Chapter 5

Human Environment

Chapter 5HumanEnvironment

© Dow Lambert

Appendices

Chapter 4BiologicalEnvironment

Chapter 3PhysicalEnvironment

Chapter 1Introduction andBackground

Chapter 2ManagementDirection

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Chapter 5. Human Environment 5-1 

Chapter 5. Human Environment 

5.1 Cultural Resources 

5.1.1 Native American Overview 

Prehistory 

Jeanne M. Welch and R.D. Daugherty prepared a compilation of the prehistoric era on the Olympic 

Peninsula as part of their background information for a 1988 survey project on Dungeness NWR 

(Welch and Daugherty 1988). The following information is paraphrased from their report. 

The five periods of occupation for the region proposed by Eric Bergland (Bergland 1984) cover 

approximately 12,000 years and include: Early Prehistoric, Middle Prehistoric Early Maritime, 

Prehistoric, Northwest Coast Pattern, and Historic. On the Olympic Peninsula, the prehistoric people 

are characterized as small groups of hunters and gatherers who moved around to utilize both 

terrestrial and maritime resources. This period on the peninsula is represented by the Manis 

Mastodon site (45CA218) which attests to the hunting of large game animals. It is likely that the 

onset of the Middle Prehistoric saw an increase in the use of maritime resources such as anadromous 

fish. By the Early Maritime period, proposed to have begun around 3,000 years before present (BP), 

the use of maritime resources was well established. It is likely that the cultural manifestations of 

these later prehistoric periods resembled those of the ethnographic period, but details such as the 

existence of villages with large, cedar plankhouses are uncertain. 

During the Prehistoric Northwest Coast Pattern period, which began 1,000 years BP, chipped stone 

assemblages virtually disappeared while large plankhouse villages became prominent. As 

Welch and Daugherty note, however: “Bergland’s presumed appearance of cedar plank house 

villages at this time is based largely upon negative evidence and it may be that this type of settlement 

pattern is somewhat older, thus, there may have been many significant elements of continuity 

between the Early Maritime and Prehistoric Northwest Coast periods” (Welch and Daugherty 1988). 

Ethnography 

Ethnographically, the Refuge is located within the territory of the “Central Coastal” or 

“Straits” Salish Klallam people (Welch and Daugherty 1988). Tribal groups lived in large winter 

villages along the shoreline or at mouths of rivers to access the marine resources. The villages housed 

extended families. They utilized spits for gathering shell resources and as launch sites for fishing. 

Spits were also used for burial grounds (Kennedy 1981). During the summer season the villagers 

would break into smaller groups and move inland to gather plants and berries and to hunt. Along 

with the Quinault, the Klallam were the only Coast Salish who hunted whales (Suttles 1990). Canoes 

made of red cedar were central not only to the survival of the Klallam as a source of transportation, 

but also featured in their burial practices. In 1868, Graveyard Spit was the site of a massacre of 

Tsimshian Indians that gave the spit its name. The massacre is discussed in more detail in Section 

5.1.3. 

Contemporary 

The Klallam continue to occupy the Olympic Peninsula with tribal communities in three locations, 

consisting of the Port Gamble S’Klallam, the Lower Elwha S’Klallam, and the Jamestown 

S’Klallam, all of whom were signatories to the Point No Point Treaty of 1855. The transition from 
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5-2 Chapter 5. Human Environment 

ethnographic period to the establishment of the Bureau of Indian Affairs over their tribal structure 

has not been seamless. Initially, many Native Americans patented lands under the Indian Homestead 

Act, but policy changes reversed the trend toward private ownership. Suttles notes that “around 1875 

the Dungeness people were forced off their traditional site and bought land nearby to establish the 

settlement of Jamestown....Jamestown received federal acknowledgment in 1980” (Suttles 1990). 

According to Jamestown S’Klallam tribal history, despite the fact that they were nearly reorganized 

into a larger S’Klallam tribe with the other two groups during the Indian Reorganization Act period 

(1935-1939), the tribe chose to stay on the land they had purchased in 1875 rather than relocate 

(Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe 2012). Among the consequences of this decision was the termination of 

their recognition by the federal government in 1953. The continuity and stability of their land base 

contributed to a sense of group identity and independence. The push for recognition lasted from 1974 

until achieved on February 10, 1981. 

Known Prehistoric Sites 

While there are no prehistoric archaeological sites recorded on the Refuge, there has been very little 

systematic archaeological survey or testing conducted. A large portion of the approved boundary is 

tidelands, generally not a conducive environment for archaeological survey. Evidence of buried 

prehistoric archaeological use of the bluff above Dungeness Spit is unlikely because of the glacially 

deposited sediments. The dense forest stand generally precludes observation of the surface. However, 

the presence of known cultural resources in areas adjacent to the Refuge indicates that the potential 

exists for sites to be identified within Refuge boundaries in future. 

5.1.2 Euro-American Overview 

Although first visited by explorers as early as 1790 when Captain Manuel Quimper inspected the 

area, the first Euro-American settlers came to the Dungeness area in 1851 while the region was still 

part of the Oregon Territory. The Washington Territory, which separated from Oregon Territory in 

1853, established Clallam County in 1854 (Welch and Daugherty 1988). Within the next few years, a 

thriving community was established east of what is now the Refuge. Whiskey Flat was named as the 

county seat in an 1860 election, though two years later New Dungeness was designated as such. 

These two communities were located essentially in the same location; the latter was located above 

the former on the bluffs. By 1892, the present location of the town of Dungeness was established as 

the community center (Kennedy 1981). The heavily forested bluff margin northwest of the Whiskey 

Flat and Dungeness communities was not developed during the early historic period. 

The New Dungeness Light Station, which began operating in 1857, was built by the Lighthouse 

Board at the behest of Congress. The lighthouse, located at the end of Dungeness Spit, is discussed in 

more detail in Section 5.1.3. Travel during the nineteenth century was primarily along the coastline 

by watercraft, few roads were constructed through the very dense, rugged terrain of the interior. The 

earliest road from Sequim to Port Angeles was not developed until 1890-1891. The timbered slopes 

and old growth forests supplied lumber to San Francisco during the gold rush along with the spruce 

trees needed for manufacture of World War I aircraft (Welch and Daugherty 1988). Lumber mills 

and shingle mills were established on nearly every water way around the peninsula as fluming logs 

down the rivers was the easiest method for getting the logs out of the mountains. The timber industry 

continued to be the largest economic employer into the twentieth century. 
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Agriculture and ranching is productive in pockets where micro-climates provide shelter from the very 

wet conditions of the Salish Sea. Cold weather crops such as potatoes, wheat, oats, peas, hay, and 

hops thrive. Located on the inland road system, Sequim was incorporated in 1913 and by 1914 the 

town had its own telephone franchise and electricity (Welch and Daugherty 1988). 

Establishment of Dungeness NWR 

The Refuge was established by Executive Order (E.O.) 2123 on January 20, 1915, by President 

Woodrow Wilson, for the purpose of preserving land “...as a refuge, preserve and breeding ground 

for native birds.” The original 226.02 acres were known as the Dungeness Spit Reservation. The 

name was changed to Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge on July 25, 1940, by Presidential 

Proclamation 2416. Over the years, various tracts of land and tidelands have been acquired in fee title 

or easement within the approved Refuge boundaries. Today, Dungeness NWR is 772.52 acres in size. 

During World War II, the general area was used as an Army encampment, and a 147-acre tract on 

Dungeness Spit acquired in 1940 was reserved for use by the Navy until the requirement was 

terminated in 1955. Additional tracts were added in the following decades, including the Mellus and 

Dawley properties, both acquired in the early 1970s. However, very little development of the Refuge 

was undertaken until the 1980s when the parking lot, hiking trails, and interpretive signs were 

installed. 

Dawley Unit 

The Dawley Unit is a noncontiguous parcel of the Refuge, located near the base of Sequim Bay. Born 

in Sequim in 1915, Cecil L. Dawley engaged in numerous successful local business ventures both 

before and after his stint in the Army, which ended in 1945. He and his family lived in the home on 

the Dawley Unit from 1957, purchasing property and developing ponds and pens for his bird 

collection. Mr. Dawley donated 125 acres of uplands and bay frontage to the Service in 1973. He 

continued to live on the property until his death in 2005. It was Dawley’s specific intent that the land 

be preserved as a wildlife sanctuary. 

Known Historic Sites 

With the exception of the small inholding owned by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) at the end of 

Dungeness Spit, all parcels within the approved boundary of Dungeness NWR are currently owned 

under fee title or managed through easements, and consist primarily of tidelands and beach. 

On those parcels where habitation is feasible, historic features associated with previous landowners 

can and do occasionally occur. Some upland habitat occurs in the bluff above Dungeness Spit and on 

the Dawley Unit. However, historic use of the bluff was isolated, with just a few homesteads and 

settlers in the nineteenth century. Use was limited until roads were established. In the 1940s, the 

military used the area for an encampment and training ground. 

The bluff area is heavily forested, far from transportation corridors, and lacks productive agricultural 

values. Therefore, settlement and development of this area lagged behind property closer to the 

community centers. Based on previous surveys and background research, prehistoric, ethnographic, 

and early historic period archaeological resources are not expected in the bluff area. 
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5.1.3 Current Knowledge of Local Cultural Resources and Archeological Sites 

Occurring On Refuge Lands 

Graveyard Spit: 45CA238H – T31N R4W Section 24, 25 and T31N R3W Section 13, Dungeness 

7.5-minute USGS quad 

The 1969 National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) nomination form for Graveyard Spit 

describes the event that made Graveyard Spit significant at the local level: 

“On September 21, 1868, a party of Chimsean Indians consisting of 10 men, 8 women, and 

one child left Port Ludlow for Victoria. The Port Discovery Indians hearing of this, 

concocted a plan to murder and rob them, and started to Dungeness to obtain the assistance of 

the Sequim (Squim) and Dungeness Indians (in which they were successful). In the 

meantime, the Chimseans had camped on Dungeness Spit (Graveyard Spit) near the 

Lighthouse and erected a sail-tent to accommodate all 19; shortly after midnight, the 

Sklallams cut the tent ropes and let the tent fall on the sleeping Chimseans; when one party of 

the Sklallams drew their knives and spears and stabbed them through the tent 

indiscriminately; the other party of Sklallams seized their guns and revolvers, and shot and 

killed all excepting one women [sic] who secreted herself under a mat and thereby saved her 

life. Captain James G. Swan relates that the Indian woman was cared for by the wife of 

Benjamin Ranie of New Dungeness, a Chimsean. Later she was sent back to her home at Fort 

Simpson, Canada. With the woman went all the things recovered from the site and a lot of 

presents sent to the Chimseans, many of which were from the Clallam Indians. The British 

Columbia Colonist, the Seattle Intelligencer, the Port Townsend Weekly Argus, and the 

Olympia Territorial Republican for the year of 1868, tell of the massacre. 

