The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife filed an environmental review notice on April 6, 2026, proposing to permanently close 12 acres of state-owned land along the Wind River adjacent to the Wind River Fishway, with public comments due by April 20.
WDFW cited steep, high-angle terrain and the absence of a safe trail to the fishway as the primary reasons for the closure. The agency also noted the river at that location poses serious hazards to anyone attempting to access it.
Daren Hauswald is listed as the applicant contact for WDFW on the filing. The proposal was issued as a Determination of Non-Significance, meaning the agency concluded the closure would not have a significant environmental impact requiring a full environmental impact statement.
Residents who wish to comment on the proposed closure can do so through the Washington State SEPA Register before the April 20 deadline. The Wind River corridor is a key recreational and transportation route in Skamania County.