Cherry Valley, Stillwater, Cresent Lake and Ebey Island

[Happy Gilmore]

I have found zero documentation that any one area has been, ever has been or has ever been mentioned as a "designated" area and "only at Cherry Valley".

I'm researching on how areas are designated for use. I'm pretty sure that the Enforcement Division is not responsible for outlining area management. I have some calls and email in to some folks up the food chain. My public information act stuff is coming in a stead flow as well which is providing to be very helpful in giving factual information rather than hearsay trickle down assumptions and "this is how we do it here" answers.

The grant which funded the area was partially federal money to get people outside for general recreation. It was started in 1964. The WDFW appears to be turning this land into a fish habitat and has already named some areas as "aquatic restoration areas". I'm working on information gathering and will be asking for help from outside groups to preserve this land for hunting as it was intended. This place will be turned into a natural area of forested trees if we don't do something.

Reading some of the study which pre-dated the cherry creek enhancement and culvert removal to reduce salmonoid  entrapment in the man-made ponds(dog training ponds made specifically for that purpose) they found five, yes FIVE salmonoids in the ponds. If I interpreted the data correctly, they spend hundreds of hours netting fish to find these lone five fish which led to the creek realignment project, a fancy bridge nobody is allowed to use and the "bridge to nowhere" as I call it.....

[Happy Gilmore]

You read this email and wonder why we aren't pushier? and who is arrogant? 


He did contact me over the phone and I told him the gates are always locked. I also said that after March 15, access to certain areas is restricted due to nesting and laying for waterfowl (based on a sign I saw at Cherry Valley). He seemed a bit annoyed, but didn’t push it further. Thanks for the note. Brian

From: Chandler, Kim (DFW)
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2013 2:53 PM
To: Boehm, Brian J (DFW)
Subject: FW: Cherry Valley

Brian,
Can you get back to this guy and explain our gate opening?  I think we were talking about mid-April for drive in use?  Once again, some of these dog folks are pretty pushy.

Kim Chandler
 
  SERGEANT
       WDFW
Detachment 10
  King County

-----------------------------------------------------

Hi Kim,

I hunt in Cherry Valley and am a WA certified Master Hunter and also a Hunter Education Instructor.  You and I met last year at Cherry Valley one time during pheasant season...

I have a new puppy.  It's a Verein Deutsch Drathaar, similar to a German Wire Haired Pointer but bred under German performance breeding rules.  We have a bit of a training club coming together and we were wanting to spend some training time in Cherry Valley which I believe is allowed for this purpose.  Question:  Is there anyway to unlock the gates so we can drive into the fields with the training equipment?

Thanks for any assistance or information you can provide.

Best -

[Happy Gilmore]

To note: I have obtained all of the information posted here legally through the public information act via WDFW.

now, we're not only arrogant, we're pushy because we ask to drive our pups onto public property further away from the busy highway?

[AspenBud]

Happy, do you have the originals? As in can you put them up somewhere so they can be passed around?

[NW-GSP]

Who is the DD owner?, I also have one.

[Happy Gilmore]

Not posting or sharing any non state employee names. I'm going to burn a pile of copies of the CDs coming to me to share with everyone so we can have full transparency of how this area is managed and all the behind the scenes double talk. It going to be embarrassing for WDFW unfortunately. I'm getting some cues from a person which is helpful. My father was about 15 and a third generation turkey farmer around 1957. He was hired by WDFW to teach them how to keep pheasant alive for early release program at Hoover. His locally buddy ended up with a career w WDFW.

[Stickerbush]

Thanks for doing this happy, its important to keep the gov honest some times

[Badhabit]

Is this Sgt. Chandler for real? What a tool, a cop out of accountability who's main goal from your posts appears to put obstacles in the way for recreational use of public lands. Give me a break commercial use of dog training. This guy needs a reality check. Some people in state and gov't jobs need to change their way of thinking. I work under the premise people change or you change people.

[Happy Gilmore]

I have a response from region director which was just a deflection and answered no questions. I think it should concern everyone at the lack of care WDFW has about public opinions and how we are treated and viewed as the users of public lands. I'll post it up Monday with my reply to see how you all feel about our public land managers. I'm saddened by it. I thought "we " as the general public and WDFW were more on the same page about wildlife, habitat and recreation were closer than other government agencies. I think my perception was naive.

[Happy Gilmore]

most recent communitcations...