From the report of the Secretary of Interior, 2nd session, 41st Congress, 1869-1870, No. 

3414, Washington Government Printing Office, Washington Superintendency No. 1, T.J. 

McKenny, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, reports on August 14, 1869 to Bureau of Indian 

Affairs, on the Chimsean Indian massacre, saying some law should be passed for the 

punishment of the crimes of Indians committed among themselves. The offenders were 

arrested and required to work with ball and chain for 6 months on their reservation.” 

According to Jamestown S’Klallam history (Duncan 2012), the massacre was in retaliation for the 

theft by the Tsimshian: 

 

“of one of Lame Jack’s wives and his son. Stealing members from other tribes was a 

common practice. The stolen person may be sold or kept for slavery. When an offence 

occurred there could have been a payment made to counteract the wrong done to Lame Jack. 

As a payment did not occur then the S’Klallam saw revenge as the means to right the wrong 

done to a member of their Tribe. Revenge was another common practice of Coastal Indians. 

After a couple of years Lame Jack’s wife and child made it back after having escaped their 

captors.” 

Determination of Eligibility: Graveyard Spit was nominated for the NRHP by the Clallam 

County Historical Society at a local level of significance in 1969. It does not appear that the 

nomination form was ever forwarded for consideration. 
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Status: Although not listed on the NRHP, the resource “is listed on the State Register by being 

recognized for its value and determined a significant cultural resource of the state” (DAHP 2012). 

Dungeness Canoe: Found on Graveyard Spit near its southern tip 

According to Refuge records, a Native American canoe was recovered from Graveyard Spit in 

1980. Although locals reportedly had known about its existence and location since the 1930s, it 

remained on the spit, susceptible to wildfires, winds, and illegal removal, prompting staff at the 

Refuge to urge for its recovery and protection. Experts estimated the age to ca. 1830s (150 years old 

in 1980) and considered it to be a significant find representing Pacific Northwest Indian 

craftsmanship (USFWS 1981). A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the USFWS and 

the Sequim-Dungeness Museum was prepared for conservation and permanent exhibition of the 

canoe. 

Status: The canoe was transferred to the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe on September 4, 1994 through 

an agreement with the Sequim Museum and Arts Center. It is currently on display at the Jamestown 

S’Klallam tribal cemetery. 

New Dungeness Light Station: 45CA242H – T31N R3W Section 18 Dungeness 7.5-minute 

USGS quad 

The New Dungeness Light Station is located near the end of Dungeness Spit in a small inholding 

owned by the U.S. Coast Guard. The NRHP nomination includes the following information about the 

property: 

“The New Dungeness Light station was the first federal navigational aid constructed north of 

the Columbia River. Lighted in December, 1857 (just a few weeks before the light on 

Tatoosh Island), the station consists of the original lighthouse with tower and a nearby 

keepers’ residence built in 1904. The Light station is situated at the tip of Dungeness Spit in 

the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and has served for nearly 140 years as a maritime beacon in an 

area plagued by strong storms, dense fog, and heavy commercial traffic. Although the tower 

was lowered in the early 20th century, the station retains excellent integrity and remains an 

enduring symbol of the historic lighthouses of Washington.” 

Determination of Eligibility: The light station was determined to be significant at the state level and 

nominated to the NRHP in 1993. It was listed the same year (#93001338). The property was 

determined eligible under Criterion A – it was associated with events that have made a significant 

contribution to the broad patterns of our history, in this case the area of significance was Maritime 

History and the period of significance was 1857-1942. 

Status: The property continues to be listed on the NRHP. It is currently managed on a day-to-day 

basis by the New Dungeness Light Station Association, a nonprofit volunteer organization. In the 

event that the USCG declares the light station property excess to its needs, the Service will work with 

the USCG to bring the light station property into the Refuge System either through interagency 

cooperative management agreement or property transfer. The Service would then work with the New 

Dungeness Light Station Association to develop an agreement for the continued management and 

maintenance of the light station facilities. 

Mellus Cabin: T31N R4W Section 27 Dungeness 7.5-minute USGS quad 

The Mellus Cabin was recorded in 2006 (Speulda 2006). Based on a review of maps and an 

understanding of the military timeline, it appears that the cabin was likely built sometime in the early 
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5-6 Chapter 5. Human Environment 

1950s. Walter B. Mellus purchased the parcel in 1940 with no improvements during a period when 

the military presence may have limited his access to the area. He lived in the cabin along with a 

caretaker until his death in 1973, a year after the land had been sold to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service. Although the initial Service inventory documented two cabins and an outhouse on the 

parcel, when it was recorded in 2006 only the original 10 x 23-foot cabin remained. The cabin was 

remodeled prior to acquisition by the Service and was subsequently renovated in the 1980s to serve 

as temporary Refuge staff housing. A garage was added in 1992. The Cabin currently serves as 

quarters for a full-time volunteer Refuge caretaker. 

Determination of Eligibility: It was determined that the Mellus Cabin does not meet NRHP eligibility 

criteria. The cabin was constructed after World War II and is not associated with any historic period, 

theme, or event. Mr. Mellus was not a prominent citizen in the area and does not appear in the 

historical record. The cabin’s original appearance may have been rustic, but changes over the years 

destroyed the original characteristics. No archaeological materials were noted. 

Status: Although slated for demolition since 2006, the cabin is still standing as of May 2013. 

“Signal Station” Foundations and Debris: Graveyard Spit, Dungeness 7.5-minute USGS quad 

The site consists of an assemblage of historic materials including cement foundations, pier blocks, 

septic tank, cistern, brick, tile, ceramic fragments, metal fragments, and some glass. Field notes taken 

in 2006 (Valentine 2006) indicate that a member of the local historical society referred to the location 

as a World War II era signal station. However, this fact has not been confirmed. The site has not been 

formally recorded or evaluated. 

Dawley Unit Structures: T29N R3W S2 Sequim 7.5-minute USGS quad 

Several structures constructed over 50 years ago are located on the Dawley Unit, including the main 

residence and multiple outbuildings (See Section 5.2, Refuge Facilities) 

None of these structures have been formally recorded, nor have they been evaluated for historic 

significance, a process which must be accomplished prior to any proposed demolition or remodeling. 

5.1.4 Current Knowledge of Local Cultural Resources and Archeological Sites 

Located Near Refuge Lands 

Known Cultural Resources Occurring Off-refuge 

A record search documented several additional cultural resources—both prehistoric and historic, sites 

and isolates—that have been recorded within a one-mile radius of the Refuge boundaries. While 

these sites do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Service, they provide a context for settlement and 

commerce in the vicinity of the Refuge. The closest sites are just east of the Refuge boundary—the 

“New Dungeness” townsite (45CA231) and the Tse’esqut Village (45CA239)—located at the base of 

Cline Spit. Both sites were noted by Smith in 1907 and relate to the ethnographic period (Smith 

1907). Historic property inventories have been prepared for several houses located in Sequim that are 

greater than 50 years old. 

5.1.5 Previous Archaeological Research 

Three previous archaeological surveys of the Dungeness NWR contain information about the setting 

and potential for cultural resources within the Refuge. In 1907, Harlan L. Smith and company 
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documented numerous shell middens and burials in the vicinity of what is now Dungeness NWR. 

Smith’s survey encompassed the whole of the Gulf of Georgia and Puget Sound (Jesup North Pacific 

Expedition directed by Franz Boas of the American Museum of Natural History). According to Smith 

in his acknowledgments, William H. Thacker conducted reconnaissance on Smith’s behalf in the 

“San Juan group” during the summer of 1898. He continues, “In 1899 we examined the shell-heaps 

on Puget Sound, the Straits of Juan de Fuca as far west as New Dungeness” (Smith 1907). Site 

45CA239 Tse’esqut Village, the ethnographically recorded site near New Dungeness Townsite is 

likely one of the sites described above. 

In 1981, Robert Thomas and Hal Kennedy conducted an intensive surface survey of six sites 

proposed for development on the Dungeness NWR. Results of the investigations at these six 

locations were all negative, no cultural resources were identified (Kennedy 1981). Based on their 

research and review of other topographic areas similar to the bluff where they were surveying, 

Thomas and Kennedy prepared a list of categories of cultural resources that might be expected. 

These included isolated artifacts, burials, early archaeological sites (ca 60,000-8,000 years old), and 

ethnographically documented archaeological sites (Kennedy 1981). 

They also noted that “Because soil conditions are related to glaciomarine and recessional outwash, 

buried archaeological sites would not be expected” (Kennedy 1981). 

In 1988, Jeanne Welch and Dr. Richard Daugherty completed a survey and limited subsurface testing 

(augering) of the proposed enlargement of the parking lot at Dungeness NWR. No cultural resources 

were identified by this field effort. 

Other archaeological investigations that have occurred at Dungeness NWR include survey for a vault 

toilet installation and environs (Raymond 1989, Valentine 1993), and the evaluation of the Mellus 

Cabin (Speulda 2006). 

5.2 Refuge Facilities 

The infrastructure and facilities discussed in this section include buildings, structures, roads, parking 

lots, trails, fences, signs, and utilities. Refer to Table 5-1 and Figure 5-1 for maps showing the 

locations of existing Refuge facilities. 

