Outdoors Report: Gov’t Shutdowns Should Never Take Nature Away From the People

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Last week, for the second time in recent memory, the federal government decided to play politics as usual by pontificating, pouting, and then unceremoniously packing up their balls and going home when they failed to get their way.

The government shutdown was a short-lived affair this go round, but that doesn’t mean that it went unnoticed at popular out of doors destinations across the nation. With most federal employees temporarily out of work over the weekend and the bulk of Monday, National Parks, National Forests, and other federal lands went unstaffed and citizens seeking help were left wanting. 

Across the country park rangers noted their fears about what would happen with unfettered and unsupervised access by the unwashed masses to America’s most pristine areas. They noted that restrooms and other facilities would not be accessible and called the scenario a “recipe for disaster.” 

At Yellowstone, this country’s first National Park, a fleet of snowmobiles were observed straying outside of designated riding areas and veering too close to the Old Faithful geyser. Although no lasting damage was noted to the geothermal attraction, and no injuries resulted from that unchecked excursion, it stands as a prime example of the types of protections that park staff routinely provide for both the natural world and the sometimes over exuberant humans who set out to breathe it all in. After all, there are already plenty of bison and mammoth bones boiling in the primordial stews beneath Yellowstone’s cracked crust due to a historical lack of safety features.

As important as those park rangers and other federal lands staff have proved themselves to be to the nation’s extensive public lands system, it is essential to remember what makes those lands special in the first place. Hint: It’s not the people, whether they’re wearing funny hats or not.

Instead, it is the percolating essence of nature that provides the spark for so much inspiration in America’s vast expanses of protected wonders. To wit — A mountain does not cease to be a pinnacle penetrating the heavens when the government lights go out, and likewise, a beach does not cease to be the mystic portal between land and sea when policy makers fail to effectively make policy.

The power of nature was not bestowed by man and thus cannot be taken away by the self-vested powers of man. What’s more, any to attempt to do so only provides additional ammunition for those naysayers who do not believe that the government should be in the business of protecting America’s natural wonders in the first place. In times of great government disfunction, like recent days and again back in 2013, it becomes easy enough to understand their argument though. After all, if the government can’t be trusted to maintain dependable access to our most prized landscapes, then why should they be entrusted with those powers in the first place? What good is a fancy cup that you cannot drink from? What use is a priceless book that you cannot read?

The great outdoors is for grass stains, not mothballs.

In 2013 the federal government took the step of locking off access to National Parks and similar lands during that 16-day shutdown. Tourists from around the country, and the globe, arrived at their highly anticipated far flung destinations only to be turned away at locked gates. Some defiantly hopped those gates to see what they could see only to return and find personal citations issued in their name. Some folks challenged those citations, and won, but the message sent by law enforcement was clear as a Kalaloch Beach sunset; When it comes to the federal government you’ve got to pay to play.

That decision to shutter public lands in 2013 was made under the rationale of protecting natural resources and treasures while the paid overseers were on furlough. But the way I see it, Americans should never be banished from lands that are allegedly already designated as theirs, according to any ernest interpretation of federal law.

While it’s understandable to want to bubble wrap America’s irreplaceable parts while Big Brother is unable to collect a paycheck to keep an eye on things, it also represents an injustice toward every American that sets a precedent slippier than a clearcut slope in a downpour. This nation’s public lands were set aside in order to preserve them for the benefit of all Americans. They were not ordered to be set under lock and key and left to collect dust in the look-but-don’t-touch China cabinet.

As generational expectations for access to our public lands continue to become diluted through recurring shutdowns, rising fees, and increasing land-use prohibitions, a smaller and smaller percentage of Americans will learn to love the great outdoors. Children will be deprived opportunities to develop connections to the natural world and adults will forget things they learned when they were young, carefree, and adventuring in the wild. 

Maybe it’s time Congress takes a field trip, perhaps a walk through the desert, in order to remember what made American great in the first place.

