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#214679 - 10/12/03 05:04 PM WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!
cowlitzfisherman Offline
Three Time Spawner

Registered: 06/14/00
Posts: 1828
Loc: Toledo, Washington
WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!

It's been a couple of years since I originally brought up the issue about public access at the WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site in Toledo WA.

It's time now to update this board and others on what has occurred at this public fishing site since the last time when I first brought it to this board's attention. For those of you that did not get the opportunity to read my original thread, here is the basic background on this extremely important issue. It is one of the many reasons why you see me harping so much on WDFW.

In 1971, WDFW bought several easements rights on the Cowlitz River. The "easements" were procured for the sole purpose that the "public" could use them perpetually, no matter who the owners of the land shall be to have fishing access to the Cowlitz. The project site was named after the person who the state had purchased these public easement rights from. The name of this site is called the "Wallace" site. You can get the directions to get there by going to WDFW's Website at
http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/lands/reg5accs.htm#wall1


It is by far the largest unknown, and unused public fishing access site on the Cowlitz River. In 1971, WDFW purchased 3 easement rights at what is now called the "Wallace" Gravel Pit site. WDFW originally paid over $40,000 dollars for these easement rights and to have the seller (pit owner) grade, and gravel an approximate 4000 foot stretch of easement roadway that went to a ½ acre public parking area. In addition the road work, WDFW also bought 3 easement rights from the Wallace's. One easement was for vehicular traffic (4000 foot X 60 foot wide road easement). The second easement was for a ½ acre public parking area which was located next to the river bank, and the third easement was a 25 foot wide floting bank fishing easement that ran for almost a mile along the Cowlitz River banks.

The WDFW also had a written agreement with the seller that spelled out exactly what each party would do. The agreement states;

"The parties hereto agree to the development as follows:
(Parcel A)" (these are the parcels that we are talking about in these easements)

"1) Clear Four Thousand (4000) feet of road, 60 feet wide, containing in all in all 5.5 acres,
2) Ballast roadway a dept of Nine (9) inches,
3) Surface roadway with Four (4) inches of crushed rock,
4) Grade roadway suitable for public vehicle traffic, or County and State specifications,

(Parcel B) The Grantor will (this the parking area easement)
1) Clear One-Half (1/2) acre in area,
2) Ballast said parcel with nine (9) inches of ballast,
3) Surface said area with Four (4) inches of crushed rock,
4) Grade said roadway suitable for public vehicle traffic, or County and State specifications.

The agreement also notes that "It is further understood that payment for full acquisition of said easements will be made following the final inspection and acceptance of the development to be made by the Stat's engineers.

It is further understood that the State will:
1) Upon completion of the development, relieve the Grantor of further labiality for development or maintenance, and
2) Complete all other necessary development features as monies are programmed. This shall include the fencing on one side of the access road with sheep-type fencing.

In the spring of 1973, the seller installed his own sheep wire fence along the states easement road. Apparently monies for the fence had not yet been "Programmed" by the state and the seller wanted to run cattle on the adjoining land along the easement road.

In 1974, the seller of these easements applied for, and received a surface mining permit to mine gravel from the DNR. Between 1974 and 1988, the owner (seller of the easement) decided that he did not want the states easement road or parking area to limit the size of his gravel operations and expanded his excavations to engulf 90% the states legal access road easement that lead to its public parking lot. This is clearly shown by viewing the WDFW survey map below. I found this map when I did my public records request.

(WDFW survey map picture)




Obviously, all the gravel and base that the state had paid to seller to lay down has now been removed and reused or sold during these excavations of the gravel pit site

These pictures were taken in June of 1990 and you can clearly see that the entire area around the pit has been scalped and prepared for mining. You can also see that original easement road (marked in green dashes) was mined away and now is engulfed by a huge pond. The green box was the approximate location of the original parking area. The legal easement road no longer exists, and the pond has now been excavated even more! The blue line is the approximate current size of the mining pond today. The yellow square is the current area that is being used for parking. The yellow dashes represent the current road that the public is using now to get to the public parking area. The red box in the bottom of the picture is the area that the pit owner wants to put the new proposed public parking area.







After all this had been brought to the attention of the Director of WDFW, the Regional Director of region 5, and the WDFW Regional Lands Program Manager back in June of 2001, nothing has been done to correct the existing "taking" of our public fishing easement road or parking area!

We believe that WDFW has had ample time to bring this issue to closer, but for some unknown reason it has not occurred. CPR-fish (that's my group) has been complaining to WDFW for over two years now and there still has been no progress in resolving this issue. Why hasn't WDFW taken the legal steps to resolve this long standing issue?

