State considering Lynch Cove land

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public comment on the proposed purchase of up to 64 acres on Lynch Cove south of Theler Wetlands to promote fish and wildlife conservation and public access.

The department's Lynch Cove project could include four separate worksites in the Union River Unit of the South Puget Sound Wildlife Area. Five different landowners own the acreage near the intersection of state Routes 3 and 106.

Conserving the property would help estuarine habitat that contains summer chum, Puget Sound steelhead, and a large concentration of waterfowl, the department states. The recreational opportunities at the site include waterfowl hunting, bird watching, kayaking and wildlife viewing.

In total, the department is considering 15 proposed land acquisitions of about 12,500 acres in Mason, Asotin, Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Douglas, Garfield, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, Snohomish and Yakima counties.

The proposals are under review through the department's annual "Lands 20/20: A Vision for the Future," which was launched in 2005. The review process considers species and habitat management plans, regional conservation initiatives, community perspectives and outdoor recreation, the department states.

"Public input is at the core of how we make decisions about acquiring new public land in line with our goals for conservation and outdoor recreation," Cynthia Wilkerson, WDFW lands division manager, said in the news release. "We take our obligation to fully consider the perspectives related to potential new land management obligations seriously, and your input is a key element."

The department is accepting comments on the proposed land acquisitions through Nov. 21 at http://[email protected] and by mail at Wildlife Program, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, P.O. Box 43200, Olympia, WA 98504. More information about the proposed projects is available on WDFW's land acquisitions webpage at wdfw.wa.gov.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will receive a briefing on the proposed land acquisitions at its meeting Dec. 8-10 in Clarkston. Following public review and final approval by the department's director, the department will begin pursuing grant money, a process that can take several years.