 

FISHIN’

A series of strong coastal storm systems has changed the waterways of Southwest Washington into churning channels of sludge chock full of mud and forest debris, a fair amount of cow manure and at least one wayward beach ball blown in by the breeze. 

Prospects on the Chehalis River systems, including the Skookumchuck and Newaukum, are blown out like acid wash jeans and bleach blonde mullets. There’s currently no end to the rains in sight so most salmon fishing will likely be a wash until at least the middle of next week.

With that in mind fish fiends may want to try their chances on area ponds if they just can’t wait for the rivers to recede before cranking their reels. A few local lakes and ponds have been the beneficiaries of recent trout stocking efforts by the WDFW and the thing about billabong locked fish is that, no matter the weather, they all have to eat. 

Most recently, on Jan. 16, Fort Borst Park Pond in Centralia was planted with 1,600 fingerling rainbow trout and Silver Lake, east of Castle Rock, was stocked with 3,000 half pound rainbows. On Jan. 8 Carlisle Lake in Onalaska, also known as Old Mill Pond, was planted with 100 five-pound rainbows. The next day Horseshoe Lake was planted with 115 five-pound trout in addition to 2,400 fingerling rainbows to keep them company. Since Jan. 3 Kress Lake has been planted with 130 ten pound unsalted steelhead who were buffered with 2,000 fingerling rainbows, and Longview’s crown jewel, Lake Sacajawea was planted with 30 ten-pound lunker trout and 66 five-pound trout on Jan. 10.

Although pressure for steelhead remained high last week on the Elochoman and East Fork Lewis Rivers there were no fish reported caught on either river. Considerable effort on Germany and Abernathy creeks also went unrewarded and proved that no matter where anglers cast their lot last week there were hardly any fish to be found. 

On the Cowlitz River the WDFW surveyed seven bank rods downstream of the Interstate 5 Bridge with no catch while five bank rods upriver released one adult coho and eight cutthroat trout. On the mainstem Columbia River the fishing has also been slow, with light effort and no catch observed between Bonneville and McNary Dam last week.

Sturgeon have been providing more of a bite recently but those options are about to be reduced even further. Last week at Bonneville boat anglers caught an average of one legal fish per five rods and as of Jan. 14 only 8.3 percent of the 325 fish harvest guildine had been taken.  Both boat and bank anglers were reportedly catching legal size fish in the John Day Pool as well but anglers are no longer able to try their luck at The Dalles. That dam pool was closed to sturgeon fishing on Jan. 20 after fishery managers determined that the 100 fish harvest quota had been achieved. Between Jan. 1-14 an estimated 69 fish were kept, which one dinosaur fish lover reported was, “Nice!” Under permanent rules, sturgeon retention continues to be closed below Bonneville Dam and below WIllamette Falls, while catch-and-release fishing is allowed in the lower Columbia.

Anglers looking to buffer their piscatorial prospects in the dam pools have been having some luck targeting warm water fish lately, particularly walleye. At Bonneville boat anglers were observed catching walleye last week and at The Dalles boat anglers averaged almost four walleye per rod. In the John Day Pool boat anglers averaged two walleye per rod and anglers are just starting to show up for bass. 

 

HUNTIN’

A bevy of proposed hunting regulation changes proposed by the WDFW are finally available for review online. Those proposals would cover rules through the 2020 hunting seasons and the WDFW is seeking comment from the public in order to help guide the final decision making process. Written comments are due by Feb. 14.

In a press release Anis Aoude, a WDFW game manager, noted that the proposals are based off of objectives and strategies laid out in the 2015-21 Game Management Plan.

“We appreciate the input we’ve received over the past months and encourage everyone interested in the 2018-20 hunting seasons to review and comment on the proposed rules before final action is taken,” said Aoude in the release.

The policy making Fish and Wildlife Commission will also accept public comment in person during their March 16-17 meetings at the Red Lion Hotel in Wenatchee. Final action is expected to be taken in April. The 2015-21 Game Management Plan is available for review online at wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01676/. Written comments must be submitted online. Visit the WDFW’s website, at wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/seasonsetting/, in order to review and comment on the proposals.

