State lands are closed to the public but crowding continues

To stop the spread of COVID-19, all 6 million acres of public land managed by the Department of Natural Resources were closed to the public starting last week. But that’s not stopping people from heading out into the woods.

“We treasure our forests and trails and beaches as places of rejuvenation and refuge from the chaos of daily life. But I cannot ignore the unfortunate reality of what we saw this weekend: crowded trails, people shoulder to shoulder, and large gatherings,” Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz said in a statement.

“This behavior undercuts the sacrifices that Washingtonians of all means and ability are making in order to adhere to social distancing. And it undercuts the heroic efforts of our doctors, nurses, and first responders who risk their lives each day responding to this unrelenting epidemic.”

DNR enforcement staff will be patrolling state lands. People found on state land will be provided information about the closure and asked to leave. Citations can be issued to individuals who refuse to leave, according to the DNR.

Only commercial activities considered essential by the state — timber harvests, which support the manufacture and distribution of forest products, and agriculture that supports the food supply — are still allowed on DNR-managed lands. Social distancing will be adhered to by these workers, and any non-essential elements will be done via telework or suspended, DNR said in a statement.

This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 5:45 AM with the headline "State lands are closed to the public but crowding continues."