We were told by WDFW Regional Lands Program Manager, Ray Croswell over 2 years ago on June 11, 2001 that the gates would remain open, and that signs were being made at that time for this area. We were told if the gates were not left open, that WDFW would be sending the "Strong Letter" that would reflect their legal position, and that actions would be taken to assure that our access would remain open 24/7 days a week and that it would be enforced.

We were also promised by Mr. Croswell, that WDFW would go "all the way this time in making it happen". Mr. Croswell had personally assured me, that he had made contact with WDFW's Enforcement Officer Foster. Mr. Croswell also assured me that he had explained the problems to Officer Foster, and that Officer Foster was now fully aware of what was going on, and that he (Foster) would be making sure that the gate to the public fishing site will not be locked again. I was told by Mr. Croswell; "to call Officer Foster whenever I found that the gate was locked and that Officer Foster would take immediate actions to correct the problem".

Again, we were promised that Officer Foster would see that the gate would remain open for the public to get to the public fishing and parking area. On August 18, 2003, I found that the gate was locked and that we were again being denied our right to drive in and park on property that we had paid $40,000 of states funds to use and develop. I did as I was instructed to do by Mr. Croswell, and I called Officer Foster. The results were as usual…nothing was done. In fact, the situation became even worse.

I got a hold of Officer Foster after several times of calling his dispatcher. He informed me that he was not going to do anything about the gate being locked because he said that it was his understanding that WDFW was probably going to let the Wallace's have the fishing easement road through the pit back. He also told me that WDFW was thinking about getting a new parking easement from the Wallace's and relocate it at the far end just below Don Wallace's house. This exact same proposal was made by WDFW back in 1997 and the owner of the pit did nothing because he claimed that no one would sell him a piece of land to relocate the parking area on! I told him (Foster) that that was not a very good area and that it flooded at times and that the public would not be very happy if they knew that WDFW was planning on putting it that far away from what they are now currently using.

For some unknown reason, Officer Foster asked me if I belonged to any big groups like the FOC. I told him that I belong to a group called CPR-Fish and that I was a past president of the FOC. He said that unless some big groups were to push the state that he didn't think that WDFW would be able to force the Wallace's into doing anything. He kind of sounded by the way he was talking that he felt "sorry" for the Wallace's. I told him that the state should make the new easement road to run right along the existing power line road that runs directly to the Cowlitz River bank and the old parking area and that the state has already did a survey showing this road and parking area as the new proposed easement trade.

I told Foster that Ray Croswell had instructed me to call him (Foster) whenever the Wallace's had locked the entrance gate and that Ray had told me that Foster was fully aware of the problems that the state was having at the Wallace gravel pit site. Foster did not say, nor did he agree that he had talked to Ray Croswell about this issue. He just said that nothing was going to get done now by him, because he was being temporary transferred to Willapa or Ilwaco for a week or so. He told me that Don Wallace was the owner of the pit. I told him that according to the records and documents that I have seen that Randy Wallace (Don's son) is now the legal owner of the site. He disagreed with that so I told him that I would show him the WDFW document that states that "Randy" is the owner of the pit. Obviously it appears that no one in WDFW knows anything about the Wallace pit or its easements. He said that he would look into it when he returned from there. I asked him to please call me when he returned so that we could discuss this issue in much more detail. He said that he would call me as soon as he returned.

Well it's now October 12, 2003 (3 months later) and Officer Foster has never returned that call! And some of you just can't understand why I am always jumping on WDFW and its enforcement! The parking area should remain where it is located for several different reasons.

First, WDFW picked this particular parking area site because it was centrally located in the "middle" of the 25 foot bank fishing easement. Secondly, it allowed people with limited handicaps or disabilities to use much of the bank fishing easements in either direction. Third, we paid damn good money for that area and it should be ours to use as originally agreed to!

Even as I am updating this board, WDFW is still putting sport fishers at jeopardy! It's been over 2 years now and yet WDFW has failed to post the appropriate signage to show sport fishers what legal access they may use to get to the WDFW public bank fishing and parking easements. To this day, when fishermen attempt to obey the fishing laws and rules, we are told and encouraged by the WDFW to go on line and to use their WDFW Website http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/lands/reg5accs.htm#wall1 to find the exact areas in which we can be assured that we will have a legal place to park and have access to go fishing. When we go to the WDFW Website, we are given instructions how to reach the Location and access point in which WDFW has legal access to enter and use the "Wallace" Public Fishing Site location. These are the exact instructions that are given to public to use by WDFW:

Wallace - Lewis - Location:

"From I-5 take exit 57, go west through intersection (Rogers Road) 1.1 miles to Mandy Road, go 0.5 miles, turn left into access road, access road goes through gravel pit 0.5 miles to parking area. Bank fishing only."

