The washington state department of natural resources (DNR) is requesting $1,000,000 through the national coastal wetlands conservation grant program (ncwcgp) to permanently protect the 380-acre…

The washington state department of natural resources (DNR) is requesting $1,000,000 through the national coastal wetlands conservation grant program (ncwcgp) to permanently protect the 380-acre bayfield wetland complex through fee simple acquisition, restore 12 acres to native ecosystems, and enhance environmental education. This project is a rare opportunity to protect undeveloped wetland, riparian, and mature forest habitats within the woodard BAY natural resources conservation area (nrca) boundary, located in thurston county, washington. The state legislature designated woodard BAY in 1987 as one of the first conservation areas under the nrca act, RCW 79.71. The site protects an outstanding example of washington s native ecosystems, with more than five miles of undeveloped shorelines and hundreds of acres of wetlands and mature forests in the henderson inlet watershed. In addition, the nrca protects several important wildlife populations including shorebirds and songbirds, harbor seals, river otters, bald eagles, a heron rookery, a colony of double-crested cormorants, the native olympia oysters, and one of the largest BAT maternity colonies in washington state.woodard BAY nrca was approved for registration on the national register of historic places as a rural historic landscape for its rich human history, which includes tribes, early settlers to southern puget sound, and the logging and shellfish industries. More than twenty archaeological sites have been identified for protection within the conservation area. In 2023, the nrca boundary was expanded from roughly 1,200 acres to 3,400 acres to increase habitat and hydrologic connectivity across the landscape. This expansion includes the bayfield wetland complex. The property fills a critical conservation GAP and is dnrs highest priority acquisition property within the woodard BAY nrca. This proposal includes opportunities for environmental education and stewardship within the nrca. The nrca hosts kindergarten through twelfth grade students and higher education classes. They visit to learn about native wildlife species and nearshore and wetland ecosystems. DNR also engages with local non-profit organizations and volunteer site stewards in habitat restoration activities.over the last 37 years, DNR has successfully protected over 900 acres within the nrca boundary utilizing ncwcgp funding, washington wildlife recreation program (wwrp) grants, and state capital funds. Capitol land trust (CLT), a conservation partner in the watershed, has also successfully conserved lands within and adjacent to the nrca using ncwcgp funding. Their budd and henderson inlets initiative has successfully conserved more than 600 acres.project funding partners for this proposal include the south puget sound salmon enhancement group (spsseg), squaxin island tribe, black hills audubon society, and taylor shellfish company.