Forum Index > Public Lands Stewardship > Centralia Mine Proposed Wildlife Area
 Reply to topic
Previous :: Next Topic
Author Message
NacMacFeegle
Member
Member


Joined: 16 Jan 2014
Posts: 2653 | TRs | Pics
Location: United States
NacMacFeegle
Member
PostFri Feb 12, 2021 11:33 am 
The WDFW is looking to acquire the Centralia Mine as a 9,800 acre wildlife area. Reclamation efforts are still underway, but the area has huge potential for creating habitat for endangered and threatened species such as the Western Pond Turtle and Streaked Horned Lark. It would also be an amazing year-round destination for hiking.
Since the area is currently off limits to the general public, I reached out the WDFW for photos, and I'm honestly kind of shocked by how spectacular the old mine is. Miles of wide open prairie, rolling hills, forest and many lakes - it's the kind of large, accessible recreation area that lowland SW WA lacks. I asked the WDFW what their plans for recreation are, and though they are in the very early planning stages they hope to maintain a few roads for canoe/fishing access to the larger lakes and convert the rest to non-motorized trails. Just from Google Earth, this would mean dozens of miles of trails through remarkably varied terrain.
The WDFW is currently seeking public comments on the proposed land acquisition, which can be submitted to lands@dfw.wa.gov The end of the comment period is 2/16 More details about this and other land acquisition projects for 2021 are available on WDFW's website: https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/wdfw-lands/land-acquisitions I've also written an article about it on my blog: https://illuminationsfromtheattic.blogspot.com/2021/02/transforming-centralia-coal-mine-golden.html

Read my hiking related stories and more at http://illuminationsfromtheattic.blogspot.com/
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Pyrites
Member
Member


Joined: 16 Sep 2014
Posts: 1879 | TRs | Pics
Location: South Sound
Pyrites
Member
PostFri Feb 12, 2021 2:00 pm 
Is the State accepting on-going liability for cleanup?

Keep Calm and Carry On? Heck No. Stay Excited and Get Outside!
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
NacMacFeegle
Member
Member


Joined: 16 Jan 2014
Posts: 2653 | TRs | Pics
Location: United States
NacMacFeegle
Member
PostFri Feb 12, 2021 2:09 pm 
Pyrites wrote:
Is the State accepting on-going liability for cleanup?
I'm not sure, but it doesn't look like it - I found this in a WDFW post from December:
Quote:
Further work on other parts of the property will take several more years and TransAlta is committed to completing reclamation to meet all standards prescribed by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, including habitat improvements requested by WDFW.

Read my hiking related stories and more at http://illuminationsfromtheattic.blogspot.com/
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
NacMacFeegle
Member
Member


Joined: 16 Jan 2014
Posts: 2653 | TRs | Pics
Location: United States
NacMacFeegle
Member
PostSat Feb 13, 2021 7:51 pm 
Update: They've extended the comment period to the 16th. The WDFW also clarified that areas marked in red on the map are not currently being considered for acquisition. Two of these are IPAT properties marked for future industrial development, which I'm dismayed to learn as that would be an eyesore. I understand though that including them in the acquisition proposal would probably scuttle the whole thing. My suggestion would be to encourage the WDFW to consider either a future acquisition project for these areas, or to plant adjacent land with thick coniferous forest to form a buffer zone.

Read my hiking related stories and more at http://illuminationsfromtheattic.blogspot.com/
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
CC
cascade curmudgeon



Joined: 13 Sep 2006
Posts: 647 | TRs | Pics
CC
cascade curmudgeon
PostTue Feb 16, 2021 11:33 am 
Coincidentally, a mine in Centralia Pennsylvania is also a (de facto) wildlife refuge, mostly for thermophiles. https://www.history.com/news/mine-fire-burning-more-50-years-ghost-town

First your legs go, then you lose your reflexes, then you lose your friends. Willy Pep
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
   All times are GMT - 8 Hours
 Reply to topic
Forum Index > Public Lands Stewardship > Centralia Mine Proposed Wildlife Area
  Happy Birthday speyguy, Bandanabraids!
Jump to:   
Search this topic:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum