Field Reports: Campfires and Target Shooting Restricted in Eastern Washington Wildlife Areas

From staff reports

Washington officials announced this week that they are restricting campfires and target shooting in the eastern part of the state to reduce the risk of wildfires.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a news release that restrictions will begin July 1 on most of the agency's lands in the Eastern Region.

This means campfires, including those in fire rings, will be prohibited in the agency's wildlife areas. Gas stoves and lanterns will be permitted.

Target shooting will be prohibited at all but two locations: Methow Range and Asotin Creek Range. At both ranges, shooting will be allowed from sunrise to 10 a.m. through Aug. 15.

After August 15, target shooting will be prohibited on all WDFW-managed lands.

Smoking outdoors, using chainsaws and driving off designated roads will also be banned.

The restrictions will remain in effect until further notice.

Forest Service closure of prairie along Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene for restoration

The U.S. Forest Service announced Friday that it will close a meadow on the Little North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River for a restoration project next month.

The meadow complex near Hudlow Junction will close to hiking and camping on July 8 for restoration work that is expected to last more than a year.

Restoration will aim to improve westslope cutthroat trout habitat, including placing large pieces of wood in stream channels to provide cover, modifying the stream channel, and flooding side channels by mimicking beaver activity, according to a press release.

Weeds will also be treated and meadows will be replanted.

Crews will begin installing equipment and materials in the meadow this year before building logjams and beginning excavation work. Installation of beaver dam analogues will occur in 2025.

The meadow is popular with RV campers and off-road vehicle drivers, but the Forest Service says both uses are illegal.

Coeur d'Alene River District Ranger Holly Hampton said in the statement that such use is “unsustainable in the long term in terms of damage to resources.”

“One of the outcomes of the restoration work is that the meadow will be inaccessible to vehicles, which will bring the site into compliance with its non-motorized zone designation,” Hampton said.

Campers have other options along the Little North Fork, which flows into the main North Fork Coeur d'Alene River, a few miles north of Kingston.

Restoration is expected to continue until fall 2025.

Searching for information on collared loons killed in Okanogan County

Two adult common loons and their chicks were shot and killed last weekend, and wildlife officials are looking for help finding out who did it.

The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a statement Thursday that the loons and chicks were killed near Chesaw, Washington, the weekend of June 22.

WDFW officers responded to a call about dead loons near Beaver Lake and found two adults and a chick dead. Another chick had been seen earlier in the day and witnesses told officers they had heard gunshots the night before.

Illegal killing of a common loon is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $500 per violation. A penalty of $2,000 per bird may also be imposed.

WDFW is asking anyone with information about the incident to report it by calling 877-933-9847. They can also email [email protected] or text 847411.

A $6,000 reward is being offered for information leading to convictions.

Bureau of Land Management seeks input on Yakima River Canyon

The Bureau of Land Management wants the public's help in determining the future management of the Yakima River Canyon south of Ellensburg.

A series of public listening sessions are planned, and the agency has made available an online story map where people can provide feedback at hub.blmyakimarivercanyon.org.

The agency said in an email that it wants to hear people's opinions on its facilities, developed and undeveloped sites, non-motorized use and habitat conservation.

About 9,000 acres in the canyon divided by the famous Trout River are managed by the BLM, including 647 acres acquired this year by the agency.

Listening sessions are planned in Seattle and several locations throughout the canyon. They are programmed as follows:

• July 1, REI flagship store at 222 Yale Avenue in Seattle, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• July 3, Big Pines Recreation Site, Canyon Road in Ellensburg, 5 to 7 p.m.

• July 3, Umtanum Recreation Site, 16338 Canyon Road in Ellensburg, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Sept. 21, Canyon River Ranch, 14700 Canyon Road in Ellensburg, 8 a.m. to noon.