4. LAND TRANSACTIONS
August 11, 2023
T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
Item 1: Proposed Transfer of 167(+-) Acres in Klickitat County
Klickitat Hatchery, Region 3
Project Summary/Decision Sheet ………...………………………………………………............ 1
Location Map ………...………………………………………………………………………........................ 1A
Parcel Map …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1B
Item 2: Proposed Easement Exchange in Clallam County
Dungeness Hatchery, Region 6
Project Summary/Decision Sheet ………...………………………………………………………... 2
Location Map ………...………………………………………………………………………........................ 2A
Parcel Map …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2B
Item 3: Proposed Acquisition of 40.25(+-) Acres in Grays Harbor County
Chehalis Unit, Chehalis Wildlife Area, Region 6
Project Summary/Decision Sheet ………...…………………………………………………............ 3
Location Map ………...………………………………………………………………………........................ 3A
Parcel Map …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3B
Fish and Wildlife Commission Presentation Summary/Decision Sheet
Meeting date:
8/11/2023
Agenda item:
4. Land Transactions
Presenter(s):
Karen Edwards, Real Estate Services Manager
Item 1: Proposed Transfer of 167(+-) Acres in Klickitat County
Klickitat Hatchery, Region 3
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff request Commission approval to determine
that transfer or conveyance of 167(+-) acres in Klickitat County, being the Klickitat Hatchery property
and hatchery facilities, to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation (Yakama Nation) is
consistent with public interest under RCW 77.12.220, and/or that legal title to the property is surplus to
WDFW under RCW 39.33.010, and authorize the Director to transfer or convey the property and
hatchery facilities to the Yakama Nation under RCW 77.12.220 and/or RCW 39.33.010.
Background summary:
This proposed transfer was taken to Commission for briefing on March 17
th
(Item #7 summary
sheet/presentation) and again on June 23
rd
for briefing and public comment (Item #11 summary
sheet/presentation). Links to those summary sheets and presentations are provided herein.
Yakama Nation has served as the lead party responsible for managing the Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries
Project under a 1994 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that describes co-management and shared
goals of WDFW and the Yakama Nation related to the Yakima and Klickitat River basins.
In the early 2000’s, the Yakama Nation requested WDFW transfer the hatchery facility and parcel to the
Yakama Nation, resulting in a June 2003 transfer MOU. Owing to other Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Project
successes, WDFW was receptive to this idea, as management of the remote facility posed practical and
budgetary challenges related to the need for significant upgrades and the Yakama Nation could bring
additional federal funding to the facility. The transfer was not completed at that time due to Klickitat
County’s opposition to the transfer.
In 2005, WDFW began leasing the facility to the Yakama Nation and entered into a Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) relating to operation of the facility. Since that time, approximately $3.2 million in
important upgrades to the facility have been completed by the Yakama Nation and Yakama Nation
recently secured approximately $25 million for infrastructure improvements. Yakama Nation manages
the hatchery consistent with the Klickitat Master Plan EIS, 1994 Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Project MOU,
and U.S. v. Oregon Management Agreement.
WDFW held a public comment period on a SEPA determination of non-significance for this proposal
from 5/12/23 to 5/26/23 with no comments received. A 5/18/23 letter from the Klickitat County Board
of County Commissioners expressed support for the transfer to Yakama Nation.
The transfer of the hatchery property and facility to the Yakama Nation will allow the Yakama Nation to
more fully leverage its resources against federal funds to achieve the goals of the Yakima/Klickitat
Fisheries Project and to produce fish for treaty and non-treaty harvest and conservation purposes. The
Yakama Nation is authorized to receive federal Mitchell Act and Fish Accords funding and has already
sought and received millions of dollars in supplemental federal funding to improve the Klickitat
Hatchery. The Yakama Nation is authorized and capable of continuing to maintain the hatchery and
further the objectives of the Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Project while meeting U.S. v. Oregon production
targets. Additionally, the transfer will result in fewer WDFW administrative and oversight costs
associated with continued ownership of a facility that WDFW does not actively manage and operate.
