State wildlife managers are extending the comment period to allow the public more time to review a draft management plan for the Snoqualmie Wildlife Area, which is located in northwest Washington.

Under the new timeline, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will accept comments submitted by 5 p.m., May 25. Comments can be submitted online at https://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/sepa/sepa_comment_docs.html.

The Snoqualmie Wildlife Area consists of six separate units that cover 2,274 acres in King and Snohomish counties. The wildlife area is located in a rural agricultural region of the Snohomish River watershed. It provides habitat for waterfowl, eagles, and chinook salmon and provides recreational opportunities, including fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing.

“We’ve had a lot of interest in this draft management plan and have extended the comment period to give the public with ample time to provide input,” said Cynthia Wilkerson, WDFW lands division manager in a press release.

The plan is available for review on WDFW’s website athttps://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas/management_plans/snoqualmie/.

Over the past year, WDFW staff has worked with a citizen advisory group to develop a draft management plan that addresses the status of wildlife species, habitat, restoration efforts and public recreation on the wildlife area.

The department is revising management plans for the state’s 33 wildlife areas to reflect current conditions and identify new priorities. WDFW is currently updating plans for the Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area in southwestern Washington and for wildlife areas in the Blue Mountains region in southeast Washington. More information about those plans can be found online at https://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas/management_plans/.