When the public follows the WDFW instructions to the get to the public fishing access site that is called the "Wallace" site; one of 3 things will occur:

1) The public will be harassed by the pit operator or his employees because they (the pit people) have removed all the "states" public fishing signs, and the easement road remains unmarked.

2) The public is locked out and can not use the "public access road" because the gate is locked.

3) The Public gets locked inside the "public fishing area" because the Pit operator has chosen to lock the entrance gate, and has gone home for the day. If we attempt to use our public fishing site at the "Wallace" WDFW site on weekends or after 5 pm in the evenings this is what you can expect to find waiting for you when you attempt to use the WDFW public easement!








All 3 of these options are unacceptable, illegal and violate the public's right to use the "Wallace" public fishing site and easements!

Moreover, all of the cost and survey work to relocate the easement road that leads to the bank access easement along the existing power lines road has already been completed by WDFW (see picture #1). Now all WDFW needs to do is to make the exchange and post the road way with the appropriate signage.

Another Board member who's board names is "Dogfish", but every calls him by his real name which is Andy, personally handed WDFW's Director Jeff Koenings a written request to correct this access problem that exists at the WDFW " Wallace" public fishing site over 2 years ago. Andy also requested that the director reply to his letter within a week or so. Well that was over two years ago, and Andy has never received a single word back from either the Director or his staff!

And you people wonder why some of us continue to jump all over WDFW case! Last week I sent a certified 11 page complaint letter with a number of other WDFW documents and pictures off to the Regional 5 Director Mr. Lee Van Trussenbrook. He will be the person who will be making the final decision if WDFW should peruse any legal action to get back our public access easement rights. Lee Van Trussenbrook can be reached by email at VANTULV@dfw.wa.gov.

Never again will WDFW be able to afford to purchase any public fishing sites like this one again on the Cowlitz River, especially now since Tacoma is all done with its relicensing process and WDFW failed to ask for anymore public fishing access. If you care anything about your "public access rights" at any WDFW site, please don't allow them to give away or trade off your public rights to use this huge unknown public fishing site, or the states legal road and parking easement rights.

Since Mr. Croswell has now fully retired, and is complete out of the picture, please take the time now to send off an email to Mr. Van Trussenbrook, and "demand" that he takes what ever legal actions may be necessary to keep our "existing public parking area", and to make the exchange of of access "roads" that WDFW has proposed to do in their survey map (power line road) as shown in the first picture. Please ask him to immediately demand to open up the gate that is currently blocking your public access at the entrance to the states legal road easement.

Please ask him to immediately post WDFW public access signs along the "power line road" so that the public will not be put at anymore jeopardy by the gravel pits continued encroachment onto our public easements. You will not only be helping yourselves, you will also being helping out the disabled and handicapped fishermen too by do this.

Both I and my group (CPR-Fish) can only do so much for you. So if you really want more places to fish on the Cowlitz, please take the time and write that email to VANTULV@dfw.wa.gov and cc it to both director@dfw.wa.gov and commission@dfw.wa.gov and cpr-fish@toledotel.com

Together we have power! Individually we have nothing! Please send off those emails today!

That's my update, the rest is up to you to do laugh

Cowlitzfisherman
_________________________
Cowlitzfisherman

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

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#214680 - 10/13/03 01:51 AM Re: WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!
OregonBankie Offline
Parr

Registered: 08/03/99
Posts: 56
Loc: Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Cowlitz,
Thanks for pressing this issue.

I visited this site one or two years ago after seeing a post and map on this board. It was Sunday afternoon, and the gate was locked. There were no WDFW signs. A friend and I walked in along the road and were immediately met by a woman driving a truck (I think she lived in the house just north of the gate)..

The conversation went something like this:
Woman: What are you doing here?
Me: I'm walking to look at the river for fishing purposes.
Woman: We've had vandalism here.
Me: I'm going to look at the river.
Woman: There are no restroom facilities there.
Me: I'm going to look at the river.
Then she left.
She never said I was trespassing or on private property.

It's about a 1/4 mile walk, and there was a lot washed up tree debris requiring some climbing. There is a very good bank for fishing this section of the Cowlitz.