5.2.1 Public Entrances and Access Points 

The primary public entrance point for the Refuge is through the entrance station located adjacent to 

the public parking area at the north end of Voice of America Road within the Clallam County 

managed Dungeness Recreation Area. Visitors can also access the Refuge from the primitive trail 

entrance station located at the northern end of the County horse trail in the Dungeness Recreation 

Area. The Refuge bluff trail is accessible from five points along the public parking area and connects 

to the County bluff trail segment but does not provide direct access to Refuge beach areas. 

Boaters may access tideland areas, which are open seasonally May 15 through September 30, 

through the Dungeness Harbor and Bay. The only boat access to dry land areas within the Refuge is 

located adjacent to the New Dungeness Light Station. The boat landing zone is designated by two 

yellow posts and is directly south of the lighthouse on the south side of Dungeness Spit. Reservations 
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are required to land and boaters are required to stay on the designated trail from the beach to the 

lighthouse as areas on either side are closed to the public to protect plants and wildlife. 

5.2.2 Administrative Buildings and Other Structures 

Dungeness Unit Buildings and Structures 

The Washington Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Complex headquarters is located at 715 

Holgerson Road in Sequim, Washington. Public access is located at the north end of Voice of 

America Road in the Dungeness Recreation Area. The headquarters consists of an administrative 

building (3,756 square feet), shop building (3,848 square feet), and an equipment storage building 

(2,220 square feet), all completed in 2009. 

Additional buildings and structures include the Mellus Cabin (See Section 5.1.3) which is located in 

the forest on the bluff above the base of Dungeness Spit where the primitive trail joins the main trail 

and descends to the beach. Although the property was purchased by Mr. Mellus in 1940, the cabin 

(750 square feet) was not constructed until sometime in the early 1950s. The Mellus Cabin is 

currently used as a volunteer office and as the Refuge caretaker’s residence. There is a septic system 

associated with the residence. Adjacent to the Mellus Cabin is an equipment storage garage built in 

1992 (400 square feet) and a pump house built in 1973 which services a well drilled in the 1940s. 

In 2011, the Service constructed a new entrance station in the “Northwest” timber frame style 

adjacent to the public parking area at the main trailhead. The station includes two structures, a fee 

station, and an interpretive kiosk with an attached structure containing three public trash/recycle 

cans. The facility includes four wood outdoor benches and a metal bicycle rack. A garbage storage 

structure located near the public restrooms was also constructed in a similar style and includes a 

dumpster and three public trash/recycle cans. There is a second smaller fee station constructed in 

1987 located at the primitive trailhead. 

There are two viewing decks totaling 1,300 square feet near the north end of the primitive and main 

trails adjacent to the Mellus Cabin with benches and telescopes overlooking the Dungeness Spit. The 

upper deck is wheelchair accessible. The Refuge leases a public restroom facility and drinking 

fountain (425 square feet) built in 1973 from Clallam County. It is located next to the public parking 

area, also leased from Clallam County, adjacent to the main Refuge entrance station and includes a 

1,000 gallon twin vault septic system and drain field constructed around 2005 and located to the west 

of the building. However, that system is not able to handle the heavy use associated with the busiest 

visitor use days the Refuge experiences. 

In 2011, the Service constructed an additional septic system for that facility on County property to 

increase capacity. A 2,000 gallon pump tank was added with a high capacity pump and aqua works 

controls. A much larger drain-field was added and includes ten 3 x 1 foot trenches, five measuring 60 

feet in length and five measuring 70 feet in length. Pipe was installed in each trench which is 

designed to equally disperse effluent. The old system was left in place and a connecting valve was 

added to allow selection of the old or new system depending on needs. 

Dungeness Unit – Other Infrastructure 

Infrastructure at the Refuge Complex headquarters includes an on-site wastewater treatment/disposal 

system with two 1,000-gallon septic tanks, 250 linear feet of 4-inch diameter PVC effluent piping, 

and two gravel-less 60-foot long chamber drainfields; all installed in 2009. The domestic water 
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Chapter 5. Human Environment 5-9 

system is tied to the Dungeness Recreation Area’s domestic water which is supplied by a community 

water company. It is comprised of 800 linear feet of 3-inch diameter PVC pipe, a 500-gallon storage 

tank, booster pump/controls, 1-inch diameter flowmeter, pressure sustaining valve, and 240 linear 

feet of 2-inch diameter PVC piping to the office building. The electrical infrastructure includes 

underground utilities (15 KV underground power cable in 2-inch PVC conduit (137 linear feet offsite and 643 linear feet on-site)); 75 KVA transformer; CT enclosure; 2 electric meters; and two 2- 

inch diameter conduits with underground power to the office, all installed in 2009. 

Dawley Unit 

There are 21 buildings, ponds and other substantial structures located on the Dawley Unit which is 

closed to all public access. In addition there is a 2,640 linear foot water distribution system to and 

from the large earthen impoundment pond south of Highway 101 constructed in 1964. Table 5-1 lists 

each structure including size, condition, and year constructed and/or deconstructed. Structure 

locations are identified by number on the associated map (Figure 5-1). 

5.2.3 Fencing and Boundary Markers 

Dungeness Unit Fences 

Fencing on the Dungeness Unit falls into two general categories, split rail and plank rail. There is 

split rail and/or plank fencing surrounding most of the headquarters complex as well as delineating 

the Refuge property from the County recreation area. There is also plank rail fencing delineating the 

area which is closed to the public around the Mellus Cabin from the public trail. A few small fence 

sections also line both the main and primitive trails to discourage visitors from creating illegal 

“social” trail shortcuts. 

Split Rail Fencing 

In 2009, contractors installed 953 linear feet of split rail fencing on the southern and eastern 

boundary of the headquarters complex as part of the new headquarters construction. That fence 

includes an electronic security gate at the north end of Holgerson Road. Later in 2009, Refuge 

volunteers installed an additional 247 linear feet of split rail fencing in the staff parking area, around 

the new Complex office entrance, and at the entrance to the primitive trail. In 2011, 134 linear feet of 

split rail fence was added between the overflow parking area and the office path and behind the fee 

station. 

Plank Rail Fencing 

In 2011, contractors added 84 linear feet of heavy plank rail fencing between the office path and the 

main trail and an additional 30 linear feet between the entrance to the bluff trail and the parking 

space closest to the kiosk. This fence was very similar in style to the existing fence which fairly 

accurately delineates the boundary between the Refuge and the County Recreation Area. The primary 

difference is that the old fencing incorporated round creosote treated posts and the new fencing uses 

square untreated cedar posts. The old fence runs 1,389 linear feet from east of the garage building to 

the west end of the public parking lots and includes breaks or gaps for the primitive and main trail, 

the Refuge entrance station, the bluff trail entrance and four parking lot access points along the bluff 

trail. 

The Mellus Cabin is separated from the main trail by 206 linear feet of plank rail fencing and there is 

146 linear feet of fence separating the primitive trail from the main trail adjacent to the cabin. Three 
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additional sections of plank rail fence totaling 128 linear feet are located along the main trail and one 

measuring 33 linear feet is located in the forest near the middle section of the primitive trail. 

Dawley Unit Fences 

The Dawley Unit has 920 linear feet of chain link fencing, mostly north and east of the three 

“natural” ponds and around the stone shed. That fence includes two double gates (one unhinged) and 

one single gate. There is another double gate separating the Olympic Discovery Trail from the main 

residence driveway. An additional 306 linear feet of wire fencing stretching from the mobile home to 

the stone shed was installed by the Discovery Trail during construction. 

Saltwater Pilings 

The Refuge currently maintains 13 plastic covered steel core pilings with regulatory signs 

demarcating the Refuge boundary in Dungeness Bay and Harbor. 

Table 5-1. Refuge Structures on Dawley Unit (refer to Figure 5-1 for locations) 

Structure 

Size, 

sq. ft. 

Septic 

syst. 

Yr. 

Built Condition Removed Tract 

1 Main residence 4,393 yes 1935 Fair North 

2 Old rental house * 896 yes 1964 Poor South 

3 Mobile home * 808 yes 1974 Poor North 

4 & Small shed no 

5 Large shed 720 no 1930 Poor North 

6 Metal garage 1,090 no 1990 Good North 

7 Aviary shed 990 no 1965 Foundation 2011 North 

8 Small aviary 227 no 1963 Foundation 2011 North 

9 Pentagon aviary 16 no 1975 Foundation 2011 North 

10 Rectangle aviary 1,200 no 1975 Foundation 2011 North 

11 Stone shed 288 no 1939 Fair North 

12 Beach house * 1,024 yes 1960 Poor North 

13 Wood dock * 59.44 - 1952 Fair North 

14 Concrete bulkhead * - 

15 Pole barn * Unknown no 1964 Collapsed South 

16 Impoundment Large - 1964 Good South 

17 Brick “well” Very small - Fair North 

18 Concrete pond Small - Breached 2011 North 

19 “Natural” pond 1 - - North 

20 “Natural” pond 2 - - North 

21 “Natural” pond 3 - - North 

* The Service plans to evaluate the removal of structures 2, 3, 12, 13, 14, and 15 and decommission 

any associated septic systems. Note: Only the rental house removal may be associated with the 

Washington Department of Transportation’s upcoming highway project. 
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Figure 5-1. Refuge Structures on Dawley Unit (refer to Table 5-1 for numbered references) 
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The back sides of maps are blank to improve readability. 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

Chapter 5. Human Environment 5-13 

5.2.4 Roads and Trails 

Dungeness Unit Roads 

The Refuge Complex Headquarters compacted gravel access road located at the northern end of 

Holgerson Road is 490 feet long and was completed and chip sealed in 2009. It provides access to all 

three buildings at the headquarters and includes a staff parking area with room for approximately 7 

vehicles. The parking area also includes a 12 x 36-foot concrete RV pad with water and electrical 

hook-ups and a sewage discharge connection. 

Refuge visitors can park in one of two parking lots leased from Clallam County at the north end of 

Voice of America Road in the Dungeness Recreation Area. The main lot is chip sealed and contains 

63 vehicle spaces including two Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant parking spaces. 

The “overflow” lot is a mixture of compact gravel and chip seal and contains spaces for 12 additional 

vehicles including one concrete paver ADA compliant disabled parking space. There is an 

emergency and maintenance beach access road and right of way through private property at the end 

of West Anderson Drive. That access includes a locked gate and is not available to the public. 

