The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has announced it will extend the closure of its Morse Creek Wildlife Area Unit on the upper Olympic Peninsula east of Port Angeles for “up to a year to address chronic impacts to natural resources and public safety resulting from homeless encampments at the site.
According to a WDFW news release, “The decision is a continuation of an earlier closure in effect since December 2019.”
The 133-acre Morse Creek Wildlife Area Unit has been damaged by people dumping trash, cutting trees, digging holes, and clearing brush to build temporary structures, WDFW said.
“We want to reopen the unit as soon as we can,” said Brian Calkins, coastal region wildlife program manager. “First we need to make it a safer place for visitors and protect valuable habitat.”
The Morse Creek Unit is most commonly used by hikers and wildlife watchers, and is part of the North Olympic Wildlife Area, according to the agency. WDFW acquired the unit in 2002 to protect habitat for salmon and other wildlife.
The North Olympic Wildlife Area consists of 11 units in Clallam and Jefferson counties, and spans approximately 1,310 acres of managed land, according to WDFW. It contains a mix of estuarine, riverine, wetland, oak-prairie, and mixed forest habitats that support a diversity of wildlife, from big and small game species to songbirds, as well as native and federally endangered fish populations.
WDFW actively manages approximately 1 million acres of land and over 500 water access areas across the state to preserve natural and cultural heritage, provide access for hunting, fishing, and wildlife-related recreation, and to foster experiences and exploration for thousands of Washingtonians and visitors each year.
WDFW is the state agency tasked with preserving, protecting and perpetuating fish, wildlife and ecosystems, while providing sustainable fishing, hunting, and other recreation opportunities.
