WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT – A land acquisition to improve access and provide fish and wildlife habitat in the Wapato Reach of the  Yakima River was approved by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission last week.

The commission approved several land transactions and heard briefings on Snake River fish issues and other topics on the agenda of the public meeting Friday in Clarkston.

The commission approved the purchase of three small floodplain properties totaling about 78 acres adjacent to the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area in Yakima County, the state Fish and Wildlife Department reports in a release. "Acquiring the parcels also will assist with efforts to restore habitat and reduce flooding on private property," the agency said.

The other acquisitions were in Western Washington.   Following is more from the WDFW regarding the meeting:

The commission also approved the purchase of about 18 acres adjacent to the Ebey Island Unit of the Snoqualmie Wildlife Area in Snohomish County for public recreational access; and renewed a long-term lease with the U.S. Navy for a navigational warning light on WDFW’s Point Whitney shellfish lab property on Dabob Bay in Hood Canal in Jefferson County.

In addition, the commission filled two open positions on its advisory committee for persons with disabilities.

In other business, the commission received briefings on fish passage at the Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River, the Lower Snake River Compensation Plan, the Wooten Flood Plain Management Plan, and the department’s Hunter Education program.

On Saturday, some commissioners attended a tour of WDFW wildlife areas in southeast Washington.