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#214681 - 10/13/03 11:32 AM Re: WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!
cowlitzfisherman Offline
Three Time Spawner

Registered: 06/14/00
Posts: 1828
Loc: Toledo, Washington
OregonBankie

Sorry to hear that you were locked out of this public fishing site. There is no excuse for WDFW not following up on this issue 2 years ago. Maybe now people can understand why I am always getting on top WDFW for not doing the job that we are paying them to do.

Examples like yours I am afraid are all to common at this Public fishing site, and one has to wonder what's going on with WDFW on this issue. This is a perfect example why WDFW continues to loose the public's support, and why people are saying enough with paying more for license fees when they can't even control or protect our public fishing sites.

It appears that WDFW would rather be writing a fisherman a ticket for attempting to snag a fish or for failing to punch your punch card then they would for a guy who locks the public out of a WDFW public fishing area and steals the material that they have paid him for. You got to start asking hard questions like why would WDFW have a big sting operation a couple miles upriver to nail the guys who are not showing or buying there personal use stickers for their vehicles and just down the road, where you paid to use that same personal use sticker, they are allowing a guy to lock the public out of a state owned public fishing parking area, where you are "required by the same law" to purchase the same stamp to use the area. What is wrong with this story?

I sure would love to hear from all those bleeding hearts out there who are always defending WDFW on this board and crying that they are over worked understaffed and underpaid. Where are they now when the facts show that WDFW is wrong and is sitting on there butts for over two years? The next time some one tries to defend that stupid parking sticker that people must now have to park in all WDFW public fishing sites, I would like to tell them to put it …you know where!

When a guy gets the sheriff called on him for trespassing (which I did) and he's on a WDFW Public Fishing Site and has followed the direction that WDFW has given to him to get there and WDFW does nothing to correct this problem, a guy gets a little bit pissed off! It's pretty hard for a lot of fishermen to understand why WDFW enforcement will hide in the bushes to catch a person who is violating one game law and right next store he allows another guy to break the law and lock fishermen out of a WDFW public fishing site! Does the word "hypocrites" fit WDFW in this case? I say yes it does!


Cowlitzfisherman
_________________________
Cowlitzfisherman

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

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#214682 - 10/13/03 01:38 PM Re: WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!
Salmo g. Offline
River Nutrients

Registered: 03/08/99
Posts: 13572
CFM,

You're the man!! Only my personal experience with WDFW Region 5 - where they give away public resources routinely - allows me to believe they are still resisting your admonitions to simply do the right f@#$%^& thing.

How's about we plan a Wallace fish in of BB members for a convenient date, like this comming Saturday. But first, we flood Van Tussenbrook with emails and phone calls this week announcing it, and letting him know we expect WDFW to do its job of protecting the public interest in public resources (the easement, not the land), so we expect the easement to be fully open and accessible to the angling public.

WDFW does respond to squeaky wheels. CFM's isn't loud enough by himself, but I've got to believe that if a dozen or two dozen of us hound WDFW into doing its job, there's a reasonable chance it will happen. It wouldn't hurt to cc Jeff Keonings with the emails.

Thanks CFM!

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

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#214683 - 10/20/03 07:46 PM Re: WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!
cowlitzfisherman Offline
Three Time Spawner

Registered: 06/14/00
Posts: 1828
Loc: Toledo, Washington
Salmo

Thanks for your support! Now if we can get a few more to do it ..... well, who knows what can happen! laugh laugh

This is an update!

It appears that you were "right on" about Region 5 and its politics! I received this email from the Regional 5 Director, and I am going to share it with you, with this board , and other fishing boards too! Besides my reply back to Lee and Mr. Woodcock, I find it alarming to say the least, that the Director of "Region 5" had somehow miss- posted the correct address when he sent it off to the WDFW Game Commission in error. Was it just done in error? Make up your own minds on that one! I have known Lee for many years, and I would not think that he would have hastily sent out this email in error...but I could be wrong...I hope that I am wrong!! This is a pretty "hot" issue, and one would think that a person would use their official email mailing list when sending out such an email to the Commission.

Below is the Region 5 reply that I had received, and following, is my response back to Lee Van Trussenbrook:

Quote:

Subject: Re: Wallace Gravel pit public fishing access
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 13:47:18 -0700
From: "Lee Van Tussenbrook" <VANTULV@dfw.wa.gov>
To: <tigger@desertlinc.com>, <commission@dfw.gov>, <director@dfw.wa.gov>, <cpr-fish@toledotel.com>
CC: "Dan Budd" <BUDDDDB@dfw.wa.gov>, "Terry Legg" <leggtjl@dfw.wa.gov>

Dear Mr. Woodcock:

I have been asked to briefly respond to your issues regarding Wallace access on the Cowlitz. We have had complaints in the past and have investigate those on numerous occasions. Those investigations did not lead to denial of access or any other problems; although complaints from anglers have been received at the regional office by a few individuals.

