The Enterprise - White Salmon, Washington

Hearing set for natural area preserve near Trout Lake

On Oct. 17

October 09, 2012

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold two public hearings: one on the proposed boundary expansion, and the other on the proposed transfer of state-owned trust lands at Trout Lake Natural Area Preserve (NAP).

Both public hearings will be held Oct. 17, starting at 6 p.m., at Trout Lake School.

DNR is proposing to expand the outer boundary of lands eligible to be included in Trout Lake Natural Area Preserve (NAP). This proposal enables a planned transfer of state-owned trust lands adjacent to the existing preserve.

No additional privately owned land is planned for inclusion in the natural area.

The current approved boundary for the NAP encompasses 2,361 acres, while DNR currently owns 1,840 acres within that boundary and manages those lands for conservation.

The Oct. 17 meeting will include a boundary hearing to add about 170 acres of state trust lands to the northern end of the preserve.

A second hearing is for the proposed "inter-trust exchange" (DNR # 86-088428) to effect the transfer of state-owned trust lands. This proposed inter-trust exchange is an exchange of land trust designations only.

The trust land parcels in Klickitat County next to the Trout Lake NAP currently are designated Normal School Trust. They will be exchanged for the equal valued trust parcels, also in Klickitat County, currently designated Common School Trust, the only trust that can participate in the Trust Land Transfer Program.

Both hearings will begin with short overviews by DNR staff, followed by questions and answers, and then public testimony.

The proposed boundary expansion was recommended by the Washington State Natural Heritage Advisory Council, a citizen review panel that helps to guide DNR's conservation programs. The Washington State Legislature has provided funding for the pending transfer of state trust lands through the Trust Land Transfer Program at DNR.

Written testimony will be accepted until Oct. 26, 2012.

Comments on the Trout Lake NAP boundary expansion can be addressed to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources' Southeast Region Natural Areas Program, 713 Bowers Road, Ellensburg, WA 98926. Or email comments to southeast.region@dnr.wa.gov, with "Trout Lake NAP Boundary" in the subject line.

Comments on Inter-Trust Exchange No. 86-088428 can be addressed to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Asset & Property Management Division, ATTN: Karrie Knesal, Trout Lake Inter-Trust Exchange, PO Box 47014, Olympia, WA 98504-7014, or emailed to

trust_land_transfer@dnr.wa.gov.