On December 13, 2024, January 24, 2025, and March 14, 2025, DNR posted notices on several buoys, docks, boatlifts, and other structures located in Wollochet Bay, informing the owners that these buoys must be removed because they would interfere with the geoduck harvest in geoduck tract #10800. On Mach 13, 2025, DNR additionally mailed residential property owners abutting these state-owned aquatic lands a letter providing notice that all buoys located within the geoduck harvest tract (-18 ft MLLW to -70 ft MLLW) must be removed or relocated, that DNR was revoking permission for any buoys in this tract that met the requirements for statutory permission under RCW 79.105.430, and that any buoys not meeting the requirements of this statute were in trespass and must be removed immediately.

 

DNR’s March 14, 2025 notice and March 13, 2025 letter required owners to remove all buoys, docks, boatlifts, and other personal property by April 15, 2025 for the duration of fishing on the tract.

 

DNR plans to remove any remaining buoys, docks, and/or boatlifts in the tract on May 15^th and May 20^th starting from the south end of the tract and moving north. Structures and associated lines and tackle will be removed at the anchor. 

 

All buoys, docks, boatlifts, and any other personal property removed by DNR will be stored at a secured facility in Tumwater, WA until  Thursday, June 20, 2025. Following June 20, 2025, all personal property that has not been retrieved will be disposed of in a landfill. Pick-up of personal property can be scheduled by appointment Monday- Thursday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. To make a pick-up appointment, please contact buoy@dnr.wa.gov or call 360-800-7245.  

 

If you are interested in relocating your buoy during the geoduck harvest or reinstalling your buoy in the same location after the geoduck tract closes to harvest, please read below. 

 

 

In November of 2024, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) identified the Wollochet East commercial geoduck zone as a high priority for removing and relocating in-water structures within the immediate vicinity of the commercial geoduck tract #10800 on state-owned aquatic lands that may result in harm to geoduck harvesters or interfere with commercial fishing activities.

 

An initial compliance review of the area on December 13, 2024 found approximately 38 in water structures on state-owned aquatic land, primarily unauthorized and unregistered mooring buoys, located within the commercial geoduck zone. DNR placed notification tags and ID numbers on buoys and structures that appeared to be on state-managed aquatic lands within the commercial geoduck zone boundaries of -18 ft to -70 ft MLLW. DNR posted notices on these in-water structures on December 13, 2024, January 24, 2025, and March 14, 2025.

 

If your in-water structure is tagged, you were given until April 15, 2025 to remove your structure. Removal includes removing the mooring buoy, except for anchors, out of the specified area. You will not be able to reinstall any mooring buoy from -18 ft to -70 ft for the duration of geoduck harvest activities on tract #10800. DNR plans to remove any remaining buoys, docks, and/or boatlifts in the tract on May 15^th and May 20^th . We encourage owners to take action as soon as possible.

 

If you had prior permission to install your buoy on state-owned aquatic land under RCW 79.105.430 or a written land use authorization, you may reinstall the mooring buoy in its previous location upon receiving notice from DNR that geoduck harvest activities have completed. If you choose to relocate your buoy to a location outside the geoduck during the duration of the geoduck harvest, and would like advice on where to relocate your buoy, please contact the DNR Aquatic Resources Division Mooring Buoy Program at 360-800-7245. Please note: you will still need permission to relocate your buoy outside the geoduck tract and will need to obtain all necessary permits prior to relocating your buoy – please read below for more details.

 

Abutting residential owners to state-owned aquatic land may qualify for a no-fee recreational mooring buoy and private recreational dock under RCW 79.105.430. This permission, however, was revoked pursuant to RCW 79.105.430(3) for all buoys located in tract #10800 (-18 ft to -70 ft) for the duration of the geoduck harvest. As discussed above, you may reinstall the mooring buoy in its previous location upon receiving notice from DNR that geoduck harvest activities have completed. If you decide to relocate your buoy outside the geoduck truck, you will still need to complete and submit a Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application (JARPA) and JARPA Attachment E to DNR, and obtain a registration number from DNR.

 

If your buoy does not qualify for free use under RCW 79.105.430, you may not reinstall a buoy on state-owned aquatic land until you obtain a written fee-based land use authorization from DNR. To apply for a land use authorization, you will need to complete and submit a Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application (JARPA) and JARPA Attachment E to DNR.

 

For both buoys that qualify for free use under RCW 79.105.430 and buoys that do not qualify, you must have all required government permits, including, the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) permit, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 10 permit, and County Shoreline Permit prior to reinstalling or installing your buoy.

 

 We look forward to working with your community.

