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Home My WebLink About060524 DNR Public Hearing re Dabob Bay NRCA Boundary Expansion �pgHlNaTO� DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 1111 Washington St. s w Olympia, WA 98503 360-789-3062 y0 Jayana.marshall@dnr.wa.gov 4), �'� WWW.DNR.WA.GOV 0p NATUp May 30, 2024 PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE: Proposed Boundary Expansion at Dabob Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area Jefferson County Court House Jefferson County Board of Commissioners Chair Kate Dean PO Box 1220 Port Townsend, WA 98368 To Chair Dean, The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a public hearing to provide information and receive testimony on a proposal to expand the Dabob Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA) boundary by about 3,860 acres. During the meeting, staff will review the boundary expansion proposal and present a brief overview of the natural area designation and management process. Dabob Bay NRCA Boundary Expansion Hearing When:June 17, 2024: 6:00 pm Presentation and Q&A, 6:45 Public Hearing. In-person location: Laurel B. Johnson Community Center, 923 Hazel Point Road, Quilcene, WA 98376. Why expand the boundary?The purpose of the expansion is to protect features within the current boundary by improving hydrologic influences on streams, wetlands, and bays, expanding terrestrial-aquatic linkages, and improving connectivity of forest habitats. Expanding the boundaries of this Natural Area will also conserve "Carbon Sequestration Forests" that DNR has identified on state trust lands, as directed by the Legislature in the 2023 session (and described in ESSB 5200, Sec. 3130). What is an NRCA boundary?A proposed natural area boundary is a designation of lands eligible for inclusion within a state-owned natural area. Inclusion in a conservation area boundary allows DNR to work with partners and granting agencies to raise funds and negotiate to buy privately owned parcels from willing sellers at market value. Landowners will be under no obligation, at any time, to sell their lands to DNR. And no lands within the boundary are part of the natural area unless they are acquired by DNR. What is the process for expanding the boundary?This updated natural resources conservation area boundary is being presented for formal public hearing. Comments from the hearing will be considered for incorporation into a final boundary expansion recommendation for the Commissioner of Public Lands to consider for approval by Commissioner's Order. Written comments on the proposal will also be accepted until close of business on June 28tn, 2024, at: Washington State Department of Natural Resources, ATTN: Proposed NRCA Boundary Expansion, PO Box 47014, Olympia, WA 98504-7014, or via this site: https://wadnr.commentinput.com?id=JcYaDUFWk Or scan this QR Code: El AL . y • K � • :. _ r. S -� -� - •. '-..1."'Ylii,:p . 'I rip. J.... L.•• Where can I find out more about the proposal or need accommodations? Enclosed is a fact sheet that includes a map and brief description of the proposal. You can also contact Jayana Marshall, Assistant Division Manager for Conservation, at (360) 789-3062 or Jayana.marshall@dnr.wa.gov. Sincerely, Jayana Marshall Assistant Division Manager, Conservation Recreation and Conservation Division Washington Department of Natural Resources Enclosures: Fact sheet about the Dabob Bay NRCA boundary expansion proposal and map. `4'SN1N6T°H Dabob Bay N RCA o WASHINGTON STATE DEPT OF 1 flATURAL Proposed boundary expansion RESOURCES 7°'`NAN '` Jefferson County, Washington The Dabob Bay Natural Area was established in 1984 to protect :„..... . ' rare examples of intact salt marsh and sand spit plant communities within one of Washington's highest functioning coastal spit and tidal wetland systems. Initially created as a Natural Area Preserve (NAP), the site was enlarged in 2009, and again in 2016, to include additional land designated as NAP, along with lands designated as �4 Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA). This provides additional opportunities for low-impact public use. The natural area includes mature coastal forests, coastal streams, feeder bluffs, forage fish spawning areas, eelgrass beds, native Olympia oyster beds, nearshore tidelands and mudflats utilized .r.k.:. - . _.. .1,`'' by juvenile salmon and shorebirds, and open marine waters ,..., utilized by salmon, marine birds, harbor seals and orcas. The """.