OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has finalized its acquisition of the Sekiu boat launch property in Clallam County along the northern Olympic Peninsula.
The purchase had been in the works since 2018. The state Fish and Wildlife commission approved the purchase back in February.
WDFW completed the purchase of the property on Clallam Bay on May 28 for approximately $2.4 million from Mason Family Properties LLC. The sale includes about 2.5 acres of uplands, tidelands and an easement for ingress/egress, including a four-lane boat launch, and parking for trailers and vehicles.
WDFW did not acquire the nearby moorage floats or breakwater, which are privately maintained and operated. A Discover Pass or WDFW Vehicle Access Pass is required for day-use parking and overnight parking is not allowed. Launching from and parking in WDFW’s lot will not require additional fees.
“The Sekiu Water Access Area will maintain the only developed launch for motorized boats along the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Neah Bay and Port Angeles,” said Matthew Blankenship, WDFW’s assistant regional wildlife program manager for the Coastal Region. “WDFW is excited to continue access for boaters and anglers, and we look forward to managing this popular destination for current and future generations.”
Funding for the property purchase, maintenance, operations and initial infrastructure improvements came from the state’s 2024 supplemental capital budget and a Boating Facilities Program grant from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. The WDFW will seek additional funding for further site improvements, including repairs to the aging concrete launch.
The Sekiu Water Access Area provides opportunities for recreational and commercial fisheries, including salmon and bottomfish, as well as sea kayaking and wildlife viewing.
“This site is vital to the local economy and recreation, and keeping it open to the public is crucial to continuing its long legacy while also supporting boating safety, fisheries monitoring and regulations enforcement,” Blankenship said.
WDFW included the Sekiu Water Access Area in its 2018 Lands 20/20 projects. The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the acquisition on Feb. 14.
WDFW manages more than 1 million acres of land and hundreds of water access areas throughout the state.
