Deal to protect submarines and geoducks: Washington signs new easement with Navy on Hood Canal

OLYMPIA — Submarines and geoducks, diver training and eelgrass.

The Washington state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on Wednesday once again joined with the U.S. Navy in a shoreline-easement agreement to protect priorities for each organization.

The easement, a 32-mile sliver of underwater bedlands along the eastern side of Hood Canal, complements a similar arrangement made in 2014 on the western side of the canal.

That deal drew scrutiny as part of Naval Base Kitsap’s plan to stealthily limit development