Out in the field the end is near for the camouflaged seekers amongst us. The fleeting fall/winter hunting season that began with a black bear’s fart back in August is now about to end with the final flap of a waterfowl wings. Eventually, we all reach that golden pond.

Local duck and goose seasons will continue through Jan. 28, except for Goose Management Area 2 which closed on Jan. 14. However, Area 2 is set to reopen from Feb. 10 through March 10 for an extended season. Willapa and Grays harbors always provide prime prospects for waterfowl, along with the flooded farm fields along the Chehalis River and its tributaries. The old Centralia Mine always proves popular with bird hunters and Thurston County regularly attracts hunters from afar to the birds basking tidal flats around the crooked finger bays of Olympia.

Cougar hunters will be able to remain on the prowl in most units through April 30, although hunters should be sure to check for closures in units with harvest guidelines. Hunts for snowshoe hare, cottontail rabbits, bobcat, fox and raccoon will all continue through the Ides of March, and of course, coyotes are always fodder for the crosshairs.

Hunters who purchased a tag or permit last year have less than a week to turn in their annual reports. Reports are required for each special permit and every elk, deer, bear, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and turkey tag purchased, even if no animal was taken. Failure to report will result in a $10 penalty the next time a hunter tries to purchase a license. Hunting reports may be filed by phone at 877-945-3492, or at wdfw.wa.gov.

Lastly, hunters hoping to bag a black bear come springtime must apply for a permit before the end of February.

 

CLAMMIN’

A seven day razor clam dig that will bridge January and February on a mix of coastal beaches was approved by the WDFW on Wednesday after prerequisite marine toxin testing came back with good marks.

“We have good toxin results and our public affairs shop is working to get a news release out,” wrote Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for the WDFW, in an email to The Chronicle on Wednesday before word had spread to the public.

A few hours later confirmation came in official form via a press release from the public affairs shop.

“Not every beach is open every day — so folks need to be sure they know if the beach they are headed for is open,” Ayres noted in that release. “We’ve staggered the days various beaches are open to maximize the length of the opening.”



The upcoming razor clam digging dates, times, tides and beaches include:

• Jan. 28, Sunday, 4:06 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Mocrocks

• Jan. 29, Monday, 4:59 p.m.; -1.0 feet; Copalis

• Jan. 30, Tuesday, 5:47 p.m.; -1.5 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Jan. 31, Wednesday, 6:33 p.m.; -1.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

• Feb. 1, Thursday, 7:17 p.m.; -1.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Feb. 2, Friday, 8:00 p.m.; -1.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

• Feb. 3, Saturday, 8:42 p.m.; -0.4; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Ayres noted that despite a few hiccups along the way the winter succulent bivalve digging season has been a success.

“The New Year’s openers was VERY successful...it was pretty cool to see almost 25,000 hardy Pacific Northwesterners  (is that a word?) out digging razor clams to celebrate the New Year!,” wrote Ayres. “Clam size continues to be good and success rates have been OK in most locations (the southern portion of Long Beach the biggest exception) at least when the weather isn’t crazy.”

With the consistent effort and typically dependable results Ayres says that the late-winter digging opportunities may be cut short in order to leave enough clams for spring digs.

“We are farther ahead than usual, for this point in the season, on our harvest of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for most beaches. That will likely mean we’ll only be able to offer a few more days of digging and we’ll likely save most of those for the springtime, morning tides...but we’ll know more after we see the harvest levels from the upcoming opener,” wrote Ayres.

Ayres added that he will be making a presentation at the Puyallup Sportman’s Show at the Washington State Fairgrounds on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 6:30. The presentation will include a tutorial for digging clams as well as information on WDFW management strategies.

“If anyone is around, they are welcome to come join me,” wrote Ayres.

State law allows each digger to keep up to 15 clams so long as they keep the first 15 they dig. Diggers age 15 and up are required to have a license and all diggers must carry their own clams in their own container. According to Ayres, best digging results are typically had about one or two hours prior to low tide.