Dawley Unit Roads 

There is no public access to the Dawley Unit and no public roads. There is 1,164 linear feet of 

concrete roadway, 5,856 linear feet of gravel road, and 52,545 linear feet of dirt “skid” roads within 

the unit providing access to various locations. 

Dungeness Unit Trails 

Public access to the Refuge Complex headquarters from the Refuge entrance station and parking area 

is via a 404 linear feet concrete paver walkway which incorporates an ABA/ADA compliant parking 

space. The main trail connects the entrance station to the Dungeness Spit and is 2,115 linear feet. It is 

constructed of compacted gravel and was resurfaced and modified in 2011. The bluff trail is a dirt 

trail measuring 740 linear feet extending from the Refuge entrance station to the western end of the 

public parking area. The primitive trail is also a dirt trail measuring 3,110 linear feet and connects to 

the Dungeness Recreation Area horse trail on the south end and to the Refuge main trail on the north 

end. In 2009, the entrance to primitive trail was relocated approximately 30 feet east to align with the 

County horse trail and to facilitate the installation of the brick paver path connecting the Refuge 

Office with the entrance station. The old trail entrance was rehabilitated. 

Although they are not maintained hiking trails, Refuge visitors can also hike on the beach on the 

Strait of Juan de Fuca side from the western Refuge boundary to the lighthouse compound. The 

Dungeness Harbor side of the Spit from the base to the 1⁄2 mile marker is open to public hiking from 

May 15 through September 30. 

5.2.5 Signs 

The Service maintains informational, interpretive, and regulatory signage in accordance with 

standard Service policy; however, due to the maritime nature of the Dungeness National Wildlife 

Refuge, a series of nonstandard “large format” signs have been utilized on shoreline areas. These 

heavy duty signs measure approximately 5 feet wide by 4.5 feet tall. Such signs are used in 

particularly sensitive habitat areas susceptible to disturbance by watercraft and warn boaters to 

remain 200 yards from shore where possible to protect wildlife. The size allows for text large enough 

to be clearly legible from a distance. See Appendix H for a complete sign inventory. 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

5-14 Chapter 5. Human Environment 

5.3 Public Use Overview 

Upon establishment, all national wildlife refuges in the lower 48 states are closed to public use unless 

specifically designated as open. The Refuge Recreation Act of 1962 authorizes recreational uses of 

refuges only when such uses do not interfere with the refuge’s primary purposes and when funds are 

available for development, operation, and maintenance of those uses. The National Wildlife Refuge 

System Administration Act of 1966 further stipulates that all uses of a refuge must be compatible 

with the purpose(s) for which the refuge was established. 

Dungeness NWR offers visitors a limited variety of recreation opportunities. The Refuge includes 

areas that are open for public use year-round and areas that are open only seasonally, depending on 

the needs of Refuge wildlife. Some portions of the Refuge are closed to visitors year-round for the 

benefit of wildlife. The Dungeness NWR is divided into five public use zones. Table 5-2 provides a 

description of the zones as well as a summary of the areas open and closed to public uses and the 

types of uses that are allowed in each zone. Figure 2-3 also depicts the five public use zones. Under 

the management direction described within this CCP, public use activities on the Refuge will include: 

 Fishing (saltwater) 

 Shellfishing (clams and crabs) 

 Wildlife observation 

 Wildlife photography 

 Hiking 

 Boating (no wake allowed) 

 Jogging 

 Horseback riding (should alternative access be obtained per compatibility determination) 

 Beach use (wading, other recreational beach uses) 

 Environmental education 

 Environmental interpretation 

While there is no hunting allowed on the Refuge, there is waterfowl hunting taking place on adjacent 

lands and waters (See Section 5.8, Regional Recreational Opportunities). There is also some 

waterfowl hunting occurring illegally on Refuge waters (See Section 5.6.1, Illegal Refuge Uses). 

The 1997 Final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Management of Public Use for Dungeness 

National Wildlife Refuge established that personal water craft (jet skiing) and wind surfing are 

incompatible with Refuge purposes (USFWS 1997a). Hiking, wildlife observation and photography, 

boating, recreational fishing, jogging, beach use and horseback riding were determined to be 

compatible with the modifications outlined in the EA. Environmental education, tribal fishing, 

research, and permitted special uses were also found compatible. 

In July 2006 the Service published its Appropriate Refuge Use Policy (603 FW 1). Under this policy 

refuge managers are directed to determine if a new or existing public use is an appropriate refuge 

use. If an existing use is not appropriate, the refuge manager is directed to modify the use to make it 

appropriate or terminate it, as expeditiously as practicable. In the Draft CCP/EA, the Service made 

preliminary findings and determinations regarding the appropriateness and compatibility of each use 

included in each alternative (USFWS 2012a). Appropriateness findings and compatibility 

determinations have been revised and finalized for each use included in the management direction. 

Appropriateness and compatibility are further discussed in Chapter 2 and Appendices A and B. 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

Chapter 5. Human Environment 5-15 

Table 5-2. Refuge Areas Open and Closed to the Public and Allowed Uses by Zone 

Zone Description Open Closed Allowed Activities 

Zone 1 West beach below the 

bluffs, west of 

Dungeness Spit 

Year-round N/A Saltwater fishing, wildlife 

observation and photography, 

hiking, and recreational beach 

use (including jogging) 

Weekdays 

only: 4/1 to 

9/30 

Daily: 10/1 

to 3/31 

Weekends: 4/1 

to 9/30 and 

Memorial 

Day, the 

Fourth of July, 

and Labor Day 

Horseback riding (reservations 

required) should an alternative 

access route be developed 

Bluffs above the west 

beach 

N/A Year-round N/A 

Zone 2 First 1⁄2 mile of beach on 

Dungeness Spit facing 

the Strait of Juan de 

Fuca 

Year-round N/A Saltwater fishing, wildlife 

observation and photography, 

hiking, and recreational beach 

use 

First 1⁄2 mile of beach on 

Dungeness Spit facing 

Dungeness Harbor 

5/15 to 9/30

(foot access 

only) 

10/1 to 5/14 Clamming/crabbing, wildlife 

observation and photography, 

and hiking 

Zone 3 Dungeness Spit beach 

facing the Strait of Juan 

de Fuca from 1⁄2 mile 

(the end of Zone 2) to 

the New Dungeness 

Light Station 

Year-round N/A Saltwater fishing, wildlife 

observation and photography, 

and hiking 

Zone 4 Dungeness Spit beach 

facing Dungeness 

Harbor and Bay from 1⁄2 

mile (the end of Zone 2) 

to the New Dungeness 

Light Station, the tip of 

Dungeness Spit, and 

Graveyard Spit, 

including a 100 yard 

buffer below the mean 

high-tide line 

N/A Year-round N/A 

Zone 5 Refuge waters and 

tidelands in Dungeness 

Harbor and Dungeness 

Bay beyond the Zone 4 

100 yard buffer area 

5/15 to 9/30

(boat access 

only) 

10/1 to 5/14 Clamming/crabbing, wildlife 

observation and photography, 

and boating (no wake) 

 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

5-16 Chapter 5. Human Environment 

5.4 Wildlife-Dependent Public Uses 

Wildlife-dependent public uses are voluntary, leisure time pursuits which require the presence of, or 

proximity to: fish, wildlife, or wildlands. Wildlife-dependent uses in the National Wildlife Refuge 

System generally refer to hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental 

education and interpretation. With the exception of hunting, all of these uses occur at Dungeness 

NWR. 

Some uses are not wildlife-dependent but do facilitate the pursuit of wildlife-dependent activities. 

Examples of nonwildlife-dependent uses occurring at Dungeness NWR that may facilitate fishing or 

wildlife observation and photography include hiking, boating, and recreational beach uses such as 

wading, picnicking, or sunbathing. These uses are described in Section 5.5, Other Refuge Uses. 

 

5.4.1 Fishing and Shellfishing 

A limited amount of hook-and-line saltwater fishing occurs on the Strait of Juan de Fuca side of 

Zones 1, 2, and 3. These three zones are open year-round to fishing activities (except the harbor side 

of Zone 2 is closed October 1 through May 14). Shellfishing occurs on the tidelands in Dungeness 

Harbor and Dungeness Bay in Zones 2 and 5. Both Zones 2 and 5 are open to shellfishing from May 

15 through September 30. Visitors are allowed to access Zone 2 by foot only and Zone 5 by boat 

only. In Zone 5, shellfishing is restricted to beyond 100 yards from the mean high tide line. 

Shellfishing in the Refuge does not include oyster harvesting; all oysters in the area are privately 

owned. All Washington State fishing regulations apply to fishing and shellfishing activities in the 

Refuge. Use of the Refuge for fishing and shellfishing is limited because there are areas in the local 

vicinity that offer higher quality opportunities for these experiences. No developed facilities exist to 

support fishing or shellfishing. 

5.4.2 Wildlife Observation and Photography 

Wildlife observation and wildlife photography are the primary wildlife-dependent activities 

occurring on the Refuge. Visitors to Dungeness NWR can enjoy wildlife observation and 

photography opportunities in any of the areas open to public use. Wildlife observation and 

photography can occur year-round along the upland trails and the beach in Zone 1; along the Strait of 

Juan de Fuca in Zones 2 and 3; and seasonally in Zones 2 and 5. Access restrictions dictate that 

wildlife observation and photography can only occur via foot access in Zones 1, 2, and 3; or by boat 

in Zone 5. There are two observation decks with viewing scopes at Dungeness NWR. The upper deck 

is equipped with two viewing scopes and the lower deck with one. The observation decks are located 

approximately 3/8 mile from the parking area and can be reached via the main and primitive trails. 

