QUILCENE — The state has expanded a proposed conservation area around Dabob Bay but is making it a point to remind residents that they will keep their land unless they wish to sell it.
“Those lands you see inside the boundary are still owned by the private owners,” said Pene Speaks, spokeswoman for Department of Natural Resources.
“We have no authority on those lands and no condemnation rights on those lands.
“Until they are actually sold to Natural Resources, the use is still subject to the landowners.”
About 50 people showed up to the Quilcene School on Thursday night to learn about the areas and comment on a possible swap of state lands.
If the proposed boundary around 3,200 acres of forest and shoreline near Dabob Bay is approved by the Board of Natural Resources, the action only means the state can begin negotiating for and purchasing private lands inside the boundaries.
And it can only purchase the lands if private owners are willing to sell.
“It’s just a boundary that allows us to work with folks if they would like,” Speaks said.
Speaks said two types of boundaries had been proposed by the state.
Proposed along the shoreline of Dabob Bay is a Natural Area Preserve.
“This is mostly for scientific research and education,” she said. “Very little recreational use will be allowed.”
Farther out is a proposed Natural Resources Conservation Area.
“This is to preserve the scenic aspect,” Speaks said.
“It’s for low-impact public use and to preserve the enjoyment for the public.
“On a case by case basis, some fishing and hunting may be allowed.”
Some lands currently owned by the state as trust lands inside the proposed boundaries could be transferred into the conservation areas.
However, to facilitate such transfers, the lands will first need to be traded within the state system.
Some lands are common school trust. These lands can be freely purchased and moved into a conservation area.
The remaining state lands in the proposed boundary are forest transfer trust. These cannot be purchased for the conservation area.
The state is considering swapping forest transfer lands inside the boundary for school lands so it may purchase them and place them in the conservation area if it is approved.
The current numbers on the exchange are 1,490 acres of forest transfer trust for 2,090 of commons school trust.
Speaks said both the proposed conservation area and the land swap would need to be approved first by the Board of Natural Resources, likely sometime in June.
Before that decision, they will be presented with public comment collected at Thursday’s meeting — both for and against the proposals.
One person opposed to the proposals, Carla Ward, a Quilcene resident, said the local residents didn’t need the boundaries because they have been taking care of the land on their own.
“I’m adamantly opposed to this,” Ward said.
“We’ve kept this as a nice environment until now, and I see no reason to change things at this time.”
Speaks agreed that local residents had kept the environment in excellent condition.
“But we are looking at this long term,” she said.
“For as long as 100 years into the future.”
One individual speaking in favor of the proposals was County Commissioner John Austin, D-Port Ludlow, speaking on his own behalf.
“I think our children and grandchildren will appreciate the efforts being made here,” Austin said.
“I think the long-term ecological value should be taken into account here, and I am in support of this.”
Comments on the proposals can be sent to the state until May 14. To make a comment, e-mail Trust_Land_Transfer@dnr.wa.gov.
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
