land acquisition Proposals Near Mount St. Helens

[fireweed]

http://tdn.com/lifestyles/wdfw-hopes-to-expand-wildlife-area-in-toutle-river-valley/article_7290a6cc-1eb2-5d79-a172-324873018d59.html

 Some of this transaction has been discussed before, but it is a long process.  One big issue is the 7,000 WDFW St. Helens Wildlife area has NO legal public access and no public use easements.  So this public land is completely at the mercy of Weyerhaeuser.  In one place 180 FEET separates the wildlife area with the highway!   The public land can't apply for recreation grants because it has no legal access. 

[Special T]

What I want to know is why does the state grant acess across its lands for private companies like wh if they dont?

[Dhoey07]

So why do they need a 10 million dollar acquisition?  Why don't they purchase a 100' strip for access?

[headshot5]

What I want to know is why does the state grant access across its lands for private companies like wh if they dont?

They do, that's how the state logs landlocked land behind locked WH gates.  Generally access is written in for Fire patrols/Fire Fighting, and for logging/maintenance. 

It isn't however generally written in for public access.   

[Special T]

It should be

[Mudman]

Wow, I do wish they could get this done but cant help being angry that weyco has been allowed to restrict access to public land.  They really have their way with this state.  More so than the Gov. or people.  Cake and Ice Cream too!  High lakes area appeals to me a lot.  However this would all be special permit draws so State could collect revenue thus restricting access to hunters.  Back to square one. 

[fireweed]

So why do they need a 10 million dollar acquisition?  Why don't they purchase a 100' strip for access?

That might happen--the strip would secure a place for an access trail and has an existing road to near the sediment dam, but the main block of the "mudflow" is via the 3100 which is further up the valley past Hoffstadt bridge.  I think the state is starting with the whole enchilada, and will end up working backward to something smaller, like the strip plus maybe a public use easement on the 3100.  They could do conservation easements with public access on the rest if the dollars for purchase are too much.