Russell,

Thank you for taking the time to make this meeting happen. I am requesting the Director attend this meeting. We need to discuss why the property goals and mission has strayed from the original intent of the grant monies distributed by the Federal Outdoor Recreation Act for America. On June 21, 1974 WDFW reported to the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation via the Application for Outdoor Recreation Grant-In-Aid Assistance that, “it is the recommendation of this region that the proposal be approved in order to alleviate the present heavy and congested conditions of the present facilities.” On Sept. 30, 1974 the property was purchased with a money from that grant to provide outdoor recreation based upon the application request by WDFW. Recently, management has made clear statements regarding their vision of user groups and limiting particular activities. This management practice does not reflect the intention of the funding source which made this public property in 1974. Clearly, our population has grown since 1974 and this growth has increased the publics need for open spaces for recreation. This property was purchased with federal monies for outdoor recreation opportunities. Current management is attempting to re-define the types of recreation which is allowed. I do not believe that the current recreation definitions and confinement of user areas is honoring the law as written. 
                                                                                                           
                                                                                                          “   Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of    Representatives of the United
                                         States of America in Congress assembled, That in order to preserve, develop, and
                                         assure accessibility to all American people of present and future generations such
                                         quality and quantity of outdoor recreation resources as will be necessary and
                                         desirable for individual enjoyment, and to assure the spiritual, cultural, and
                                         physical benefits that such outdoor recreation provides; in order to inventory and
                                         evaluate the outdoor recreation resources and opportunities of the Nation, to
                                         determine the types and location of such resources and opportunities which will
                                         be required by present and future generations; and in order- to make compre-
                                         hensive information and recommendations leading to these goals available to
                                         the President, the Congress, and the individual States and Territories, there is
                                         hereby authorized and created a bipartisan Outdoor Recreation'Resources Review
                                         Commission. PUBLIC LAW 8 5-4 7 0  “

I will gladly bring the Outdoor Recreation Grant information, the deed and title transfer and the application for the original grant money to purchase the property so we can hopefully discuss the best means of honoring the Outdoor Recreation Act Grant Funding moving forward. I am available anytime except May 13-15. I will be in Okanogan County fly fishing.

Thank you very much for your time and attention to this matter, 

Paul Gilmore
                                         

From: Link, Russell E (DFW) [mailto:Russell.Link@dfw.wa.gov]
Sent: Friday, May 01, 2015 9:38 AM
To: Paul Gilmore
Subject: RE: Snoqualmie Valley Unit Management

Dear Mr. Gilmore,

Thanks for taking the time to further outline your concerns about current and future management activities on the Snoqualmie Wildlife Area.  Our Regional Director, Bob Everitt, has asked that I meet with you in person to discuss these concerns.

I’m in the process of reaching out to some additional Department staff who I feel may be interested in attending a future meeting.  My hope is that I will be able to suggest some dates/times to you by sometime next week. 

Thanks for remaining engaged and I will be in touch soon.

Russ Link

Russell Link
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Region 4 Wildlife Program Manager
16018 Mill Creek Blvd
Mill Creek, WA 98012
Phone: 425.775.1311 ext. 110
Cell:  425.231.3988

[fast60eddie]

Some of the great low land pockets of grass in the timber @ stillwater were planted with trees screwing up some of the best flooded timber hunting i've had.

They screwed up that little field by removing the old culvert that had the ability control the water  after a flood. then to plant trees all over it. Almost criminal when you think of the migratory bird act.

[Happy Gilmore]

More freedom of information act information coming to me.

Latest on the actual terms of the property purchase in short form.


The property was purchased in 1974 with funds from the Outdoor Recreation Act. The WDFW requested funding to purchase the property and stated that their current facilities were crowded. The funding was given to WDFW via the Federal Act to purchase the property for general purpose outdoor recreation opportunities. It is legally the WDFW's job to honor the Federal Act by continuing to provide recreation opportunities on the property.

Currently and historically, I do not believe this is happening as the Federal Law has intended. Property has been closed and continually made smaller and has more and more recreation limitations. I believe involving those at the Federal Level is the next step.

I have a meeting pending with WDFW management. Probably within two-three weeks.

[Happy Gilmore]

Continuing up the food chain. I found a Commissioner who was very interested in the happenings at Cherry Valley. I wrote a lengthy, fact based email citing information I have gathered and sent it to the commission. He called me back yesterday. I happened to be driving by his workplace and stopped in for a quick meeting face to face. Really nice guy who assured me the situation would be rectified under his watch.

Thank you for taking the time to email your comments to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. Each commissioner will receive a copy. A response if forthcoming.

Opinions and comments such as yours provide the Commission with valuable insight into fish and wildlife issues of concern to communities throughout our state. The Commission relies on public testimony, email, and correspondence to help determine what is working well and what requires more concentrated efforts.

Thank you for your interest in the conservation and management of the state’s precious fish and wildlife resources.

Sincerely,

Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission
Mail: 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
Phone: (360) 902-2267; Fax : (360) 902-2448
Web: www.wdfw.wa.gov/commission

[Colin]

Awesome this is great news! A step in the right direction! Thanks for working on this Happy!

[Special T]

  Happy