The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife’s mission is to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities. Land acquisition is one of many ways the department has worked to meet this mandate, resulting in the creation of 33 wildlife areas and nearly 500 water access areas around the state.
WDFW now provides active management for more than one million acres of public land and nearly 500 water access areas to sustain wildlife habitat and public recreation for current and future generations.
WDFW's rigorous review process is designed to determine which properties will best meet the state's conservation goals and recreational priorities. For this reason, the process is employed even in situations when property owners seek to donate their land.
Key steps in acquiring wild lands for habitat and outdoor recreation include:
- Scoping: All proposed acquisitions are reviewed by department staff in various programs and regions according to guidelines established in WDFW's Lands 20/20 policy. This review includes consideration of species and habitat management plans, regional conservation initiatives, community perspectives on land use, and recreation needs.
- Public review: Proposals under consideration are outlined on this page and publicized for public review. After reviewing the public comments, the WDFW Director finalizes a list of projects that have approval to move to the funding stage.
- Funding: Since WDFW does not use operating budget funds for land acquisitions, the department relies on state and federal grants to purchase identified properties. After a project has received approval from the Director, WDFW will seek funding – a process that may take several years. Potential grant sources include the state of Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program and federal grants through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund.
- Approval and acquisition: As with any real estate transaction, acquisition of a given property can depend on a variety of factors. By law, WDFW can only purchase land from willing sellers at fair market appraised value. Before pursuing any land acquisition, the department confers with the landowner – often at that person's initiation – to determine their interest in selling. If funding becomes available, appraisals are completed, and an agreement is reached with a willing seller, WDFW submits the proposed acquisition for final approval by the state Fish and Wildlife Commission.