Public access to Klickitat River is a secondary public use of the property. Since 2003, Yakama Nation has
taken active measures to increase public access to the Klickitat River, including developing a safer raft
put-in below the weir, replacing an aging foot bridge that provides better public access to the river,
enlarging the visitor parking area, and enhancing the rafting launch area. Yakama Nation will continue to
provide this access after transfer and will continue to steward the upland and riparian habitat values
present on the hatchery property. Additionally, WDFW will reserve commercial timber rights on the
property.
Because Yakama Nation will continue to operate the hatchery to produce fish for treaty and non-treaty
fisheries and to provide public access to Klickitat River, the public will continue to enjoy the same
benefits with reduced costs to the state. Therefore, transfer is consistent with public interest and bare
legal title to the property is surplus to WDFW.
If approved by Commission, WDFW staff will obtain Director and Attorney General certification to the
Governor that the agreement has been made, as required in RCW 77.12.220. Upon certification to the
Governor, this proposed transfer or conveyance of the property and hatchery facilities to the Yakama
Nation will be via a Governor’s Quitclaim Deed.
______________________________________________________________________________
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommend Commission approval of the following:
• Determine the property surplus to WDFW under RCW 39.33.010;
• Declare transfer and conveyance of the property and hatchery facilities to the Yakama Nation as
consistent with public interest under RCW 77.12.220; and
• Authorize WDFW’s Director to transfer and convey the property and hatchery facilities to the
Yakama Nation under RCW 77.12.220 and/or RCW 39.33.010.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Policy issue(s) and expected outcome:
WDFW and Yakama Nation co-manage resources in the Klickitat River through the existing
Yakima-Klickitat Fisheries Project agreement. This transfer will facilitate more efficient
management of the facility by tribal co-managers, including the tribe’s ability to better leverage
federal funding for improvements to the facility and fishery management in the Klickitat River
Basin. Hatchery production will continue to meet U.S. v. Oregon Management Agreement
targets.
Fiscal impacts of agency implementation:
WDFW will no longer have an ownership interest in the property or hatchery facility, reducing
associated asset management tasks and contracting tasks.
Action requested and/or proposed next steps:
Approval of this land transaction.
Draft motion language:
Motion: I move to approve the land transactions as presented by staff.
Is there a “second”?
If so, then motion maker discusses basis for motion; other Commissioners discuss views on motion;
amendments, if any, proposed and addressed.
Post decision communications plan:
WDFW will distribute a press release informing the public of this action.
Department of Fish and Wildlife
This product is for informational purposes and may not have been prepared for or be suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes.
It does not represent an on-the-ground survey and represents only the approximate relative location of property boundaries.
0 0.8 1.5 2.3 30.4
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Yakama Indian
Reservation
Yakama
Nation Land
Soda
Springs
Unit
Proposed Transfer
DFW Managed Land
DFW Ownership Parcel
Wildlife Area Units
Tribal Lands
BLM
DNR
Other Federal Land
Klickitat County
Legal Description: Township 6N, Range 13E, Section 4
Acres : 167 (+-)
Klickitat Hatchery Transfer
Department of Fish and Wildlife
This product is for informational purposes and may not have been prepared for or be suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes.
It does not represent an on-the-ground survey and represents only the approximate relative location of property boundaries.
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T07R13E
T06R13E
County: Klickitat County
Legal Description: Township 6N, Range 13E, Section 4
Acres : 167 (+-)
Klickitat Hatchery Transfer
Fish and Wildlife Commission Presentation Summary/Decision Sheet
Meeting date:
8/11/2023
Agenda item:
4. Land Transactions
Presenter(s):
Karen Edwards, Real Estate Services Manager
Item 2: Proposed
Easement Exchange in Clallam County
Dungeness Hatchery, Region 6
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff request Commission approval of an
easement exchange at the Dungeness Hatchery pursuant to
RCW 77.12.037 Acquisition, use, and
management of property—Condemnation—When authorized and Department property—Management,
sale.
Background summary:
The Dungeness Hatchery was originally built on Canyon Creek in 1902 and was relocated to its
present 90(+-)-acre site when WDFW acquired the property in 1945, located in eastern Clallam
County about 5 miles south of Sequim. The hatchery rears ESA listed Spring Chinook salmon,
Coho salmon, Winter steelhead, and odd-year Pink salmon eggs. Hatchery production supports
sustainable recreational fisheries, fulfills Treaty Tribal fishing right entitlements for coho and
early-winter steelhead, and plays a major role in restoration and integrated recovery of
Dungeness Spring Chinook and odd-year Pink salmon.
