OLYMPIA – A public hearing is planned for 6 p.m. Monday, April 21, at the Omak School District administration office on a proposed exchange of land between the state departments of natural resources, and fish and wildlife.
     The transaction, known as the WDFW Exchange, would consolidate state trust land ownership, increase habitat and recreation opportunities and provide long-term revenue that helps build public schools, universities and other public institutions, according to a DNR announcement.
     Other meetings are planned for April 22 in Ellensburg and April 23 in Tumwater.
     Meetings begin with a presentation of information about the proposed exchange, 6-6:45 p.m.; break, 6:45l-7 p.m., and public hearing, 7-8 p.m.
     Up to 117,000 acres of state trust lands managed by DNR would be exchanged for up to 55,000 acres of fish and wildlife-managed land, according to the announcement.
     Much of the DNR-managed land in the exchange is shrub-steppe, while large portions of the fish and wildlife lands are forestland above 3,000 feet in elevation.
     The exchange would consolidate ownerships and help both agencies manage plant and wildlife habitats more effectively while providing for healthy and sustainable forest land and shrub-steppe lands, according to the announcement.
     “Here is an opportunity to realign the management of thousands of acres of critical habitat and working forest land so DNR and the Department of Fish and Wildlife can focus on their roles in protecting and nurturing some of Washington’s most treasured landscapes,” said Doug Sutherland, public lands commissioner.
     Jeff Koenings, fish and wildlife director, agreed the exchange will help each agency address its land management goals.
     “Larger, adjoining areas of wildlife habitat offer more benefit to animals than small, checkerboard ownerships,” Koenings said.
     The exchange, which mostly involves fish and wildlife's Oak Creek, Wenas, L.T. Murray and Colockum wildlife areas in south central Washington, will not change the amount of land available to the public for wildlife recreation, according to the announcement.
     That department’s land management staff will be at the hearings, along with DNR staff, to answer questions.
     Details of the proposed exchange, including maps of the parcels, are on the DNR Web site, www.dnr.wa.gov, in the “Leasing & Land Transactions” area. The direct address is www.dnr.wa.gov/BusinessPermits/Topics/LandExchanges/Pages/amp_exc_wdfw_land_exchange.aspx.
     If DNR officials determine the proposal has significant benefits, a summary of the public testimony will be presented to the state Board of Natural Resources for a decision at a regularly scheduled meeting.
     Written testimony will be taken until April 30 at State of Washington, Department of Natural Resources, Asset Management and Protection Division, attention: Bob Winslow, WDFW Exchange, No. 86-079794, P.O. Box 47014, Olympia 98504-7014.
     Comments also can be e-mailed to exchanges@dnr.wa.gov.
     More information is available at (360) 902-1600.