 

 

 

In the Puget Sound, the commercial geoduck zone extends from the -18 foot to the -70 foot MLLW. At this time, the commercial harvest boundary for #01800 is set at -25 to -70 ft MLLW due to current herring spawning restrictions above -25 ft MLLW. Geoduck harvesters are connected to anchored surface vessels by both air supply and stinger jet water supply hoses. Working in the proximity of buoys presents risk of wrapping those hoses (especially air supply) around a mooring line, etc. As such, buoys located between -18 ft to -25 ft MLLW may pose a risk to divers from boats anchored along the -25 ft depth contour and structures excluding the anchor must be removed for the duration of the harvest period or relocated. In addition, fishing boundaries are adaptively managed and may change depending on co-management priorities. DNR must manage the commercial area consistent with the understanding that harvest is allowed to extend to the upper boundary of -18 ft MLLW if that decision is reached by state and Tribal co-managers.

 

 

The 200-yard OHT line pertains to only the State fleet. This tract is fished in common with treaty tribes listed on the South Sound Harvest Management Plan. Tribal vessels may anchor to the -25 ft line on this tract. Though vessels may anchor beyond the 200-yard OHT line, divers may be closer than 200 yards as they harvest, presenting the risk of entanglementt.

 

 

Buoy depth was determined using a digital depth sounder at the location of the mooring ball. Depth at MLLW was determined by subtracting tidal height (as measured at NOAA Tacoma Narrows Tidal Station 9446486 approximately 5 mi from the entrance to Wollochet Bay) from the measured depth at the buoy. All depths were logged between approximately 11:30am to 2:30 pm on December 13, 2014. High Tide was 13.5 ft at 2:26 pm. All subsequent compliance visits will include depth measurements following the method described to verify location within the -18 to -70 ft boundary prior to tagging.

 

If you believe your buoy is outside of the -18 to -70 depth range and was tagged in error, please contact DNR at (list number again here). You may provide documentation from an installer or diver to verify the depth of your buoy.

 

 

In order to install and maintain a mooring buoy on state-owned aquatic lands, the landowner must first obtain permission from the state. Under RCW 79.105.430, the legislature provided limited permissions for abutting residential owners of state-owned aquatic lands to maintain a no-fee mooring buoy for private recreational purposes. Where RCW 79.105.430 provides permission for a mooring buoy to be installed and maintained on state-owned aquatic lands, DNR requires the buoys to be registered, but such registration is free. You may apply for a registration by submitting a JARPA and Attachment E to the department. Depending on the information provided on your registration application, DNR may request that you contact permitting entities to ensure legal status of your pre-existing buoy.  DNR retains the authority to revoke the permission for the mooring buoy as set forth in RCW 79.105.430(3). In accordance with RCW 79.105.430(3), DNR revoked this permission for all buoys and docks within tract #10800.

 

For all other private recreational buoys that do not meet the requirements of RCW 79.105.430, a written land use authorization (usually a license) and the payment of a fee is required. DNR has the discretion to grant or deny an application for a mooring buoy license. A license applicant must acquire and provide copies to DNR, of all necessary federal, state and local permits prior to DNR authorizing the use of such aquatic lands. WAC 332-30-120(1)(c).

 

If you do not qualify for a no-fee mooring buoy or recreational dock under RCW 79.105.430 or possess a written land use authorization with DNR, your structure located on state owned aquatic lands is in trespass, regardless of the installation date.

 

 

The buoy must be located as near to the upland residence as practical. However, grounding out of vessels negatively impacts habitat and is not permitted. Please contact 360-800-7245 or buoy@dnr.wa.gov to discuss options for alternative placement of your buoy or consider removing your buoy for the duration of geoduck harvest.

 

 

Yes. DNR relies on record of your buoy location in order accurately perform compliance of unauthorized structures in the area and when reviewing proposals for new in-water structures that may impact the vicinity of your moorage. Additionally, registrations allow DNR to directly communicate any geoduck harvest requirements or other management scenarios on state-owned aquatic lands in your immediate area.

 

 

You must remove your buoy from the -18 to -70 ft MLLW range by April 15, 2025. If you want to relocate that buoy, you may reapply with DNR for a new buoy location within Wollochet Bay, and obtain a written land use authorization prior to installing the buoy. To initiate the DNR authorization process for your proposed buoy location, you will need to complete and submit a Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application (JARPA) to DNR. If you do not have a written land use authorization with DNR, you must also remove your anchor from state-owned aquatic lands. Please be advised that removal of anchors may require federal, state and local permits.

 

 

Harvest duration varies by tract. Tracts are typically harvested over a period of 5-10 years. This tract is expected to continue to be active for at least three years.