So far it appear access during normal daylight hours have not been as much of an issue as weekends and nights due to proximity of the gate for their gravel operations.

I have asked Terry Legg, our Real Estate westside supervisor out of Montesano, to initiate another investigation into the access which will include discussions with the pit owner, investigation of willful acts regarding our properties, denial of access to the public, signage and locking of the access site.

By having meaningful discussions with the pit owner and ensuring that users in the area have input we feel we can resolve many of the issues that have caused heartburn to many at this site.

We will not relinquish access and our hope to work to a win-win solution for everyone.

I will forward your e-mail to Terry as well so you can be informed of any progress.

Thanks for your interest.

Lee Van Tussenbrook
SW Regional Director
360-906-6704

Quote:

----- Original Message -----
From: woodcook Family
To: VANTULV@dfw.wa.gov
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 9:06 AM
Subject: Wallace Gravel pit public fishing access


Sir

It has come to my attention that the State owns access to the Cowlitz River and that the fishing public is being denied access to this resource. I have been informed that the DFW has failed to enforce the agreement the Wallace entered into with the State to allow public access.

This Public Fishing access location needs to be properly signed and the easement enforced so as to allow the fishing public access to the area that was purchased by them.

There is no logical reason for not ensuring that the public has access at this site and it is the responsibility of the DFW to ensure that this is accomplished.

Keith Woodcook

This is my response to Mr. Van Trussentbrook's reply:


Quote:



Lee:

First, I would like to thank you for keeping CPR-Fish informed on what WDFW is attempting to do to address the issues that were addressed in my 11 page complaint letter to you on October 7, 2003. But there still appears to be some very serious misnomers about our public access, or should I say lack of public access at the WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site that has taken place.

You have stated in your reply to Mr. Woodcock that; "We have had complaints in the past and have investigate those on numerous occasions. Those investigations did not lead to denial of access or any other problems; although complaints from anglers have been received at the regional office by a few individuals."

I personally have to take issue with your response on this issue. In my 11 page complaint letter, you were given specific information in my attachment EXHIBIT #2 that clearly shows and verified, that the public was being denied access to the WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site. The Sheriff report (EXHIBIT #2) was sent to both you and Ray Croswell by fax very shortly after the report was filed in May of 2001.

It is important to note, that the report was filed on a "Friday" and that it was not filed on a weekend.

Your reply also said; "So far it appear access during normal daylight hours have not been as much of an issue as weekends and nights due to proximity of the gate for their gravel operations."

Lee, why should our "public access rights" be dictated by any "private party", especially a person who was paid extremely well with State funds for this public vehicle easement and parking rights? Moreover, we are required by state law to purchase our WDFW personal use stickers to use this and all other WDFW public fishing areas and we can even use it now. For at least the 2 years now, the public has been denied all their night time use and access to this WDFW parking area. Why? All of this was supposed to be taken care of over 2 years ago by Ray Croswell.

On June 10, 2001 I sent this email to Ray Croswell:

>>> Bob Reid <cpr-fish@toledotel.com> 06/10 3:15 PM >>>

Ray,

Either you are lying low; sick, or you are avoiding me (probably a little bit of each!). As you know by now, I have walked the plank again for WDFW. I am referring to the complaint that I had to file with the Lewis County Sheriff Office (you and Lee were mailed a copy of it). It should be quite clear by now that CPR-Fish is not going to let this issue slide by again. I appreciate your candid help and look forward to getting this issue resolved in a way that "us fishermen" don't get the short end again. I am going to do all that's within our organizations power to see that this access area remains open, and maintain it's current location. I am pursuing several other opinions to let the pubic know just what's going on.

It would be great if your office could get it act together, for once, and follow the same course. Time will tell! I believe that its now time for WDFW to send a strong letter to the Wallace's stating that the access gates must be remained opened, and that a new access road located alongside of the power line road must be brought back to what the Wallace's originally agreed to do. That also goes for the parking area that they claimed was supposedly washed away during the 1995-96 floods. As you have already seen, the Wallace's had already scalped and removed the parking area long before the floods had washed anything away.

Please give me a call Monday morning. If my line is busy, please try to contact me by email, and I will call you right back!

