Dabob Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area to Expand 3,943 Acres

News Date:

October 2, 2024

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The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will expand the Dabob Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA) by approximately 3,943 acres, per Commissioner's Order 202422 signed September 23, 2024.

The expansion was announced following a public hearing in Jefferson County on June 17, 2024 and a public comment period through June 28.

"Dabob Bay is a unique and special landscape, and I am incredibly happy to protect and preserve public lands there so that future generations get to enjoy its beauty and ecological importance," said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz. "This further expansion is a testament to years of hard work from staff and supportive stakeholders to find a solution that protects these rare ecosystems while still supporting local services in east Jefferson County."

"This expansion of the Dabob Bay Natural Area will lend further protection of some of the most pristine marine and coastal forest habitats in Jefferson County," said Heidi Eisenhour, Jefferson County Commissioner. "I appreciate DNR's leadership in taking this step and look forward to working together in the future."

"The conservation of forests around the Bay will help protect its excellent water quality for the shellfish industry, the largest employer in south Jefferson County," said Bill Taylor, owner of Taylor Shellfish.

"Expansion of the Dabob Bay Natural Area boundary is a significant step forward in protecting one of the biologically most diverse and pristine estuarine bays remaining in Puget Sound, including its examples of two different types of globally imperiled forests, marine shorelines and fish and wildlife habitats," said Peter Bahls, Director of the Northwest Watershed Institute. "I'm grateful for the leadership by Commissioner Franz and the many years of collaborative effort by DNR, Jefferson County, local citizens, shellfish industry, Tribes, and local and regional conservation groups that led to this moment.

The Dabob Bay NRCA boundary expansion will provide more complete protection and improved long-term viability of features within the current site of Dabob Bay's ecosystem, including its productive fish and wildlife habitats and water quality by further protecting hydrologic influences on streams, wetlands, and bays, expanding terrestrial-aquatic linkages, and improving connectivity of forest habitats.

DNR is authorized to transfer state-owned trust lands and acquire private lands from willing land owners for the creation of NRCA's per Chapter 79.71 RCW. The expansion also allows DNR to seek funding from grants or the state legislature to purchase replacement lands for the Trust beneficiaries.

To learn more, including which areas will be expanded, read the Commissioner's Order here.

Maps of the proposed expansion are available here.

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