5.4.3 Environmental Education and Interpretation 

The Refuge is a popular outdoor classroom for a variety of organizations, including school groups 

from elementary to university level. Instructors arrange for educational field trips to the Refuge and 

these groups often assist the Refuge with service projects. Projects include removing Styrofoam, 

plastics, and other debris from Refuge lands. The Refuge does not offer formal education programs 

but supports instructors who use the Refuge as a classroom. 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

Chapter 5. Human Environment 5-17 

There are a number of interpretive panels and other informational sources at the Refuge. Interpretive 

panels are located in the kiosk area near the parking lot and along the trail. Subjects include wildlife 

and habitat, human history, citizen science, and marine debris. Additional panels are planned for both 

overlooks. The Refuge also offers visitors an interpretive brochure, wildlife checklist, and various 

other publications. In addition, the Refuge takes advantage of volunteer subject matter experts to 

present interpretive programs about the Refuge’s habitat resources and geomorphologic processes 

(i.e., spit formation). 

The New Dungeness Light Station Association volunteers provide interpretive information to 

lighthouse visitors about the light station and its role in local maritime history. There is also a Refuge 

interpretive exhibit in the lighthouse. A map panel with Refuge regulations is located at the light 

station boat landing zone. Regulatory information signs are located off-Refuge at the Dungeness 

Landing County Park and Cline Spit Community Beach boat launches. 

Graveyard Spit has been a designated Resource Natural Area (RNA) since 1990. Activities are 

limited to research, study, observation, monitoring, and education; and must be nondestructive and 

nonmanipulative; and must maintain the area in an unmodified condition. The natural processes must 

be allowed to predominate without human intervention. Public access to Graveyard Spit is not 

allowed; research arrangements and permits must be specifically granted by the Service. 

5.5 Other Refuge Uses 

In addition to wildlife-dependent public uses, refuges can sometimes offer experiences that are 

nonwildlife-dependent. Examples of nonwildlife-dependent uses include swimming or wading, 

horseback riding, jogging, and hiking or recreational boating purely for the sake of hiking or boating, 

respectively. The nonwildlife-dependent uses allowed and occurring at Dungeness NWR are 

described below. 

5.5.1 Hiking 

Some nonwildlife-dependent uses on the Refuge enable visitors to enjoy wildlife-dependent 

activities. For example, hiking allows visitors to engage in wildlife observation and photography. 

Hiking is also enjoyed simply for the sake of hiking as an experience. Hiking occurs along 

designated upland trails and on Refuge beaches. The main and primitive upland trails begin at the 

parking area and meander through the forest to an overlook on the bluff above Dungeness Spit. They 

join and continue down a steep hill to the spit, emerging from the forest at the interface of public use 

Zones 1 and 2. Hikers may choose to head west on the beach adjacent to the bluffs or east onto 

Dungeness Spit where they can continue another five miles to the New Dungeness Light Station. 

5.5.2 Boating 

Boating is another example of a nonwildlife-dependent activity that can support wildlife-dependent 

recreation as well as be enjoyed for the sake of the activity itself. Parts of the Refuge are only 

accessible by boat and, like hiking, recreational boating can allow visitors to engage in wildlife 

observation and photography in those areas. Recreational boating also affords visitors seasonal 

opportunities to engage in shellfishing on the Refuge tidelands in Dungeness Harbor and Dungeness 

Bay. 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

5-18 Chapter 5. Human Environment 

Boats can be used to access the New Dungeness Light Station. There is a designated boat landing 

zone south of the lighthouse that is open year-round; reservations are required. The reservation 

system allows Refuge staff to document visitation and limit the number of boat landings in order to 

minimize wildlife disturbances, if necessary. Boat landings are limited to lighthouse hours, 9 am to 5 

pm. The narrow landing zone on the bay side of Dungeness Spit is the only area on the bay and 

harbor side of the spit in which boats are allowed to land within the 100-yard buffer zone. It is an 

unimproved section of beach with no facilities. Visitors must remain on the trail from the landing 

area to the lighthouse to minimize disturbance to wildlife. 

Kayaks are a popular means for visiting the area. Several kayak outfitters offer guided tours to 

Dungeness NWR and the New Dungeness Light Station. Kayaks launch from Dungeness Landing or 

Cline Spit and may travel through Refuge waters seasonally to reach the landing zone at the 

lighthouse. While most of the tours occur in summer, some are also offered in the winter. 

Although they are popular activities nearby, jet skiing and windsurfing are not allowed in the Refuge. 

All waters within the Refuge boundary are designated as no-wake zones. To protect wildlife, the 

Refuge has established a buffer that extends out 100 yards from the mean high tide line. 

5.5.3 Horseback Riding 

Under the management direction described within this CCP, horseback riding will be allowed with 

stipulations in Zone 1 (the beach area west of Dungeness Spit, below the bluffs) if a safe and legal 

alternate access route from the west or east can be obtained. If access is obtained from the east, 

horseback use of a Refuge-owned service road to the beach will also be allowed. Horseback riding 

will require advanced reservations through the Refuge Office. Riding will be permitted daily from 

October 1 through March 31 and on weekdays from April 1 through September 30, excluding 

Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day. The reservation system will be used to document 

visitation and avoid overcrowding. For more information see Chapter 2, and Appendices A and B. 

5.5.4 Jogging 

Under the management direction of this CCP, jogging is allowed in Zone 1 and on the bluff trail 

adjacent to the Refuge parking lot. Jogging is not allowed in Zones 2 and 3. Organized running 

events are not allowed. Groups are limited to 3 people or less to minimize wildlife disturbance and 

conflicts with other Refuge visitors. For more information see Chapter 2, and Appendices A and B. 

5.5.5 Other Recreational Beach Use 

Other recreational beach use includes wading, picnicking, sunbathing, and other passive, 

nonconsumptive uses not described above. These beach uses are allowed in Zones 1 and 2, along the 

beach facing the Strait of Juan de Fuca. These zones are the most accessible areas via the trail from 

the parking area. 

In order to protect migrating birds and other wildlife from disturbance, jet skis, windsurfing, pets, 

bicycles, kites, Frisbees, boomerangs, and balls are not allowed on the Refuge. More information 

about illegal uses is provided in the next section. 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

Chapter 5. Human Environment 5-19 

5.6 Illegal Uses 

5.6.1 Illegal Refuge Uses 

The most frequent illegal uses occurring on the Refuge include nonpayment of the required entrance 

fee, and after hours and closed area trespass. Occurring less frequently are dog walking, bicycle 

riding, littering, climbing on closed bluffs, beach combing and collecting (including drift wood 

collection), and unauthorized boat landings and entry into closed waters. Additional incidental illegal 

uses include fishing (shellfish and finfish) out of season, water fowl hunting, camping, fires, graffiti 

and other vandalism. Nonwildlife-dependent recreational activities that disturb wildlife such as 

jogging in areas closed to that activity, kite flying, and ball sports occasionally occur on the Refuge. 

Illegal uses persist partly due to limited law enforcement presence and a lack of public awareness of 

the sensitivity of Refuge wildlife to human disturbance. There is currently one dual-function Federal 

Wildlife Officer assigned to cover all six refuges within the Washington Maritime National Wildlife 

Refuge Complex. Refuge staff coordinates with other Federal officers/agents and works with the 

U.S. Coast Guard as well as State, county, and local law enforcement offices. 

5.7 Refuge Visitation 

5.7.1 Visitation 

The Refuge is a popular regional destination. However, determining actual visitation is problematic 

due the Refuge’s “honor” system where visitors are required to enter the number of people in their 

party on their fee payment envelope and because there is no mechanism in place to count Refuge 

boaters, except those that make reservations to land at the historic lighthouse. Some visitors simply 

do not fill out the required information and others illegally bypass the fee station altogether. As such, 

Refuge visitation is estimated by adding an additional 15% to the total visitor count attained from fee 

envelopes to account for people who do not comply with the registration requirements and for 

boaters who do not land at the lighthouse and those that fail to make the required reservation. 

It is estimated that visitation in 2011 approached 76,000 people and may have actually been 

significantly higher. Construction of the new entrance station during spring and summer of 2011 may 

have negatively impacted visitation which has ranged in the past five years from relative lows of 

about 76,000 visitors in 2009 and 2011 to a high of about 80,300 in 2010. Between 2007 and 2011, 

Refuge visitation remained fairly steady (±5%) despite the onset of a severe economic recession 

suggesting the sluggish economy has not significantly impacted Refuge recreation trends. This may 

be due, in part, to the relatively low user fee of $3 per day or $12 annually per 4 adults. By 

comparison, many other popular recreation site user fees in the region are significantly higher (See 

Table 5-3, Regional Recreation Site User Fees). The local area is also considered to be a retirement 

community and many of the regular visitors possess lifetime “Senior” or “Golden Age” passes which 

cover Refuge entrance fees. 

The Refuge usually experiences the highest visitation in the summer months from June through 

August. On average, this three month period accounts for nearly half of annual visitation. It is not 

unusual to have 600 or more visitors per day during the summer and very busy days may have over 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

5-20 Chapter 5. Human Environment 

900 people. The highest single day visitation on record was Sunday, September 4th, 2011, when 

1,037 people were tallied entering the Refuge (USFWS 2012b). 

In July 2011, visitor surveys were distributed to Refuge visitors as part of a National Science 

Foundation funded research project involving Colorado State University, the National Park Service, 

the USFWS, and the National Parks Conservation Association. Of the 150 respondents who filled out 

demographic information, 11% were ages 66 and up. The two largest age groups were from 46-55 

(20%) and 56-65 (29%) (Davis et al. 2012). Demographic information for visitors to the nearby 

Olympic National Park (NP) provides additional insight into Refuge visitation. Based on a visitor 

study conducted at Olympic NP in July 2000, most of the visitor groups (64%) were family groups. 

Seventy-seven percent of the park’s visitor groups were groups of two to four people (Van Ormer et 

al. 2001). Anecdotally, Dungeness NWR sees similar visitor group sizes and, particularly during the 

summer, a similar proportion of family groups. 

While it is apparent that most visitors are seeking an outdoor recreation experience, it is difficult to 

quantify the number of visitors participating in each category. The most popular activities are hiking 

and wildlife and/or landscape viewing. Many people just want to see the Dungeness Spit and enjoy 

the panoramic views. Aside from the trails, the majority of visitors tend to congregate in the first 1⁄2 

mile of the spit making it the busiest part of the Refuge’s beach area. 