Thanks again for all the hard work that you have done to date.
Bob Reid,
CPR-Fish

This was Ray's response:

Subject: Re: wallace Access Issue
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2001 08:14:41 -0700
From: "Ray Croswell" <CROSWRCC@dfw.wa.gov>
To: <cpr-fish@toledotel.com>
CC: "Lee Van Tussenbrook" <VANTULV@dfw.wa.gov>

Bob, I am not avoiding you, I don't know how! This last week I was being pushed in to many direction. I did call Randy Wallace a week ago Friday and told him that he had to get it open and were going to go all the way this time on making it happen I had planned on stopping by and visiting the site and him last week (but did not get it done) My call and personal visit will be the last stops before the Strong Letter. Tuesday I will be in North Bend for another reorganizing meeting for the lands program. After I send this I will give you a call. I have a staff meeting and program conference call this morning.

According to Mr. Croswell response to my email, the above reply "Those investigations did not lead to denial of access or any other problems;" is extremely misleading! Ray had personally told me in front of my wife, that he has had numerous problems over the years at this site, especially with all the WDFW public fishing signs being continually removed by the pit operator.

I am really surprised that WDFW has not pursued this "legal issue" about the pit owner removing the earthen fill that our original public access road was laid down upon. This is not the first time that it was documented that the "Wallace's" had removed property (earthen fill) that was not theirs, and selling it back to the state or to some other party.

The State knew (John B. Wills, Lands Acquisition Supervisor) from the facts that were sent to them in the "1971 engineering Report", that much of fill that was being used to fill in the States "Olequa Boat Ramp" parking lot area was being taken from a nearby old bridge approach. In fact, the State knew that it was paying the Wallace's for fill that was most likely stolen, and were fully aware that the Wallace's were being paid to use this same fill with state funds, and yet nothing was ever done about it! The report states "A sizeable potion of the fill in place now was taken from the old bridge approach fill (I hope no one investigates this). It is obvious to me that you are doing business on a "handshake" basis." This sure is starting to sound like what's going on at the "Wallace" Site now.

Lee, this kind of stuff has to stop and stop now! Is WDFW going to pretend that the Wallace's didn't steal the states road easement, ballast and top coating, and then turn their backs again just like they did on the "fill issue" at the Olequa parking lot site? It's time for the State to take whatever legal action it needs to and deal with this issue now!

If you are unable to locate the 1971 engineering report, please let me know, and I will fax you a copy if need be. We are looking forward to bringing this issue to closer soon.

Regards,

Bob Reid,
CPR-Fish
_________________________
Cowlitzfisherman

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

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#214684 - 10/20/03 08:39 PM Re: WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!
grandpa2 Offline
Three Time Spawner

Registered: 06/04/03
Posts: 1698
Loc: Brier, Washington
CF

If there is an ecology damage issue here I think the news media would jump on this. You know..big corporate demon trampling on the poor citizens rights...greedy company (especially a gravel pit) stripping the land for profit while denying access to the public on public lands....OH BABY!!!

Have you contacted Bob Mottram at the Tacoma News Tribune? I think if an average private citizen did this kind of thing he would be hauled into court pronto. The fact that a state agency appears to be turning their back on obvious viloations of the law and the public trust is incredible. Not surprising. I have my hands full but could certainly find the time to address the proper people in my capacity. Please let me know what I can do to help. email me.
Thanks for a great job of researching this outrageous situation. Right now I am working on the senseless sport shellfish travesty compliments of the WDFW commission and their commercial puppet masters.
_________________________
Join Puget Sound Anglers Today and help us support sports fishing. http://groups.msn.com/psasnoking

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#214685 - 10/20/03 08:49 PM Re: WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!
Anonymous
Unregistered


Quote:
Originally posted by grandpa2:
Right now I am working on the senseless sport shellfish travesty compliments of the WDFW commission and their commercial puppet masters.
On a side note... Granpa2 is it possible for you update us on the latest of the Commercial shellfish... Do you know the actual allocations?

Just out of curiosity will you be publisizing anything on this issue and is there anything that the ordinary people can do to help?

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#214686 - 10/20/03 08:57 PM Re: WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!
cowlitzfisherman Offline
Three Time Spawner

Registered: 06/14/00
Posts: 1828
Loc: Toledo, Washington
Thanks grandpa

You are truly a man of your word!

Let's just see if Region 5 can do it right for a change before we take any more actions. They have been given a bunch, and now they must decide how to deal with what they have been given. I believe in letting them have a "sort period" to resolve this issue, but not to long of a time either. It's really great that members such as you and I can join forces together when our fish resources are put at jeopardy.

