and wildlife species as
well as public access for outdoor recreation, such as fishing, hunting and
wildlife viewing. The $1 million purchase price will be funded with grants
from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In other action, the commission approved a transfer of about 1,200 acres
of wetlands located on the north and south sides of Willapa Bay to WDFW.

Forterra, a non-profit organization formerly known as the Cascade Land
Conservancy, is transferring the properties to the department to help
protect marsh and forested wetlands important for numerous fish and
wildlife species, and to ensure public access for fishing, hunting and
wildlife viewing. The properties will be managed as part of WDFW's Johns
River Wildlife Area.

Two conservation easements in Okanogan County were also approved by the
commission, a nine-member citizen panel appointed by the governor to set
policy for WDFW. Under those agreements, WDFW secures the development
rights to the properties while the current landowners maintain ownership,
along with property tax obligations and weed control responsibilities.

All land transactions were appraised by independent, state-certified
appraisers.

In other business, the commission received briefings on Columbia River
fisheries, regional fisheries enhancement groups, the operation and
maintenance of WDFW-owned lands, the department's Energy and Major
Projects Program, the Karelian bear dog program, the Puget Sound shrimp
fishery, implementation of the Wolf Conservation and Management Plan, and
a commercial license buy-back program for the sea cucumber and sea urchin
fishery.

For more information about the commission, visit WDFW's website at
http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/ .

sincerely
--

Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
Visit my BIRDBOOKER REPORT blog here:
http://birdbookerreport.blogspot.com/