Visitor logs maintained at the New Dungeness Light Station suggest that approximately 10% of 

Refuge visitors make the 11-mile round trip hike to see the historic lighthouse. Due to the difficulty 

of tracking visits by boat, it is unknown how many recreational boaters use Refuge waters. However, 

it is estimated that an average of 275 boats visit the lighthouse each year, most of those being kayaks. 

By far the majority of visitors, at least 99%, access the Refuge via the upland trails. Of those, more 

than 98% enter on the main trail, while only about 1% enter the Refuge via the primitive trail. In past 

years, horse riders typically accounted for less than 12% of primitive trail users or just over 1% of all 

trail users, and averaged 164 rider reservations annually between 2008 and 2010 (USFWS 2012b). 

Education is also an important activity. The Refuge is used as an outdoor classroom for 

environmental education by regional schools and various organizations. Between 2007 and 2011, 117 

educational use permits were issued for the Refuge covering 879 adults and 3,496 youths. On 

average, 23 permits covering 176 adults and 699 youths are issued annually. While specific 

curriculums vary, permits require that the course of study focus on the wildlife, plants, geology, 

marine environment, or history of Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge. 

5.8 Regional Recreational Opportunities 

Dungeness NWR is located on the North Olympic Peninsula which encompasses two counties, 

Jefferson and Clallam, and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Strait of Juan de Fuca to 

the north, Puget Sound to the east, and Olympic National Park and National Forest to the south. The 

area boasts an incredible array of bays, estuaries, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, glaciers, beaches, 

mountains, forests, wetlands, farmlands, and alpine meadows. It has a great diversity of natural 

habitats and nature based recreational opportunities. The North Olympic Peninsula is well known for 

its extensive hiking, biking, camping, boating, wildlife viewing, mountaineering, snow sports, 

hunting, fishing and diving opportunities. With so much land in public ownership, the recreational 

opportunities are quite extensive. The following abbreviated synopsis is intended to provide a general 

overview of regional recreation opportunities including those available in Clallam County and in the 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

Chapter 5. Human Environment 5-21 

general vicinity of the Refuge. Furthermore, the North Olympic Peninsula is only a short drive and a 

ferry ride away from additional recreational opportunities available in the San Juan Islands; Victoria, 

British Columbia; and Canada’s Vancouver Island. 

The Olympic Peninsula encompasses more than 6,500 square miles (Richards 1984) with the 

Olympic National Forest (NF) and Olympic National Park (NP) comprising nearly one-third of the 

land area (Turner et al. 1996). See Table 5-4, Land ownership on the Olympic Peninsula, 

Washington. Currently Olympic NF includes 633,677 acres, and Olympic NP includes 922,650 acres. 

Of the more than two million acres of forests in Clallam and Jefferson counties, more than 50% is 

federally owned (RC&DC 2009). Both public and private lands are generally held in large blocks, 

and the majority of the nonfederal lands are managed for timber production by the state of 

Washington’s Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and by large private corporations. Most of 

that land is open for recreation including hunting. Small private ownerships comprise only 21% of 

the Olympic Peninsula (Turner et al 1996). 

Wilderness 

The United States Congress designated the Olympic Wilderness in 1988 (Washington Park 

Wilderness Act of 1988, Public Law 100-668 (11/16/1988)). The area, managed by the National Park 

Service, now totals 876,669 acres and is Washington’s largest Wilderness area. It is also one of the 

most diverse wilderness areas in the U.S. The heart of the Olympic Wilderness is made up of the 

rugged Olympic Mountains and some of the most pristine forests left south of the 49th Parallel. The 

temperate rainforest valleys of the west and south flanks of the mountains receive 140 to 180 inches 

of precipitation annually with Mt. Olympus (7,980 feet), the highest peak in the Olympic Mountains, 

receiving over 100 feet of snow annually (Wilderness.net 2012). 

Mt. Olympus has the third largest glacial system in the conterminous U.S. next to Mt. Rainier and 

Mt. Baker, also in Washington State. The Olympic Wilderness also contains 48 miles of wilderness 

coast including beaches, rugged headlands, tide pools, sea stacks, and coastal rainforests. Just over 

600 miles of trails lead into the interior of the park. Olympic is one of the most popular wilderness 

destinations in North America, with nearly 40,000 overnight wilderness visitors each year 

(Wilderness.net 2012). 

Recreation on Washington Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) Lands 

WDNR seeks to provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the public throughout Washington State. 

Recreation on WDNR-managed lands includes hiking, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, camping, 

off-road vehicle (ORV) driving, mountain biking, and boating. The agency provides trails and 

campgrounds in a primitive, natural setting. Most recreation on these lands takes place in the 2.2 

million acres of forests that WDNR manages as state trust lands. WDNR manages 1,100 miles of 

trails, 143 recreation sites, and a wide variety of landscapes across the state (WDNR 2012). 

WDNR’s Olympic Region, which surrounds the Olympic Peninsula, offers a variety of quality 

recreation experiences. The region has 10 campgrounds, 4 designated multi-use trails with 

approximately 40 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, motorcycling, and 

ORVs or 4x4s, as well as numerous other trails for nonmotorized activities. The majority of the 

campgrounds have river or lake access for boating, fishing, and other water activities. The region is 

located near the Olympic National Park, Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Forest, Olympic 

Experimental State Forest, as well as the many coastal beaches in the region. The region 

encompasses approximately 371,000 acres of state forest, agriculture, urban and conservation lands 

(WDNR 2012). See Table 5-5 North Olympic Peninsula Parks and Recreation Areas. 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

5-22 Chapter 5. Human Environment 

Clallam County Parks 

Clallam County manages parks in various parts of the County, primarily oriented around water. 

Recreation opportunities in the agency’s twenty parks include camping, fishing, boating, hunting, 

hiking, horse riding, picnicking, scuba diving, and beachcombing. The 216-acre Dungeness 

Recreation Area borders the Refuge and offers picnic sites (including a group picnic area), yearround camping, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and other recreation opportunities. Pets on leash are 

allowed in the park (Clallam County Parks 2012a). 

There are two other County Parks, Cline Spit and Dungeness Landing, adjacent to the Refuge. Both 

offer public restrooms, tidelands, and free boat launches. Cline Spit is approximately 2 acres in size 

and has a boat ramp for boats 17 feet long and smaller that provides access to inner Dungeness Bay. 

The park includes 240 linear feet of public tidelands. Dungeness Landing is 5.6 acres with 13 

additional acres of tidelands along the outer Dungeness Bay. Park features include a covered birding 

platform, a high water boat launch, and spectacular views of the historic New Dungeness Light 

Station and the Refuge (Clallam County Parks 2012b). See Table 5-5 North Olympic Peninsula Parks 

and Recreation Areas. 

Birding 

From ocean beaches to the Olympic Mountains, the north Olympic Peninsula offers some of the best 

birding opportunities in the Pacific Northwest. Mild winters support large numbers of ocean birds, 

including waterfowl. Spring and fall are migration times and offer great diversity in species. Due to 

diverse habitat, from rainforest to tidelands, many species remain as summer residents (OPAS 2012). 

In addition to the Refuge, the following viewing sites are recommended by the local Audubon 

Chapter. 

 Gardiner Beach, Diamond Point and Discovery Bay 

 South Sequim Bay/Blyn and Jimmycomelately Creek 

 John Wayne Marina 

 Washington Harbor, Schmuck Road, and Port Williams/Marlyn Nelson County Park 

 Dungeness Bay and 3 Crabs 

 Dungeness Recreation Area 

 Sequim’s Railroad Bridge Park and Dungeness River Audubon Center 

 Olympic National Forest: Upper waters of the Dungeness and Gray Wolf Rivers 

 Olympic National Park and Hurricane Ridge 

 Ediz Hook and Port Angeles Harbor 

 Elwha River Estuary 

 Salt Creek County Park 

 Neah Bay and Cape Flattery 

Wildlife Viewing 

Exceptional opportunities to view the region’s rich wildlife abound. One of the newest is the Whale 

Trail, a network of marine mammal viewing sites in the Pacific Northwest (Figure 5-2). The Whale 

Trail is being developed by a core team of partners including NOAA Fisheries, the Washington 

Department of Fish and Wildlife, People for Puget Sound, the Seattle Aquarium, the Olympic Coast 

National Marine Sanctuary, the Whale Museum, and Coast Watch Society. Thus far it includes 8 

sites on the Olympic Peninsula, 32 sites in total located in city, county, and state parks; Tribal lands; 

and the Washington State Ferries (Whale Trail 2012). 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

Chapter 5. Human Environment 5-23 

Figure 5-2. One of Four Whale Trail Signs along Highway 112 

on the Olympic Peninsula Photo Credit: USFWS

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS or Sanctuary) 

The Sanctuary includes 2,408 square nautical miles of marine waters off the rugged Olympic 

Peninsula coastline. The Sanctuary extends 25 to 50 miles seaward, covering much of the continental 

shelf and several major submarine canyons. The Sanctuary protects a productive upwelling zone that 

is home to marine mammals and seabirds. Along its shores are thriving kelp and intertidal 

communities teeming with fishes and other sea life. Twenty nine species of marine mammals reside 

in, or migrate through the Sanctuary. Gray whales, sea otters, harbor seals, and Steller’s and 

California sea lions can be spotted from land at many locations along the coast at some time during 

the year. Other whales including humpback whales can be seen from boats as they feed miles 

offshore. The Sanctuary receives more than three million visitors annually, many attracted by 

Olympic National Park and other natural and cultural amenities (NOAA 2012a). The Sanctuary 

surrounds all the islands comprising Flattery Rocks, Quillayute Needles, and Copalis NWRs. 

Waterfowl Hunting 

While there is no hunting allowed in the Refuge, there are public and private recreational hunting 

opportunities nearby. On October 16, 2010, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 

(WDFW) opened a new public waterfowl hunting area on the Lower Dungeness Unit west of the 

mouth of the Dungeness River off of East Anderson Road near Sequim. The 140 acre unit is open for 

waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the hunting season under a 

three-year agreement with Dungeness Farms Inc. As part of that agreement WDFW granted 

exclusive public access to Dungeness Farms to a parcel off Three Crabs Road (WDFW 2010). In 

addition, WDFW allows waterfowl hunting on State owned waters adjacent to the Refuge. 

