WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — Citing ongoing public safety concerns, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced today, Friday, April 19th, the Van Zandt Dike area and the Middle Fork System in Whatcom County will be closed to target shooting starting May 1st.
Closure of the gate leading into Van Zandt Dike comes following ongoing reports from concerned neighbors and law enforcement officials of unsafe shooting practices in the area. The illegal activity has led to multiple short-term closures on different road segments in the last year, however continued concerns have prompted the upcoming closure.
Reports from law enforcement officials indicate shooters using targets with no backstops, causing bullets to end up near Acme Valley where houses are located. Reports also indicate continued vandalism in the area including trash dumping, timber theft, and illegal camping.
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Walk-in, non-target shooting activities are still allowed in Van Zandt Dike while motorized use is restricted. Officials hope to reopen the gates before the start of the 2024 hunting season in early Fall 2024.
The majority of DNR parcels allow target shooting, except where prohibited by local ordinance or where no-shooting signs are posted. Shooting on DNR parcels is allowed 30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset and requires biodegradable targets and an earthen backstop. Incendiary devices – such as exploding targets, sky lanterns, or tracer ammunition – are illegal on all 13 million acres of DNR-protected lands. Violators of the shooting closure could be subject to fines.
– Washington State Department of Natural Resources (April 19, 2024)
The announcement was accompanied by the following photos said to show damage in the area.
