Sen. Pam Roach is asking farmers and other landowners with concerns about the elk population in the Enumclaw-Buckley area to meet with her Thursday, April 8.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Enumclaw Public Library, 1700 First St.

“Elk management is a challenge in many areas of our state,” Roach said. “We want healthy elk populations but if a herd is damaging crops and causing financial harm to people, then it’s time to get together and work on a solution.”

Roach, whose 31st District includes all of the Plateau, plus Sumner and part of Auburn, has arranged for officials from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and a Washington Farm Bureau representative to take part.

Roach said landowners in the Buckley Plateau area have told her how elk are decimating fields that were intended to support cattle grazing.

“We need to find a balance between the competing needs of the animals and the landowners,” she said.