This article from the Whidbey Audubon Society Conservation Committee is provided for membership awareness.
Map showing locations of Dungeness NWR and Protection Island NWR.
U.S. Representative Emily Randall (WA 6th Congressional District) is working with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe to transfer ownership of the Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to the Tribe. If the ownership transfer occurs, the Tribe will have sovereign control and these NWRs will cease to exist.
The 364-acre Protection Island includes diverse habitats, from grasslands to forest, supporting seabirds (Rhinoceros Auklet, Tufted Puffin, Pigeon Guillemot, Pelagic Cormorant), marine mammals (northern elephant seal, harbor seal), and terrestrial mammals (Townsend’s chipmunk, black-tailed deer). The Dungeness NWR encompasses six distinct habitats (sandy bluff, barrier beach, barrier lagoon and mudflat, eelgrass bed, salt marsh, forest), and it supports > 240 bird species and 29 mammal species. Both NWRs have monitoring, habitat restoration and public education projects.
Representative Randall serves on the House Natural Resources Committee, the Indian and Insular Affairs subcommittee, and the Federal Lands subcommittee. At this time (October 2026), no bill has been introduced by Representative Randall, and the positions of Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell and Representative Rick Larsen on this action are not known. You can share your opinion about the potential action with our federal representatives through their respective Congressional websites.