DUNGENESS — The more-than-50-year-old 3 Crabs restaurant could be history if a state Department of Fish and Wildlife land acquisition goes through for nearly 52 acres owned by Norma Marshall, who has operated The 3 Crabs for nearly 30 years.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission has approved the $1 million wetland conservation easement purchase of the land along Dungeness Bay’s shores overlooking New Dungeness Lighthouse.

The property is bounded by Sequim-Dungeness Way and 3 Crabs Road and includes tidelands and marshlands near the site of The 3 Crabs restaurant, there since 1958.

Marshall, restaurant owner and manager and a presence there since she became “crab No. 3” in 1972, said Tuesday “they are trying to acquire” the property, but it will not be a done deal until after the state inspects the property.

She has owned the restaurant since 1983, when she purchased it from the estate of her late husband, Ernest,

The 3 Crabs founder with his brother, Iris, and business partner, Martha Loffler.

“They have not purchased this yet until their inspections are done,” Marshall said.

She declined to comment further on the restaurant’s future.

The acquisition is part of a Fish and Wildlife project to conserve coastal wetlands properties, restore coastline and wetlands, and connect existing protected areas around the mouth of Dungeness River, which flows into the bay — which has had water pollution issues in the past.

The project, which is in partnership with Clallam County, is funded by grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Authority for this acquisition is provided in the capital budget.

Dan Budd, state Department of Fish and Wildlife real estate manager, said in a memo to the commission that the purchase will allow the department to protect and restore key coastal wetlands important for fish, shellfish and wildlife.

“The Department of Fish and Wildlife has secured an option to purchase 51.57 acres from [Norma] Marshall,” Budd said.

“This acquisition is part of the Dungeness Basin project, which was evaluated and approved through the Lands 20/20 process.”

Established in 2005, the Lands 20/20 initiative was led by a team of Fish and Wildlife Department staff members working from a comprehensive list of policies, practices and science-based tools and plans.

Based on their efforts, a smaller policy group worked with external stakeholders to craft the Lands 20/20 vision for agency lands.

One of the key vision statements in the initiative: “Land acquisition is one of the tools used by the department to conserve Washington’s fish and wildlife and provide related recreational opportunities.”

The property consists of 49.42 acres of tidelands, including the remnants of a nearly mile-long dock that was the shipping and transportation center of Dungeness’ dairies into the early 1900s.

Budd said the 2-plus acres of land containing The 3 Crabs restaurant has wildlife value with characteristics beneficial to Dungeness Bay endangered fish species, restoration of coastline and tidelands management opportunities.

The property will be managed within the wildlife program by Kyle Guzlas as part of the Lower Dungeness Unit, North Olympic Wildlife Area, Budd said.

Operation and maintenance costs are anticipated to be $1,000 annually for weed control and handling of litter.

Funding will be provided from the existing wildlife area budget.

For more on The 3 Crabs restaurant, visit its website at www.the3crabs.com.

________

Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2390 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.