Hey Cowlitz,

Breathe. Now then, do you think that the primary focus of your letter will have the Sheriff thinking about access, or the deputy? The access is your issue, and you are to be commended for your actions,but keep focussed on the main issue.

Again, I did apologize for my negative comment directed towards you. I also gave my explanation why. Thanks for your response letting me know what you have done in the past. It has cleared up some of my questions.

The result of this string of messages has been that people know that there is an access issue, you have also received support, and someone made a great suggestion about getting the AG's office involved. Use it to your advantage, detail the issue clearly, and don't give up.

Our first experiences with each other has been less than ideal, but I hope to have many more open discussion with you in the future.

Andy

Thanks Andy,
You are right about us getting off on the wrong foot. I hope that our past exchange of words and thoughts can put us both back on focus. I really appreciate constructive advice, and criticism. Fishing is my life and when you told me to "get a life", that really got to me. I am willing to work with anybody who has the time to do so. Let me tell you and the other BB readers what has happen today, and yes I think that the sheriff is addressing both issues in my letter. About 11:00 AM today, I picked up a friend and drove down to the Wallace Gravel Pit. It appears that the Pit Owner has dragged a large old dead tree next to the power line road so that you cannot turn off to the right where the old parking lot was located by the river. As it stands now you must park in the middle of the power line road easement.

We drove around at the very end and parked about 100 feet to the right of the power line road. This was the exact spot that the Deputy met with me when the pit owner had called in his trespassing complaint against me on May 11. About 5 minutes after being there a yellow and green truck came running out across the fields and pulled up along side of us and said, "You know that you are trespassing don't you". I told him that I did not think that I was trespassing and that I was pretty much parked in the state owned easement-parking area.

He said nope! That has all changed now, and you have to park back at the power lines. I asked him how that could be and he told me that they had met this morning with Friends of the Cowlitz, WDFW, and the sheriff. I said that I find that extremely strange, since I had just talked to Ray Croswell yesterday and he told me that he was not coming out to the site until Wednesday sometime. The person at the site then told me that "they have surveyed it" and that it was a done deal. I used my cell to call the president of the Friends of the Cowlitz (FOC) and talked to his wife. She told me that FOC did have sort of meeting with the Pit owner a couple of days ago. I told her the problem that we were currently having and asked her to have her husband call me back on my cell phone. I waited for more then 90 minutes with no reply. The guy also said that they (the pit owner) had made some kind of deal with the FOC to rear fish in the Pits pond. WDFW would never agree to any fish being reared in an active gravel pit pond! I know that for a fact, because I had been personally involved in years of rearing of hundred of thousands of the FOC fish. I also know that the FOC reads this BB and think that it way past time for them to speak up on this BB about this issue, especially since I had received an email from their office asking me for a copy of the easement map.

As it stands now, it appears that games may now going on by other parties. Well, they told me that they had called the sheriff's office and that he would be right out again to solve this problem. I told them that we would be more then happy to wait and stay to meet with the sheriff to resolve this issue once and for all since I did have my complete file with me, and that included the of copy of the original State Easement Map and parking area!

Guest what? After we had waited for well over an 1 hour, no sheriff, or deputy had appeared. We finally went home without even casting a line, that's what really makes me mad! I hope that the FOC will be open with this BB if they decide to cut any deals with the Pit owner. I know that I will be open with the people who have helped to support this issue on this BB!

Cowlitzfisherman,

Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????

So, If this is a WDFW sanctioned fishing easement, why don't they clearly mark it that way? I have seen many areas marked by them that say "Feel free to hunt/fish" all throughout the state. Some are owned by the state, others just controlled by them.

I work in downtown Olympia, so a trip to their headquarters is not an issue for me if I could be of assistance. Let me know. A

.........NEWS FLASH, andy m.

Cowlitz did exactly what should have been done. I've worked in law enforcement so I know - nuff said. He is a "civilian" so therefore his literary skills will be that of a common person filing a complaint, not a lawyer. When filing a complaint like he has done, he named everything that pissed him off and I'm glad that he named that 'wad deputy.

