SPOKANE – Following flooding this past spring, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today a permanent closure to the shooting range on the Asotin Creek Wildlife Area in Asotin County. Flooding caused the north fork of Asotin Creek to cut a new channel through the shooting range, which WDFW plans to return to riparian habitat over time.
This decision follows a proposed public comment opportunity as part of a State Environmental Policy Act analysis (PDF) that analyzed the environmental impacts of permanently closing the range.
“Water continues to flood the field where the target backstop and shooting bench were located,” said Wildlife Area Manager Bob Dice. “It is not feasible or environmentally possible to move the creek back into the original channel. Instead, it’s meandering and forming new channels.”
This is a natural process that many creeks and streams go through, particularly ones that were moved by human activity in the past. Over time, they work to convert to their original paths and floodplains.
“The range began unofficially as a place where a handful of members of the public would sight in hunting rifles and grew in popularity,” said Dice. “Eventually, WDFW and volunteers added shooting range amenities. We do not have another safe, suitable area for a shooting range on WDFW-managed lands in the area due to topography, funding constraints, and public safety needs with the proximity to homes.”
WDFW understands the loss of the range will impact the community and reminds people to respect areas marked as no shooting and no trespassing when looking for alternative shooting sites. Target shooting is currently prohibited on WDFW-managed lands as part of annual seasonal restrictions aimed at reducing wildfire. Once target shooting is permitted on WDFW lands again in the fall, the public is reminded that they must follow rules for target shooting on WDFW lands. To support public safety, WDFW Enforcement officers will be continuing to patrol the former shooting range area.
WDFW manages more than a million acres of land and hundreds of water access areas throughout the state. By actively managing lands, restoring habitats, and preserving wild places, the Department serves as stewards for Washington’s natural ecosystems, protecting the state’s land and water for its wildlife and people.
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Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
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