DUNGENESS — The Dungeness Wildlife Refuge, which includes the Dungeness Spit and surrounding forest, has a new center the public is invited to visit.
A dedication and open house will take place at the new building, adjacent to the refuge off of Voice of America Road northwest of Sequim, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday.
“For us, this is a big thing, to get a headquarters at the refuge,” said Dave Falzetti, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge officer.
“We’ve been detached from the resources,” in a much smaller building on U.S. Highway 101 at North Barr Road.
Services
The new place isn’t an elaborate visitor center, but it has displays about this place, which is described as “a refuge for wildlife and people,” and whose dominant feature is the longest natural sand spit in the world.
People wanting to explore the Dungeness Wildlife Refuge can come into the new headquarters on weekdays to ask questions, pick up maps and purchase a variety of passes.
Admission to the Dungeness refuge is $3 per day per four adults; children 15 and under pay nothing. An annual pass is $12.
Visitors also may consider the America the Beautiful pass, an $80 yearlong ticket to all national wildlife refuges, national parks and U.S. Forest Service hiking trails.
People can find out about volunteering at the Dungeness refuge, Falzetti said, adding that some 80 volunteers help keep trails clear, clean debris off the beach and otherwise care for the natural areas. Training starts in April.
The new building, which includes staff offices, a meeting room, volunteer project space and a workshop in addition to the public foyer, will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Falzetti urged local residents to attend Tuesday’s open house or to visit the refuge in any season.
“This is an absolutely fantastic wildlife refuge,” said Falzetti. “People should come and enjoy it and experience the wildlife. It’s right in your backyard.”
Tuesday’s celebration will feature speakers and light refreshments. To reach the new headquarters, take Kitchen-Dick Road north from Highway 101, travel three miles to Voice of America Road, park in the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge parking lot and follow the brick path at the east end of the lot.
For information, phone 360-457-8451.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladaily news.com.