In 1963 an easement was granted to WDFW by an adjacent private landowner for the
construction, operation, and maintenance of a water intake, necessary for the hatchery facility.
In 2009 a design and construction revamp of the water intake system was completed, resulting
in the new intake being constructed slightly outside of the 1963 easement legal description.
WDFW and the owner of the land subject to this easement are working together to revise the
easement legal description to the location of the current water intake infrastructure.
In exchange, WDFW desires to grant a perpetual easement to the same adjacent private
landowner for underground utilities as well as formalize a driveway access easement that has
served as continuous access to the private property for decades.
This project would correct the easement granted to WDFW from the adjacent private
landowner to allow operation and maintenance to continue without interruption or
unnecessary relocation of the water intake in exchange for an easement to the private
landowner over the hatchery property for a driveway and underground utilities. The value of
these easements would be off setting, benefiting both parties and being good neighbors.
______________________________________________________________________________
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommend Commission approval of this easement exchange pursuant to RCW 77.12.037 and RCW
77.12.210.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Policy issue(s) and expected outcome:
This project would allow continued uninterrupted operation and maintenance of the water
intake without the unnecessary need to relocate.
Fiscal impacts of agency implementation:
This project would allow the water intake, at the current location, to be authorized under an
easement without unnecessary relocation.
Action requested and/or proposed next steps:
Approval of this land transaction.
Draft motion language:
Motion: I move to approve the land transactions as presented by staff.
Is there a “second”?
If so, then motion maker discusses basis for motion; other Commissioners discuss views on motion;
amendments, if any, proposed and addressed.
Post decision communications plan:
WDFW will distribute a press release informing the public of this action.
Department of Fish and Wildlife
This product is for informational purposes and may not have been prepared for or be suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes.
It does not represent an on-the-ground survey and represents only the approximate relative location of property boundaries.
0 0.7 1.3 2 2.60.3
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±
Jamestown
S'Klallam
Tribal Land
Dungeness
Unit
Bell Creek
Unit
Wildlife Area Units
Tribal Lands
USFS
BLM
DNR
Clallam County
Legal Description: Township 29 N,
Range 4 W, WM, Section 12
Dungeness Easement Exchange
Planned Easement Exchange Area
Department of Fish and Wildlife
This product is for informational purposes and may not have been prepared for or be suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes.
It does not represent an on-the-ground survey and represents only the approximate relative location of property boundaries.
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Easement to WDFW
DFW Easement Parcel
DFW Ownership Parcel
Utility Easement
Access Easement
Location of Intake
Clallam County
Legal Description: Township 29 N,
Range 4 W, WM, Section 12
Dungeness Easement Exchange
Fish and Wildlife Commission Presentation Summary/Decision Sheet
Meeting date:
8/11/2023
Agenda item:
4. Land Transactions
Presenter(s):
Karen Edwards, Real Estate Services Manager
Background summary:
Item 3: Proposed Acquisition of 40(+-) Acres in Grays Harbor County
Chehalis Unit, Chehalis Wildlife Area, Region 6
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff request Commission approval of the proposed
acquisition of 40(+-) acres at the Chehalis Wildlife Area, Chehalis Unit, Grays Harbor County, Region 6,
pursuant to RCW 77.12.037 Acquisition, use, and management of property—Condemnation—When
authorized.
Background summary:
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) proposes to acquire an additional
40(+-) acres in the Chehalis Unit (Unit) of the Chehalis Wildlife Area (WLA). The Unit was formed
in partnership with Ducks Unlimited and acquired with a combination of Duck Stamp funding
and land donations. It is currently 811(+-) acres located in the Pacific Northwest Coast in the
Lower Chehalis River watershed about 2.5 miles southwest of the City of Elma in eastern Grays
Harbor County. It is bordered by Newman Creek to the west and the Chehalis River to the
south, with agricultural land surrounding much of the rest of the Unit. It includes an ADA
parking lot, restroom facilities, boat launch, and an ADA access trail and blind.
The Unit consists of open wetlands, riparian shrub, and meadows/fields for waterfowl habitat.