He brought to the attention of the sheriff of how his office handled this situation, also reiterated his initial complaint, and even named the names of those who were professional, and the ones who weren't.

So in other words, he didn't file an actual complaint of the officer. I know that county well, and for that guy to be so busy "Serving and Protecting" is a joke that he couldn't have given this issue the proper procedure.

Bob, I say to you to file an actual complaint (grievance) with this deputy, that way it will be on record so the next time he f*cks around on someone, it will be documented.

Your letter is very gratifying to me, Bob. You didn't stray from the issue that "WE'RE PISSED OFF, AND WE AIN'T GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE." Maybe now, proper action will now be taken without any delay. This is probably the exact reason why so many domestic violence cases aren't documented and filed correctly....or not at all.

andy m, words come to mind that best describe your commentary on this subject ".....you are the fence." I just pray that you'll receive proper procedure the next time the deputies ever have to serve or protect you. IDIOT.

Andy M, this is a "sanctioned fishing easement" and WDFW did have posted signs saying so. Somehow, those signs just happened to disappear just shortly after the locked gates appeared! I saw them before they were removed. They will be posted again...trust me!

Thanks again for supporting this issue,

Cowlitzfisherman

Hi Cowlitz,

I finally did my homework and read the other subjects with the same title. Man, do I feel like an ass!!!!!!!!!!!! OOPS.
You did do a lot of work. I am familiar with title, property descriptions, etc., so if you need any further help in that area, let me know.

I have many friends and family in law enforcement and I get tired of people bashing them. If it isn't the media, it's someone else and 99 times out of a 100 they get stuck in the middle of some BS situation that they try to take care of as expediently as possible so that they can move on to the next issue. That's where I was coming from on that front. Forgive me, I'm relatively new to this BB, and your post was the first one I read. Andy

Thank Andy for being a Man about this issue, Most people can't admit they may have been wrong. Glad to see you on the right side of the fence! And thanks for your offer of help.

Cowlitzfisherman

Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????

Hi Bob,

Check your personal e-mail. I hope that I got the facts mostly correct. Copies were dropped off in person to the main enforcement office in Olympia and personally handed to Dr. Koenings by myself. I hope that I have now redeemed myself. Andy

Andy,

Thanks for your help! I have not received any personal email as of this time, but I am looking forward to reading whatever you had given to the Director!

I am a firm believer in the power of the many!

Cowlitzfisherman

Hi Bob,

Try it again, there was a problem with the way that I sent out the messages to multiple parties. trying to get the hang of the computer stuff. A

To cowlitz fisherman and all who supported him a big thumbs up!!!!
To the piece of **** deputy and the rest of the local redneck good ol' boys whotried to sweep it under the carpet, A big middle finger to you!!! Now you know why people say **** the Police, I do everyday, Thjey have never done **** for Me and they won't until you twist there arm and make em say uncle.
It is kind of Ironic how we all pay there salaries yet they cannot follow through with there job to protect and serve. The thing they are best at back off and jack off!!
nuff said!!!
Peace superfly

To cowlitz fisherman and all who supported him a big thumbs up!!!!
To the piece of **** deputy and the rest of the local redneck good ol' boys whotried to sweep it under the carpet, A big middle finger to you!!! Now you know why people say **** the Police, I do everyday, Thjey have never done **** for Me and they won't until you twist there arm and make em say uncle.
It is kind of Ironic how we all pay there salaries yet they cannot follow through with there job to protect and serve. The thing they are best at back off and jack off!!
nuff said!!!
Peace superfly

Hey Fly - you were talking about them helping Jack off the horse right? Heard the horse was stuck in the mud and Jack needed some help. Sounds like a job for RT and BigStew.

Just wanted to share this information...or lack of it...that I received from the Friends of the Cowlitz. Make of it what you will.

