Gov. Jay Inslee today signed legislation that will provide state wildlife managers more resources to prevent wolf-livestock conflict and expand criteria for compensation to livestock owners for wolf-related losses.

Senate Bill 5193, requested by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and prime-sponsored by Sen. John Smith, R-Colville, was supported by a broad cross-section of interest groups.

“The gray wolf population is recovering quickly in Washington,” said Inslee.  “This bill received bipartisan support from legislators across the state because it represents a practical, realistic approach to minimizing wolf-livestock conflict while recognizing the need for fair compensation to ranchers and farmers.”

WDFW Director Phil Anderson said the department appreciates the Governor’s support for the bill and the efforts of both Republican and Democratic legislators to get it passed.  “Washington state is committed to wolf recovery, but sustainable recovery requires that we address the legitimate needs of farmers, ranchers and other residents of the communities that are on the front line of wolf recovery,” he said.  “This bill does that.”

Reports of misuse and dangerous behavior have prompted DNR to temporarily close the Tahuya River Horse Camp, beginning Friday, May 17.  We are working with the Tahuya Focus Group and law enforcement to find a solution that will enable us to reopen the campground as soon as possible.

As manager and steward of Washington’s state trust lands, DNR is committed to providing safe and sustainable experiences for recreation users. We also know that most of the people who like to recreate on these lands are law-abiding citizens who want to enjoy the outdoors. Unfortunately, the actions of a few often affect the majority.

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Working together to practice safe and sustainable recreation will help ensure that we—and future generations—have access to these lands.
DNR will continue to do everything it can to provide a safe recreational experience for its many users. We hope to reopen the Tahuya River Horse Camp as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.

Stay tuned for updates on the reopening of the Tahuya River Horse Camp. For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 206-920-5907.

Find out about other recreation opportunities on state trust lands at www.dnr.wa.gov/recreation.

From DNR/Ear to Ground

They are about the size of a dime, reproduce rapidly and can attach to any hard surface. If they become established in Washington, they could cause hundreds of millions of dollars a year in damage.

They are zebra and quagga mussels, and a partnership of state agencies is implementing a new strategy to make sure these critters don’t hitchhike on watercraft and spread into Washington’s waterways.

“If introduced into the Columbia River system, zebra and quagga mussels could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars a year in lost hydropower production and damages to irrigation systems. They also would shut down state rivers and lakes to boating, fishing and commercial businesses,” said Wendy Brown executive coordinator of the Washington Invasive Species Council.

Beginning this week, the Washington State Department of Transportation will notify commercial haulers of oversize watercraft that their oversize load permit information is being provided to the Washington State Patrol and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and that state law prohibits the transport of aquatic invasive species. When the cargo appears at a Washington port of entry, state inspectors will look for zebra and quagga mussels. The permit application lists a toll-free telephone number for more information.

The partnership is just one way the Washington Invasive Species Council, the Washington State Department of Transportation, the Washington State Patrol and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are working to keep zebra and quagga mussels and other potentially invasive plants, animals and pathogens out of Washington.

“The only way these invaders can move to a new body of water is by traveling on the roads,” said Chris Christopher, director of maintenance operations for the Washington State Department of Transportation. “So we’re working together to stop them from hitching a ride into our state’s lakes and rivers.”

Zebra and quagga mussels clog water intake pipes and filters, reducing water pumping capabilities for power and water treatment plants. Once established, these mussels change ecosystems and consume food sources critical to native mussels and other species, such as salmon and trout.

“The Washington State Patrol has a key inspection role in this partnership,” said Bill Balcom, a commercial vehicle enforcement officer with the Washington State Patrol. “Our officers are trained to look for the mussels as the vessels come through our ports of entry and will work closely with the Department of Fish and Wildlife when we find the mussels.”

In addition to inspections through the permit process, the agencies are working to educate Washington boaters and those who tow vessels across state lines to Washington.

“It’s both dangerous to our ecosystem and illegal to transport invasive species,” said Allen Pleus, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s aquatic invasive species coordinator. “Keeping invasive species out is vital, and all citizens should be aware of what they look like and how to prevent them from entering the state.”

More about zebra and quagga mussels

·         Washington Invasive Species Council zebra and quagga mussels information: www.invasivespecies.wa.gov/priorities/zebra_quagga_mussels.shtml

·         Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Aquatic Invasive Species: www.wdfw.wa.gov/ais/