The habitats in this Unit are interspersed and thus allow for an abundance of species, such as
osprey, wood duck, trumpeter swans, shorebirds, waterfowl, and the Olympic mudminnow.
The neighboring agricultural fields provide forage and escape and resting habitat for trumpeter
swans, blue herons, and bald eagles.
This Unit is popular for waterfowl hunting yet includes a variety of other game species for
hunting, such as deer and snipe This Unit includes hiking trails and ADA trail access to a viewing
blind that offers opportunities for waterfowl hunting and nature watching and photography.
This 40(+-)-acre property was approved through Lands 20/20 in 2020 and will be acquired for
the appraised value of $150,000 using funding from the WDFW’s Migratory Bird Stamp & Art
Print Program (Duck Stamp), which is revenue from the sale of migratory bird permits, stamps,
and artwork.
Once acquired, the property will become part of the Olympic-Willapa Hills Wildlife Area
Management Plan which guides forest management, range management, wildlife and habitat
management, recreation management, hydrology, cultural resources, infrastructure and
maintenance, as well as public access, to name a few.
Ongoing operation and maintenance costs for this proposed 40(+-)-acre acquisition property is
$64 per acre, being a total of $2,576 annually. This amount will be included in WDFW’s 9v
decision package for ongoing operation and maintenance for newly acquired land.
A dilapidated shell of a former residence and two small outbuildings, along with a septic system
and well, are on the property. Funding will be needed for demolition, removal, and cleanup of
the dilapidated structures, and decommissioning of the septic, well, etc. This is expected to be
in the form of a future capital budget request for like needs on several properties within the
Chehalis Valley, which would include this site.
Agricultural use for hay production is an existing use within the Unit. Short-term plans for this
property, once acquired, is to incorporate it into an existing agriculture lease.
The proposed acquisition property is within the Washington Department of Natural Resources
Forest Fire Protection Assessment boundary and will be calculated per RCW 76.04.610 at
$17.50 for the first 50 acres and .27¢ on each acre exceeding 50 acres, for a total expected
annual fee of $17.50. This proposed acquisition property is also within the East Grays Harbor
Fire and Rescue coverage area (Grays Harbor County Fire Protection District 05).
Per RCW 77.12.201, Grays Harbor County does opt into PILT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) as
provided for in RCW 77.12.203, and this additional payment will occur through the Washington
State Treasurer’s Office.
______________________________________________________________________________
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommend Commission approval to acquire the 40(+-)-acre property in the Chehalis Unit of the
Chehalis Wildlife Area pursuant to RCW 77.12.037.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Policy issue(s) and expected outcome:
Protecting habitat and providing public recreational opportunities.
Fiscal impacts of agency implementation:
Operation and maintenance, demolition, removal and cleanup of dilapidated structures,
decommissioning of septic, well, etc. costs.
Action requested and/or proposed next steps:
Approval of this land transaction.
Draft motion language:
Motion: I move to approve the land transactions as presented by staff.
Is there a “second”?
If so, then motion maker discusses basis for motion; other Commissioners discuss views on motion;
amendments, if any, proposed and addressed.
Post decision communications plan:
WDFW will distribute a press release informing the public of this action.
Department of Fish and Wildlife
This product is for informational purposes and may not have been prepared for or be suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes.
It does not represent an on-the-ground survey and represents only the approximate relative location of property boundaries.
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Elma
Elma
Elma
16
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36
25
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T18R07W
T17R06W
T17R07W
T18R06W
Chehalis Unit
Satsop Unit
Proposed Acquisition
Wildlife Area Units
City Limits
Grays Harbor County
Legal Description: Portion of Section 8,
Township 17N, Range 6W W., WM
Acres: 40 (+/-)
Chehalis WLA Expansion
Department of Fish and Wildlife
This product is for informational purposes and may not have been prepared for or be suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes.
It does not represent an on-the-ground survey and represents only the approximate relative location of property boundaries.
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Chehalis
Wildlife
Area
Proposed Acquisition
Wildlife Area Units
DFW Ownership Parcel
Grays Harbor County
Legal Description: Portion of Section 8,
Township 17N, Range 6W., WM
Acres: 40 (+/-)
Chehalis WLA Expansion