-* current NAP/NRCA boundary encompasses 7,735 acres, of which DNR owns and manages 4,094 acres of shoreline, marsh and forestland in the Dabob Bay watershed. 4 ---, - -I •w - A proposed natural area boundary is a designation of lands eligible for inclusion within a state-owned natural area. Lands located within i_ IX = - ,;-` the boundary only become part of the natural area if they are 4 Y acquired by DNR. The boundary is simply an administrative tool to . .,4,. , Fe . a — , indicate where DNR will work with willing-seller property owners, -• ',' , , and it imposes no change in land use zoning or any other restrictions r� .T .w, �„ A'," *' on landowners. Over time, land is purchased at market value, which 5 „ ,, y; z47 r a r ;�� `�. is determined by an independent, third-party appraisal. {`� The of Y ,' „� , r 't : . - potential Dabob Bay NRCA boundary expansion of 3 E- . . - approximately 3,860 acres would provide more complete protection p w" ,,4, j40." y i ' and improved long-term viability of features within the current site ;� "' 1' 44Y`I by further protecting hydrologic influences on streams, wetlands, J and bays, expanding terrestrial-aquatic linkages, and improving sKK . " connectivity of forest habitats. CONTACT: Jayana Marshall I Assistant Division Manager, Conservation 1360-789-3062 I Jayana.marshall@dnr.wa.gov Washington State Department of Natural Resources Dabob Bay NRCA Fact Sheet Page 1 of 3 Updated: May 28, 2024 it Under Title 79 of the Washington State Legislatures Revised Code of Washington, titled `PUBLIC LANDS', chapter 79.71.020 RCW states that characteristics of lands to be considered worthy for consideration for conservation purposes must be (1) Lands identified as having high priority for conservation, natural systems, wildlife, and low-impact public use values; (2)An area of land and water, or land and water, that has flora, fauna, geological, archaeological, scenic, or similar features of critical importance to the people of Washington and that has retained to some degree or has reestablished its natural character; (3)Examples of native ecological communities; and(4)Environmentally significant sites threatened with conversion to incompatible or ecologically irreversible uses. Expansion to the north (see map)would contribute to hydrologic protection for a freshwater wetland within the existing NRCA and NAP. The expansion would protect the eastern portion of the tributaries which insures the watershed processes in those locations are intact and thus help provide hydrological protection for the wetlands at the mouth of Tarboo Creek, which includes forage fish habitat in the bay. Expansion to the east, adjacent to the current Dabob Bay NAP and NRCA lands further protects watershed tributaries and streams leading to the bay. Acquisition of these parcels into conservation status protects ecosystem processes throughout the site, meeting the goals for the natural area preserve under RCW 79.70 and for the natural resources conservation area under RCW 79.71. The expansion area to the south of current Dabob Bay Natural Area Preserve and Natural Resource Conservation Area, would protect the ecosystem processes along Dabob Bay, and additionally adds adjacent forested uplands. CONTACT: Jayana Marshall I Assistant Division Manager, Conservation 1360-789-3062 I Jayana.marshall@dnr.wa.gov Washington State Department of Natural Resources Dabob Bay NRCA Fact Sheet Page 2 of 3 Updated: May 28, 2024 v o " = -..1\_ 1 .. a o in re �, = ^ E5-.Ev o NT O �u � :. . < otaz al.. • ‘ c h� .: \' , g` fiZl@ -I' - oVN2 .. a gm �Ea ° onoW ZQ e- o N a > 0 a), _ v ? m ,e 1 / E- r "a , t, o3o 0 'J t C c w m y .= W ''j'. J.-_,.. < <° m i m 0 3 v=i Q W - ' +it a a, 1 a ' __ %u do 3 C� c m m a o mz _ � �I � \ I,,L i o n ilh 2 'Dcm , ; m -0T oh r ° " F.icc s13.nosio 4 YiL o m vo a) r N m Q 9m ,n d N@ alonLL- a o > '3 ccy 0 O u_ u r p : o m E a> - •i pE o n oQ c o m o Q Q co co t fZ Z Z Z O u. O n' ( q II10 m p : _ 0 0 1 I O$ O D 3 •O'PA 0T148‘' '"mrIIIIIII4 1. c., r 4 ,77,... ._,..< iv \, , , . ....,-. , u., '111 ( �, o Q 1 �-` /N~, -- o. 'ii 7 9 O t' / IIIPPPIP ciw a) 4� ram. ,, 3101/+ if - ...3r-- , T L y Ott irk N !ice s -4i ifi ,NH it ry u) .**14r p AY, • tQ at/►-(4 \.. 03 Z / ) --iv: A --Cr— tii & Cri Ali ,..- .0 jr, 0 lair:r..“ Rr� o , 4,.. ...,:': ' '44\ \"---1, _-,4,6i CONTACT: Jayana Marshall I Assistant Division Manager, Conservation 1360-789-3062 I Jayana.marshall@dnr.wa.gov Washington State Department of Natural Resources Dabob Bay NRCA Fact Sheet Page 3 of 3 Updated: May 28, 2024