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WDFW seeks public input on recreation at Olympic, Johns River, and Chehalis wildlife areas

Published 1:30 am Thursday, March 27, 2025

By The Daily World

WDFW photos The Olympic Wildlife Area is primarily found in Grays Harbor County, with the Anderson Homestead unit located in Clallam County. The wildlife area has approximately 1,480 acres of land, and its estuary and wetland habitats support a diversity of wildlife including big and small game species, songbirds, as well as native and federally endangered fish populations.
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WDFW photos

The Olympic Wildlife Area is primarily found in Grays Harbor County, with the Anderson Homestead unit located in Clallam County. The wildlife area has approximately 1,480 acres of land, and its estuary and wetland habitats support a diversity of wildlife including big and small game species, songbirds, as well as native and federally endangered fish populations.

WDFW photos The Olympic Wildlife Area is primarily found in Grays Harbor County, with the Anderson Homestead unit located in Clallam County. The wildlife area has approximately 1,480 acres of land, and its estuary and wetland habitats support a diversity of wildlife including big and small game species, songbirds, as well as native and federally endangered fish populations.
The Johns River Unit is managed for estuary restoration, primarily for waterfowl habitat, and some dryland agriculture for elk and waterfowl. Hunting occurs for deer, waterfowl, elk, bear, band-tailed pigeon, and forest grouse.
The Chehalis Unit is maintained for waterfowl habitat and associated recreation. Flooding, which is common in the area, may restrict access.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is asking for public input to inform a 15-year management plan for the Olympic-Willapa Hills Wildlife Area Complex, which consists of the Olympic, Johns River and Chehalis wildlife areas across Grays Harbor, Clallam and Pacific counties.

Visit the survey (https://publicinput.com/wohrecreation) to provide input on current and potential recreation opportunities on these wildlife areas, which include 20 wildlife area units across nearly 14,000 acres. The survey is open through October 2025.

WDFW wants to better understand what recreational activities visitors currently enjoy at these wildlife areas, and what kinds of opportunities or infrastructure improvements (such as parking, restrooms or other facilities) they would like to see in the future.

WDFW also will hold a public meeting to discuss broader planning goals for the wildlife area complex on April 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Willapa Harbor Chamber of Commerce, located at 916 West 1st St. in South Bend.

The Olympic Wildlife Area spans about 1,500 acres primarily in Grays Harbor County, with one unit located in Clallam County. The Johns River Wildlife Area is located in Grays Harbor County and Pacific County and covers about 11,200 acres, mostly in Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay near the coast of the Pacific Ocean on the Olympic Peninsula. The Chehalis Wildlife Area is found in the Chehalis River Valley in Grays Harbor County and covers approximately 1,230 acres.

These areas offer a wide array of recreation opportunities, including hunting for big- and small-game species and waterfowl, fishing for salmon and other species, hiking, and wildlife viewing. These units provide critical habitat for many salmon species such as coho, chinook and chum. Many of the coastal units were purchased to provide wintering and foraging habitat for waterfowl as well as allowing for hunting opportunities.

Conservation efforts across the region include improving winter forage for elk, along with enhancing and restoring waterfowl habitat. The wildlife areas’ habitats also support federally endangered fish populations and a variety of other species. Wildlife area management is focused primarily on the estuary and wetland habitats that support a diversity of wildlife, from big and small game species to songbirds, as well as native fish populations.

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