Western Washington Pheasant Release Program

The major goal of the pheasant program in western Washington is to provide an upland bird hunting 

opportunity. The program also encourages participation from young and older-aged hunters. Because 

the cool, wet climate of western Washington combined with the lack of grain farming limits naturally 

sustained pheasant populations, 30,000 to 40,000 pheasants are released each year on about 25 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

5-24 Chapter 5. Human Environment 

release sites. The only release site in Clallam County is the Dungeness Recreation Area (DRA) 

which currently allows pheasant hunting between the first weekend in October and November 30 on 

Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (WDFW 2012b). The DRA also allows waterfowl hunting 

Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays throughout the waterfowl season. However, after completion of 

Clallam County’s Master Plan for DRA, the hunting program has been determined to no longer be a 

compatible activity and will likely be phased out after 2013 (Clallam County Parks 2008). 

Public Hunting on Private Lands 

Since about 50% of Washington is in private ownership, many public hunting opportunities rely on 

landowners opening their lands. In Washington, hunters must obtain landowner permission to hunt 

on private land. Since 1948, WDFW has worked with private landowners across the state to provide 

public access through a negotiated agreement. Landowners participating in a WDFW cooperative 

agreement retain liability protection provided under state law (RCW 4.24.210). Landowners receive 

technical services, materials for posting (signs and posts), and in some cases monetary compensation. 

During the 2010-2011 hunting season, there was one Private Lands Program cooperator in Clallam 

County providing 216 acres of hunting area (WDFW 2012a). 

Horse Riding 

Low rainfall and mild winters in the Dungeness Valley make the area ideal for year-round equestrian 

activities and there are several popular places to ride horses near the Refuge. The Dungeness 

Recreation Area provides equestrian trails which are open daily except Saturdays, Sundays and 

holidays during the hunting season. Clallam County also offers equestrian trails at Robin Hill Farm 

County Park. The Park features 195 acres of wetlands, thick forests, and large grassy meadows. 

There are approximately 2.5 miles of horseback riding trails through forests and rolling grasslands. 

Riders can also access the Olympic Discovery Trail from the Park. 

The Olympic Discovery Trail provides approximately 53 miles of hiking and biking trails in the 

lowlands between the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The trail will eventually 

span 126.2 miles from Port Townsend to the Pacific Ocean. Many parts of the trail have a horse track 

alongside; it may be a wide, dirt or packed gravel shoulder or a separated path. Between Sequim and 

Port Angeles horses are allowed from the west side of the Dungeness River Bridge to east side of the 

Morse Creek Bridge, although there is not an adequate horse track from Lake Farm Road to Morse 

Creek. Horse trailer parking and unloading is available at Robin Hill Farm County Park (PTC 2012). 

Table 5-3. Regional Recreation Site User Fees 

Site/Agency Daily Fee 7 Day Fee Annual Fee # of Visitors Covered 

Dungeness NWR $3 $12 4 adults or immediate family 

Clallam County Parks Free * 

Jefferson County Parks Free * 

Sequim/Port Angeles Parks Free 

WDFW $10 ($11.50**) $30 ($35**) 

*** 

Occupants of Private Vehicle 

WDNR $10 ($11.50**) $30 ($35**) Occupants of Private Vehicle 

WA State Parks $10 ($11.50**) $30 ($35**) Occupants of Private Vehicle 

Olympic NF $5 $30 Occupants of Private Vehicle 

Olympic NP Vehicle $15 $30 Occupants of Private Vehicle 

Individual $5 $30 Per Person 

Makah Recreation $10 Occupants of Private Vehicle 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

Chapter 5. Human Environment 5-25 

Site/Agency Daily Fee 7 Day Fee Annual Fee # of Visitors Covered 

Permit 

Olympic Game Farm $11/$12 Per Person 

* Fees charged for camping 

** Price including dealer and transaction fees 

*** Hunters, fishers, and trappers get a Vehicle Access Pass as part of their annual license fee, excluding annual 

shellfish license. 

Table 5-4. Land Ownership on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington 

Ownership Mi2 Km2 % 

Private 4,664 7,506 45 

National Park Service 2,262 3,640 22 

U.S. Forest Service 1,578 2,540 15 

Washington State 1,267 2,039 12 

Tribal 608 978 1 

County 28 45 <1 

U.S. Department of Defense 10 16 <1 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1 2 <1 

Bureau of Land Management 1 1 <1 

Source: Ratti et al. 1999. 

Table 5-5. North Olympic Peninsula Parks and Recreation Areas 

Ownership Size 

Federal 

Olympic National Park 922,650 acres 

Olympic National Forest 633,677 acres 

Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge 772.5 acres, > 50% open to the public 

permanently or seasonally 

WDNR Recreation Areas in Clallam County 

Bear Creek Campground 

Foothills ORV Trailhead and Trails 

Little River Trailhead and Trails 

Lyre River Campground 

Murdock Beach Access 

Sadie Creek Trailhead, Vista & Trail 

Striped Peak Vista, Trailhead and Trail 

WDNR Recreation Areas in Jefferson County 

Copper Mine Bottom Campground 

Cottonwood Campground 

Hoh Oxbow Campground 

Minnie Peterson Campground 

South Fork Hoh Campground 

Upper Clearwater Campground 

Willoughby Creek Day Use Area 

Yahoo Lake Campground 

WA Department of Fish and Wildlife Lands 

Bell Creek Unit 89 acres 

Chimacum Unit 109 acres 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

5-26 Chapter 5. Human Environment 

Ownership Size 

Elwha Unit 62 acres 

Lower Dungeness Unit 148 acres + 73 acres of easement 

Morse Creek Unit 133 acres 

Snow Creek-Salmon Creek Unit 156 acres 

South Sequim Bay Unit 22 acres 

Tarboo Unit Not available 

WA State Parks 

Anderson Lake SP 480 acres 

Bogachiel SP 123 acres 

Damon Point SP (WDNR Owned) 61 acres 

Dosewallips SP 425 acres 

Fort Flagler SP 784 acres 

Fort Worden SP & Conference Center 433 acres 

Grayland Beach SP 412 acres 

Griffiths-Priday Ocean SP 364 acres 

Mystery Bay SP 10 acres 

Ocean City SP 170 acres 

Old Fort Townsend SP 367 acres 

Pacific Beach 10 acres 

Pillar Point SP 4.3 acres 

Sequim Bay SP 92 acres 

Shine Tidelands SP 13 acres 

Triton Cove SP 29 acres 

Clallam County Parks 

Camp David Jr. 9.5 acres 

Clallam Bay Spit Community Beach CP 33 acres 

Cline Spit CP 2 acres 

Dungeness Landing CP 5.6 acres + 13 acres of tidelands 

Dungeness Recreation Area 216 acres 

Freshwater Bay CP 21.07 acres 

Jessie Cook Scriven CP 5 acres 

Lake Pleasant Community Beach < 2 acres 

Mary Lukes Wheeler CP 10 acres 

Panorama Vista (WDNR Owned) 3 miles of tidelands 

Port Williams (Marlyn Nelson CP) 1 acre 

Quillayute River CP 13 acres 

Robin Hill Farm CP 195 acres 

Salt Creek Recreation Area 196 acres 

Three Waters CP 8.5 acres 

Verne Samuelson Trail CP 1.5 mile trail 

Olympic Discovery Trail 120 miles planned 

 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

Chapter 5. Human Environment 5-27 

5.9 Regional Recreation Rates and Trends 

5.9.1 Outdoor Recreation Participation Rates Statewide 

The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), formerly the Interagency 

Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC), advises the State on matters of outdoor recreation. The 

RCO conducts inventories of outdoor recreation sites and opportunities, conducts studies of 

recreational participation and preferences, and periodically releases documents related to overall state 

outdoor recreation. The most recent release is the 2006 Outdoor Recreation Survey (formerly, the 

State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Planning Report – SCORP Report). 

The report identified 15 major categories of outdoor recreation, subdivided into 114 activity types or 

settings. Of these 15 major categories, walking/hiking is the number one activity with 74% of 

Washington residents participating in some type or setting of walking and/or hiking. Nature activity 

is the third most popular recreation, with 54% of residents enjoying some form of this activity. The 

report indicated observing/photographing nature and wildlife has a participation rate of 29% and that 

visiting interpretive centers has a participation rate of 15% among statewide residents (See Table 5-6, 

Major activity group participation in 2006). 

The most frequently occurring recreational activities in 2006 included walking without a pet (3.5 

million times), observing or photographing wildlife or nature (3.1 million times), walking with a pet 

(2.7 million times), jogging or running (2.3 million times), and playground recreation (2.2 million 

times). The most frequently mentioned activities that Washingtonians wanted to do more of in the 12 

months following the survey interview included sightseeing (46.9%), picnicking or cooking outdoors 

(39.4%), hiking (33.5%), tent camping with a car or motorcycle (33.4%), and swimming or wading at 

a beach (28.4%) (RCO 2007). 

Table 5-6. Major Activity Group Participation in 2006 

Ranking of Major Activity Areas Activity Area Population % 

Walking/Hiking 73.8 

Team/Individual Sports, Physical Activity 69.2 

Nature Activity 53.9 

Picnicking 46.8 

Indoor Community Facility Activity 45.1 

Water Activity 36.0 

Sightseeing 35.4 

Bicycle Riding 30.9 

Off-road Vehicle Riding 17.9 

Snow/Ice Activity 17.5 

Camping 17.1 

Fishing 15.2 

Hunting/Shooting 7.3 

Equestrian Activity 4.3 

Air Activity 4.0 

Source: RCO 2007. 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

5-28 Chapter 5. Human Environment 

5.9.2 Forecast for Regional Recreation Demand and Key Recreation Needs 

Overall, outdoor recreation in most categories continues to increase at high growth rates. In their 

2003 report, the IAC projected future participation in 13 of 14 major outdoor recreation use 

categories over periods of 10 and 20 years. Nine of these activities were projected to experience 

double digit growth (IAC 2003). These most recent estimates of recreation trends were based on the 

National Survey on Recreation and the Environment Projections for the Pacific Region (NSRE), 

which includes Washington State. The IAC adjusted the NRSE projections as necessary based on age 

group participation, estimates of resource and facility availability, user group organization and 

representation, land use and land designations, and “other factors,” including the economy and social 

factors. Table 5-7, Projected Participation Increases for Selected Outdoor Recreation Activities, 

shows the percent change expected for Washington State by activity as reported by IAC. 

