The property currently designated as the Elk river natural area preserve is transferred from management under chapter 79.70 RCW as a natural area preserve to management under chapter 79.71 RCW as a natural resources conservation area. The legislature finds that hunting is a suitable low-impact public use within the Elk river natural resources conservation area. The department of natural resources shall incorporate this legislative direction into the management plan developed for the Elk river natural resources conservation area. The department shall work with the department of fish and wildlife to identify hunting opportunities compatible with the area’s conservation purposes.

Terms Used In Washington Code 79.71.120

  • conservation area: means an area having the characteristics identified in RCW 79. See Washington Code 79.71.030
  • Conservation purposes: include but are not limited to: (1) Maintaining, enhancing, or restoring ecological systems, including but not limited to aquatic, coastal, riparian, montane, and geological systems, whether such systems be unique or typical to the state of Washington; (2) maintaining exceptional scenic landscapes; (3) maintaining habitat for threatened, endangered, and sensitive species; (4) enhancing sites for primitive recreational purposes; and (5) outdoor environmental education. See Washington Code 79.71.030
  • Department: means the department of natural resources. See Washington Code 79.71.030
  • Low-impact public use: includes public recreation uses and improvements that do not adversely affect the resource values, are appropriate to the maintenance of the site in a relatively unmodified natural setting, and do not detract from long-term ecological processes. See Washington Code 79.71.030
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