Fish and Wildlife to receive Quincy-area land in transfer

OLYMPIA — A 1,235-acre parcel near Quincy would be transferred from the Washington Department of Natural Resources to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife under the terms of a request to the Washington Legislature by the DNR board. 

The Babcock Bench parcel, about six miles southwest of Quincy, would be transferred if the legislature agrees to the proposal, according to a DNR press release.  

“The Trust Land Transfer is designed to transfer (DNR) trust lands that produce no or minimal revenue but do provide important ecological values or public benefits,” the press release said. 

Trust lands are managed to generate revenue that funds public K-12 and college construction, along with some local government operations.  

Babcock Bench is adjacent to the WDFW Quincy Lakes unit of the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area. The land provides habitat for many plant and animal species, the press release said, including eight species of bats. 

The land will be replaced with property that’s better able to generate money for the trust, the press release said.