From: "David M Jackson" <david.jackson@eudoramail.com>
To: <foc@quik.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2001 8:24 PM
Subject: Wallace Gravel Pit access


> I have read with great concern the tread at http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t
=004882 regarding the limiting of access to the Cowlitz River by the land
owner, even though there is a State easement.
>
> A comment was made that possibly a meeting was held and that the easement
is no longer available. Is this the case? Or has the land owner spun a new
story?
>
> Most Interested,
> David Jackson

From: "Friends of the Cowltiz" <foc@quik.com> Add to Address Book Add To Spam Block List
Subject: Re: Wallace Gravel Pit access
To: <david.jackson@eudoramail.com>


David,
Friends of the Cowlitz is involved in many easement issues, and Wallace's is
one of them.
Kathy Larsen
Friends of the Cowlitz
Office Manager

Classic brush off? I hope not.

Looks like they (FoC)brought out the big brush on that one.

I was thinking about trying this place Friday.

The more I think about it, the more it pisses me off. Even though I have never fished this river, let alone this particular stretch of the river, I am still concerned with my fellow anglers' rights.

By getting the message that I did it makes me concerned about the future of this issue.

Hi Bob,

Saw the letter in the Chronicle! Hopefully it starts a more public discussion of the issue and places some heat on the Wallace family. A

Folks,
Just wanted you to know that Andy M is a good guy! We may not have hit it off in the start, but he has shown his true colors! He has written to the Director of WDFW a really good (no, great) letter concerning this access issue. (Andy can I print its contents only?) This BB should see how teamwork really works when people go for a common goal. I was impressed! This is exactly how the power of the many can overcome the extreme power of the few. Let me known Andy if I can print the contents of your letter.

Today…you the man!

Cowlitzfisherman

Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????

Hi Bob,

Feel free to post the letter. I might also suggest that your letter to the editor be sent to the Daily Olympian as well as the Seattle PI and Post Intelligencer. This might garner more attention.

Andy

This is a copy of Andy's letter to the WDFW Director. This is a perfect example of how this BB can bring fishermen together to achieve their common goal to protect our sport fishing rights and our resources!

Good work Andy, and thanks to all the other folks who have supported this issue.

Cowlitzfisherman

Dr Jeffrey P. Koenings
Director, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife


Dr. Koenings,

I would like to request that your department rectify an access problem on the Cowlitz River. The access problem is at an easement
called the "Wallace Gravel Pit," located on Mandy Road in Lewis County.

It appears that the folks at the Wallace Gravel Pit have unilaterally decided to take back a number of easements sold to the State of Washington in 1971 for the purpose of providing fishing access. I believe that the purchases totaled approximately $57,000 and that State funds were used to buy the easements.

The Wallaces have placed a locked gate and a large deadfall tree in the path of the
easement, and have also mined a portion the easement roadway so that a law abiding fisherman seeking access to the river would
actually have to "walk on water" to stay within the boundaries of the easement.

Your department is charged with the responsibility of providing sound stewardship for the management of fish and wildlife species throughout the state, and this would include providing maximum access for fishing opportunities, so I come to you for assistance.

A gentleman by the name of Bob Reid has been documenting the access problem at the Wallace Gravel Pit since May, and has followed the advice of Ray Croswell from your region 5 office, but there has been no resolution to this issue. You may contact Mr.Reid by e-mail at cpr-fish@toledotel.com for the exact details of his efforts.

Mr. Reid has contacted the Lewis County Sheriff's office on a number of occasions, case numbers #01C5448 and #01C6454, to
document the blocking of the road access, but it seems that the Sheriff's department has not been able to bring enough pressure to
bear upon the Wallaces to halt their practices.

Would you please investigate the Wallace situation because I believe that they are currently violating two statutes that your officers are empowered to enforce. The statutes are:

1. Malicious mischief in the first degree, RCW 9A.48.070
(a)......knowingly causes damage to the property of another in an amount exceeding $1500.00.
(b)......causes an interruption or impairment of service rendered to the public by physically damaging.....property of the state.

2. Disorderly conduct, RCW 9A84.030
(c)......Intentionally obstructs vehicular traffic or pedestrian traffic without lawful authority.

I would like to receive a response to my request in the next week or so, and any responses will be forwarded to all parties listed in the "to" and "cc" portions of this e-mail. Your prompt attention is appreciated.

Sincerely, Andy M