 

SNOWIN’

Well checka-looka benevolent shredders, there’s loads of snow piling up in them there hills just in time to keep the high country party going. A wave of winter storms over the weekend put down a nice new base of powder and continuing bouts of fluffy precipitation continue to improve conditions at White Pass.

On Wednesday afternoon at White Pass summit the temperature was recorded at around 29 degrees, which was helping to keep the snow in good shape. According to the White Pass snow report, “The forecast says temperatures will continue to drop this morning; we are seeing snow from base to summit and conditions are quite good above 5,000’. The groomed is perfection and you can find powder... it’s just a bit heavier than yesterday.”

As of Wednesday afternoon the total snow pack at the base of White Pass was 40 inches with 82 inches at the summit. Those measurements included five inches of snow early Wednesday and nearly a foot over the previous 24-hours.

This weekend the White Pass Ski Patrol will host an open house at their brand new headquarters. That 5,200 square foot building is an upgrade over their previous 640 square foot shack, and was built with $400,000 worth of private and corporate donations.

Additionally, Maverick, the Ski Patrol’s new avalanche rescue dog will be on hand to meet and greet the public. More information on Maverick can be found on the front page of today’s Chronicle.

A public invitation on the White Pass Facebook page read: “Tour WPSP’s new clinic and allow us to properly thank you for your support. The clinic will be open for tours both Saturday and Sunday January 27 and 28 from 10am until 2pm.”

 

REGULATIN’

Late Wednesday afternoon the WDFW announced via press release that Director Jim Unsworth will be resigning his position as of Feb. 7. 

Unsworth took over as head of the WDFW three years ago and his tenure has been tumultuous on various fronts. The press release stated his reason for resigning is a desire to pursue other personal and professional goals.

“This has been a challenging, educational, and often rewarding experience,” Unsworth said in a letter to Commission Chairman Brad Smith, according to the release. “It is now time for me to pursue other professional and personal goals in wildlife and natural resources management.”

Unsworth came to Washington from Idaho after a 30-year career in wildlife management. His time in Washington was marked by ongoing conflicts with wolves, unchecked poaching, lost salmon smolts on the Cowlitz River, and the continued spread of elk hoof disease, among other issues.

An interim director is expected to be named shortly.

On Tuesday the Fish and Wildlife Commission advised state fishery managers, including Unsworth, that they need to work to create a better balance between conservation and 

harvest opportunities for Chinook in Puget Sound.

During a conference call with state and tribal fish managers the commission instructed state fishery managers to explore a variety of options during their work to update the Puget Sound Chinook Harvest Management Plan. That plan will define conservation goals for wild Puget Sound chinook, which are currently listed for federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. 

“Ultimately, we would all like to see salmon runs restored in Puget Sound, but severely restricting fisheries isn’t the only path to achieving that goal,” said Brad Smith, chair of the commission, in a press release. “For that reason, we advised WDFW staff to explore other salmon recovery options, including improvements to habitat and hatchery operations.”

 The plan, introduced on Dec. 2017, would reduce state and tribal fisheries in Washington, particularly in years with low projected salmon returns. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has deemed the plan insufficient due to the fact that several salmon stocks would feel to meet new, more restrictive, federal conservation objectives.

“Over the last few weeks, we’ve heard from many people who are concerned this plan could result in the closure of all Puget Sound sport fisheries, but that’s not the case,” Smith said, in the release. “Yes, the plan does call for reductions to some fisheries, especially in years of low salmon abundance. But we have an opportunity — given the need to revise the plan — to use various mitigation tools to offset impacts from fisheries when and where appropriate.”

Some mitigation tools that the commission advised the WDFW to consider include increased habitat restoration efforts, improved hatchery operations, including increasing production to support salmon recovery efforts, and reduced populations of predators, such as seals and sea lions. NOAA has hinted that the review process, which will include opportunities for public comment, will likely take 18 months once it has been approved.

The current plan, along with feedback from NOAA, is available for review online at wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/fisheries/chinook/.