The Department of Fish and Wildlife is considering purchasing 1,750 acres of land adjacent to the Elk River unit of the John’s River Wildlife Area in Grayland, opening it to public access for waterfowl and elk hunting, wildlife viewing and other recreational activities.

“The property has been for sale for some time,” said regional wildlife manager Brian Calkins. “Ducks Unlimited did pursue a grant to purchase this property through the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, but they were unsuccessful in the grant process.”

Also included in the proposal is the acquisition of 103 acres of the Nemah tidelands on Willapa Bay in Pacific County. This would open about a mile of shoreline to oyster and Manila clam harvest.

“There are some public tidelands there that are well-known for hard-shelled clam production, and the purpose of that (proposed) acquisition is to secure public access to those tidelands,” said Calkins.

If a property acquisition is approved by the director of Fish and Wildlife, the department will seek funding for the purchase through grants through agencies like the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Calkins was not aware of the asking price for the Grayland property. “When we’re thinking about buying a piece of property we do a fair market appraisal of the property,” said Calkins. “By state law we are limited to being able to offer the value the appraisal comes out as.”

The Grayland property under consideration, currently owned by the logging company Anderson and Middleton, is bordered on the north by State Route 105 and on the west by Twin Harbors State Park and the highway. The southern boundary is just north of Grayland Beach State Park.

“It would become part of the Olympic Willapa Hills Wildlife Area Complex,” said Calkins. “It will be a separate wildlife management unit. People are asking me what we are going to name it, and I don’t have an answer to that. We have some time to think about that one.”

It is prime habitat for elk and waterfowl and a good spot for birdwatching. Fish and Wildlife said the acquisition is supported by Ducks Unlimited, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Chehalis Basin Watershed Partnership, and the Pacific Bird Habitat Joint Venture.

“I have been on the property recently,” said Calkins. “A high percentage of the area is wetlands, many of those are forested wetlands or scrub brush wetlands, and also a fair amount of what are currently freshhwater wetlands that are more open.”

Fish and Wildlife said the Nemah property would likely benefit the local economy, drawing clam and oyster enthusiasts to the area. The property is located about two miles south of Bay Center Junction between the coast and Highway 101. Supporters of this acquisition include the Long Beach Interpretive Center, the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Nahcotta Interpretive Center, Friends of Willapa Bay, and local business owners.

All proposed acquisitions are reviewed by department staff. The review includes consideration of species and habitat management plans, regional conservation initiatives, and community perspectives on land use as well as recreation needs.

It is often the property owner’s interest in selling the property that begins the process. If a deal can be struck and the purchase is approved by the director, the proposed purchase goes through a public review process. For these proposed purchases, and seven others, public comment will be accepted through Feb. 2 at lands@dfw.wa.gov. After comment review, the proposed acquisitions are finalized by the director and the funding stage commences.

You can review the land acquisition proposals online at wdfw.wa.gov/lands/acquisitions/current_acquisitions.html.