OLYMPIA – The 133-acre Morse Creek Unit, a wildlife area located three miles east of Port Angeles, is closed until May 31, 2020 to address chronic public safety issues.
Brian Calkins, Coastal Manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), said the Morse Creek Unit has become a popular site for illegal camping and trash dumping. He says people camping at the site have damaged important wildlife habitat by cutting trees, digging holes, and clearing brush to build temporary structures.
Calkins says Fish and Wildlife will assist law enforcement efforts to remove illegal campsites that are impacting legitimate public use of the site.
It’s possible the closure would be extended, but not without a formal public review process.
The Morse Creek Unit is most commonly used by hikers and wildlife watchers, and is part of the North Olympic Wildlife Area. WDFW acquired the 133-acre unit in 2002 to protect habitat for salmon and other wildlife.