In an earlier assessment conducted by the IAC, trails and environmental education were identified as 

the two highest outdoor recreation needs in the state (IAC 1995). In their subsequent report in 2002, 

the IAC encouraged USFWS to find the resources with which to ensure that regulatory processes are 

as efficient as possible while protecting important natural resources, and to consider their findings in 

the development and implementation of management plans (IAC 2003). Many outdoor activities 

generally permitted on refuges are expected to show increases of 20 to 40 percent over the next 20 

years. The exception is hunting, in which participation is expected to fall at about that same rate. This 

CCP considers the recommendations of the IAC and specifically addresses the increasing need for 

environmental education and maintaining access to trails. 

Hiking/Walking 

On average in 2006, of the various walking and hiking activities, Washington residents expressed the 

greatest interest in doing more hiking (34.2%) in the next 12 months. Of all age groups, parents of 

children under 10 expressed the highest level of interest in the child doing more walking and hiking 

in general (33.8%). Females showed higher levels of interest than males in doing more walking with 

pets (18.5%) or without pets (32.5%). Males were more likely than females to want to do more 

climbing or mountaineering (9.8%). Washingtonians 50 and older were the most likely to express an 

interest in doing more walking without a pet (30.4% of those 50 to 64 and 34.6% of those 65 or 

older) (RCO 2007). 

Wildlife Observation and Photography 

Washington State offers some of the most fantastic and unique opportunities to view and photograph 

wildlife in the U.S. In particular, the north Olympic Peninsula offers endless opportunities to 

experience wildlife including rare seabirds such as tufted puffins, rhinoceros auklets, and black 

oystercatchers. The region’s rich waters are home to large numbers of marine mammals, including 

seals, porpoises, and whales, as well as a myriad of other creatures. It is estimated that nearly 40 

percent of Washington residents participated in nature and wildlife observation and photography in 

2006 (RCO 2007), although the actual percentage may be well over that (IAC 2003). 

The RCO’s 2006 Outdoor Recreation Survey reported such activity occurred more than 35 million 

times that year (RCO 2007). Participation in nature related activities is growing in popularity in 

Washington and is expected to increase significantly in coming years (IAC 2003). On average in 

2006, just over a quarter of Washington residents wanted to do more observation or photography of 

wildlife or nature in the next 12 months (25.8%). Females wanted to visit nature or interpretive 

centers more and at higher rates than males. Parents of children under 10 indicated their children 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

Chapter 5. Human Environment 5-29 

would like to do more visiting of nature or interpretive centers, gathering or collecting things in 

nature settings, and nature activities in general at rates higher than older residents indicated for 

themselves (RCO 2007). 

Sightseeing 

On average in 2006, 47.7% Washington residents wanted to do more sightseeing in general in the 

next 12 months. Females expressed this desire more frequently (51.2%) than did males (44.1%). 

Residents 50 to 64 years old wanted to do more sightseeing (in general) at a significantly higher rate 

(35.0%) than did those under 20 (18%). More than one quarter of Washingtonians (27.3%) 

mentioned wanting to do more of a specific type of sightseeing (RCO 2007). 

Fishing 

Whether due to the perception, or actual declines in available fish, data showed a steady decline in 

the sale of state fishing licenses in the 10 years prior to the release of the Assessment of Outdoor 

Recreation in 2003 (IAC 2003). However, in 2006, about the same number of Washington residents 

wanted to do more fishing from a bank, dock, or jetty in the next 12 months (18.7%) as wanted to do 

more fishing from a private boat (18.5%). With the exceptions of fishing for shellfish and fishing 

from a bank, dock, or jetty, males showed greater levels of interest in doing more fishing than 

females. Compared to other regions, residents in the San Juan Islands and the Peninsulas (Olympic 

and Kitsap) showed the greatest interest in doing more fishing for shellfish (28.1% and 20.4%, 

respectively) (RCO 2007). Future participation in fishing will depend to a large degree on the success 

of habitat preservation and restoration efforts now underway statewide (IAC 2003). 

Hunting 

Hunting is overwhelmingly practiced by men with about 6 percent of state residents participating in 

peak season prior to the RCO’s 2008 report. License sales appear to be steady, but are shrinking as a 

percent of population. Consistent with national trends, increased participation is highly unlikely as 

the state’s population continues a general rural-to-urban migration (RCO 2008). Despite the trend, in 

2006, Washington residents expressed interest in doing more firearms activity of any type (11.2%) 

and for more hunting and shooting in general (9.9%) in the next 12 months. Males were more likely 

than females to express an interest in doing more of all hunting or shooting activities (RCO 2007). 

Equestrian Activity (horse riding) 

On average in 2006, nearly one quarter of Washington residents wanted to do more horseback riding 

in general in the next 12 months (23.8%). This interest was more prevalent among females (27.1 %) 

than among males (20.4%). It was also more prevalent among children under 10 (30.7%) and tweens 

and teens (33.2%) than among older Washingtonians (50-64: 18.7 %, 65+: 7.7%) (RCO 2007). 

Table 5-7. Projected Participation Increases for Selected Outdoor Recreation Activities 

Activity 

Estimated Change, 

10 years (2003-2013) 

Estimated Change, 

20 Years (2003-2023) 

Walking 23% 34% 

Hiking 10% 20% 

Nature Activities (photography, wildlife 

observation, gathering and collecting, 

gardening, and visiting interpretive centers) 

23% 37% 

Fishing -5% -10% 

Hunting / Shooting -15% -21% 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

5-30 Chapter 5. Human Environment 

Activity 

Estimated Change, 

10 years (2003-2013) 

Estimated Change, 

20 Years (2003-2023) 

Sightseeing (includes driving for pleasure) 10% 20% 

Camping – developed (RV style) 10% 20% 

Canoeing/kayaking 21% 30% 

Motor Boating 10% No Estimate 

Equestrian 5% 8% 

Nonpool swimming 19% 29% 

Source: IAC 2003. 

5.10 Socioeconomics 

5.10.1 Population and Area Economy 

Dungeness NWR is located in Clallam County on the northern coast of the Olympic Peninsula in the 

state of Washington. The nearest city is Sequim, which has a population of 6,273 (U.S. Census 

Bureau 2012). Table 5-8 shows the population and area economy. The county population increased 

(11 percent) from 2000 to 2010, compared with a 14 percent increase for Washington and a 10 

percent increase for the United States as a whole. County employment increased by 11 percent from 

2000 to 2010, compared to a smaller employment increase in Washington (8 percent) and the United 

States (5 percent). Per capita income in Clallam County increased by 16 percent between 2000 and 

2010, while Washington and the United States both increased by 4 percent. 

Table 5-8. Dungeness NWR: Summary of Area Economy, 2010 

Population* Employment* Per Capita Income*

2010 Percent change

2000-2010 2010 Percent change2000-2010 2010 Percent change2000-2010

Clallam County 71.5 11% 35.4 11% $37,614 16% 

Washington 6,743.0 14% 3,793.6 8% $43,933 4% 

United States 309,330.2 10% 173,767.4 5% $41,198 4% 

Source: USDC 2012. 

* Population and Employment in thousands; Per Capita Income in 2011 dollars. 

The largest industry sectors for Clallam County are ranked below by employment (Table 5-9). The 

largest employer is the State and local government, followed by food services and drinking places. 

Table 5-9. Industry Summary for Clallam County 

Industry Employment Output Employment Income*

State and Local Government 6,595 $372,059 $328,490 

Food Services and Drinking Places 1,943 $102,033 $32,448 

Health Practitioner Offices 1,021 $96,458 $37,634 

Retail Stores - General Merchandise 862 $64,504 $29,199 

Real Estate 862 $101,261 $6,424 

Nonresidential Construction 807 $115,562 $26,454 

Retail Stores - Food and Beverage 801 $61,328 $24,672 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

Chapter 5. Human Environment 5-31 

Industry Employment Output Employment Income*

Nursing 799 $31,168 $21,344 

Commercial Logging 770 $187,995 $18,734 

Civic, Social, Professional, and 

Similar Organizations 661 $27,812 $11,817 

Source: Implan 2008. 

* Dollars in thousands. 

5.10.2 Local Community 

The Dungeness NWR is located approximately 6 miles northwest of Sequim, WA (pronounced 

“squim”). The area is famous throughout the Pacific Northwest for its low rainfall and sunny skies. 

Known as “Sunny Sequim” or “the Blue Hole,” Sequim and the surrounding Dungeness Valley lie in 

the rainshadow of the Olympic Mountains, and boast an average annual rainfall of less than 17 

inches. In recent years the Dungeness Valley’s consistently sunny weather, unusual for Western 

Washington, has drawn many new residents from across the U.S. that want to enjoy the benefits of a 

more temperate climate, less crowded landscape, and a welcoming community. The Sequim area has 

become an attractive retirement community, with the average age in Sequim rising to the near 60s 

during the past 20 years (MySequim 2012). Despite recent declines in job growth, -0.59 % from 

October 2010 to September 2011 and a comparatively high unemployment rate of 11.6% (Sperling’s 

2011), Sequim continues to be an attractive place to retire and the fastest growing community in 

Clallam County (CLR 2010) ensuring an increasing demand for outdoor recreational opportunities. 

5.10.3 Refuge Impact on the Local Economy 

Visitors to Dungeness NWR spend money on food, lodging, equipment, transportation, and other 

expenses, which creates jobs within the local economy. Additionally, Refuge budget expenditures, 

including those provided through the Refuge Revenue Sharing Act, also result in economic impacts 

to the local community. The effects on the local economy associated with consumer expenditures on 

Refuge-related recreation and effects associated with Refuge budget expenditures are explored in 

detail in Chapter 6 of the Draft CCP/EA (USFWS 2012a). 
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

5-32 Chapter 5. Human Environment