WDFW better watch their butts….. if we both get together! laugh laugh

I will not forget your offer of help at time of need grandpa! thumbs

Cowlitzfisherman
_________________________
Cowlitzfisherman

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

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#214687 - 10/20/03 09:03 PM Re: WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!
grandpa2 Offline
Three Time Spawner

Registered: 06/04/03
Posts: 1698
Loc: Brier, Washington
Our crabbing season has been closed throughout Puget Sound and Hood Canal except area 10 because WDFW determined after a phone survey that we have exceeded our quota. Next year our take will be dramatically cut to "make up for" our over harvest. We were only given 15% of the harvestable crab in the first place. The logic or illogic of this allocation was based on the idea that sports crabbers were unable to harvest the available stocks efficiently or timely. So now we showed that we could harvest a decent amount and we are being punished. The commercials get the booty. The following is an email from the president of the Port Townsend chapter of PSA with a peek at what actions are being planned. This does not discuss our pitiful shrimp seasons that have really shrunk to favor the handful of commercial shrimpers. Discussions are supposedly off the table for 5 years! That was part of the WDFW commission decision this spring going against the public and even their own shellfish biologists once again to favor the commercials who pull their strings.

Here's the email:

Hello Everyone!
Well, our crab seasons are going to get cut down even farther! They are going to close our 8-2 area next year from 83 days to 40 days. Do you believe we are taking more and more crab? I don't. The commercials are getting the majority of it. the entire Puget Sound is closed now including Hood Canal. WDFW says we have reached our quota. The only area left open is 10. Here is a letter to go with it.

The East Jefferson (Port Townsend) Puget Sound Anglers is stepping forward along with JD Wade to try and work on us getting our share. Please plan on attending. Remember when you could drop the crab pots on your way out fishing and no matter how bad or good of fishing, you always could count on crab? This is fastly becoming a thing of the past. The WDFW Commission does not care about recreationals at all. They protect the failing commercials with Will Roehl ex-commercial fisherman leading the commission. He has protected them in the WDFW meetings, saying the legislature says they are to provide a viable commercial and recreational fishery. But why the special treatment for them?


Here is the letter from Gary Hulsey:

J.D. Wade and I have come up with a plan of action to address the loss of crab season in Puget Sound. We have run it by Clint and he approves. Clint and J.D. are planning to be in Port Townsend Tuesday evening at our meeting where we will begin the implementation of the plan.
This plan will require the help of the entire PSA organization and may well facilitate the major crab policy changes that will be required to save recreational crabbing in Puget Sound.
What we are going to do is circulate a petition and gather at least 10,000 names and present it to the commission in Port Townsend at their Dec. 5 and 6 meeting. At the time of presentation we will have 1000 boats on trailers in Port Townsend with TV and print coverage and then convoy to Fort Warden, where the commission meeting is being held.
The final draft of the petition is complete and we will begin collecting names on Wednesday. Time is of the essences and we must start now.
If every chapter filled just 30 pages of this petition we would have 10,000 names. These names need only be people who are eligible to have a catch record card.
This seems doable to me. It may be harder to get that many trailer boats in town on the 6th of Dec. but it is a worthy goal and would certainly be newsworthy.
If you can attend or send someone to represent your chapter please be here. If someone wants to come and needs a place to crash let me know.
There is a lot at stake here and we will need all the help we can muster to make this successful.
15.4% is not enough
Gary Hulsey
East Jefferson Chapter
_________________________
Join Puget Sound Anglers Today and help us support sports fishing. http://groups.msn.com/psasnoking

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#214689 - 10/20/03 09:46 PM Re: WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!
herm Offline
Returning Adult

Registered: 02/06/02
Posts: 306
Loc: hermanghardtke@yahoo.com
thumbs

This is cool!

CFM, you are so right!

If you and Grandpa get started, something will move. I'm sure of that! laugh

Thanks to both of you.

smile

herm
_________________________
too much of anything is just right

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#214690 - 10/20/03 10:11 PM Re: WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!
Fish Seeker Offline
Parr

Registered: 07/28/03
Posts: 60
Loc: Centralia, WA
CFM,

Thanks for the info. I had no idea this place existed. I will start using it.

Thanks again.

FS

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#214691 - 10/21/03 08:56 AM Re: WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!
grandpa2 Offline
Three Time Spawner

Registered: 06/04/03
Posts: 1698
Loc: Brier, Washington
AuntyM

Gary is bringing petitions over tomorrow and I will secure a bunch. If you and others can spread the word it would be appreciated. I have better printed material I think. I will email you privately with the ammo to get out on the other boards. I am really swamped at work so all the help you can provide would be great. The WDFW commission is going to hve to come to the party one of these days because the pressure we are putting on them with facts in our hands is not going to be easy to ignore. They do ignore common sense and biological facts all the time but the more light of day that their bad decisions see the better. Stay tuned.
_________________________
Join Puget Sound Anglers Today and help us support sports fishing. http://groups.msn.com/psasnoking

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#214692 - 10/21/03 09:33 AM Re: WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!
Thumper Offline
Returning Adult

Registered: 04/08/01
Posts: 334
Loc: Vancouver, WA
CFM --- Since you are suggesting that we e-mail or otherwise contact Mr. Van Tussenbrook you might settle on a spelling for his name. You have expressed it with three different spellings. I would think that most people respond a bit better if their name is spelled properly.
_________________________
Jack

Please join CCA. After only 18 months total Pacific Northwest membership is over 7,000. We need you!

The walls of death have got to go!

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#214693 - 10/21/03 11:28 AM Re: WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!
ROCK Offline
Returning Adult

Registered: 08/14/03
Posts: 478
Loc: Between 2 Mountains
Grandpa-2 please send any info to me .I will take it to the next meeting down here .Or send to Tom Pollack at Auburn Sports at 253-833-1440.
Thanx
_________________________
South King County Puget Sound Anglers

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#214694 - 10/21/03 06:32 PM Re: WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!
cowlitzfisherman Offline
Three Time Spawner

Registered: 06/14/00
Posts: 1828
Loc: Toledo, Washington
Thanks Thumper for pointing that error out!

The correct Spelling is "Lee Van Tussenbrook" It's not really that big of a deal for Lee because his last name is just like mind in many ways, and neither of us ever take it the wrong way if it gets misspelled. Many people spell my last name REED, but it's really spelled REID. Most people saw this when they looked at his email address and name so most people caught the small spelling error. Either way, thanks again for pointing it out to us.

Cowlitzfisherman
_________________________
Cowlitzfisherman

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

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#214695 - 10/21/03 08:37 PM Re: WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!
grandpa2 Offline
Three Time Spawner

Registered: 06/04/03
Posts: 1698
Loc: Brier, Washington
Ron

The meeting to finalize everything is tonight in Port Townsend and tomorrow all the details will be sent to all chapters. I will keep you posted after tonight.
_________________________
Join Puget Sound Anglers Today and help us support sports fishing. http://groups.msn.com/psasnoking

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#214696 - 10/21/03 09:36 PM Re: WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!
ROCK Offline
Returning Adult

Registered: 08/14/03
Posts: 478
Loc: Between 2 Mountains
Thanx G-2 our chapter e-mailed some info to all that have computers.
_________________________
South King County Puget Sound Anglers

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#214697 - 10/21/03 10:26 PM Re: WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!
HntnFsh Offline
Spawner

Registered: 06/24/01
Posts: 684
Loc: Toledo Wa
CFM,
I heard from a mutual friend that the state did not do their part in developing the access site at Wallaces.I don't know this for a fact,but have no reason to doubt what I was told.
The state was supposed to supply lights.Restrooms.and the parking area.And never came through on their end.Supposedly this was pointed out to them a few weeks ago during their meeting with Don,and Randy.
From what I was told the state didnt even have the signed papers clarifying this and Randy was supposed to fax them copies.(the papers were supposedly read by whoever was talking to Wallaces personally)(Regional director ?)on the day of their face to face meeting.
I dont know if you had the same conversation with our friend as I did.But from the sounds of things,The Wallaces arent the only ones to blame for our lack of access to this site.It sounded to me like your buddies at WDFW dropped the ball.Hmm imagine that!!!
Curious if you heard the same story.Maybe the WDFW is in the process of trying to cover their BUTTS!!!.
Do you know anything about this?Its got my curiosity up.

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#214698 - 10/21/03 10:56 PM Re: WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site update!
cowlitzfisherman Offline
Three Time Spawner

Registered: 06/14/00
Posts: 1828
Loc: Toledo, Washington
Rick

Randy tried to feed me that same line of Bull $hit story over two years ago when I met with him. He was going to show me the document, so I went to his house to see it, but a funny thing happen!! Randy couldn't find it! Can you imagine that!

If you need to see the signed agreement with the Wallace's signature sign to it …let me know! I have several copies of the "agreement" and nowhere did it say anything about toilets or lights. You know the Wallace's as well as anyone, and they always make sure that if they want something in a contract it's written into the contract before they ever sign it to cover their butts!

Give me a call and you will be amazed at the information that I have on this site!

Cowlitzfisherman
_________________________
Cowlitzfisherman

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

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