https://www.facebook.com/groups/535619173492031/permalink/559914967729118/Whistling Wings Members and Friends,
In recent years the manager of the Snoqualmie Wildlife Area (managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife) has placed enormous restrictions on the ability of dog enthusiasts to use the Cherry Valley Wildlife Area consistent with historical practice.
The situation became so difficult that the sporting dog community created a new statewide organization to try to address the new and ongoing disenfranchisement of dog owners. Many of you were part of those efforts which began when we met with WDFW in April 2016 at the Mill Creek office of WDFW to express our concerns.
Since that time, sporting dog enthusiasts have worked hard (including doing a lot of physical labor and mowing on the grounds) and made some important progress (especially with some of the higher-ups and the Commissioners in the Department).
But now, with more recent changes in personnel at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the managers are trying to back away from their commitments, trying to re-characterize their commitments, and endeavoring to use the 10-year planning process to undo the progress we were able to make over their objections.
If we are going to keep from losing ground, we need a GIGANTIC Turnout of sporting dog owners at a meeting which will occur on April 24 at the Mill Creek office of WDFW at 6:00 PM, 1608 Mill Creek Blvd., Mill Creek, WA.
WDFW Mill Creek Office
1608 Mill Creek Blvd.
Mill Creek, WA
6:00 – 8:00 PM
This is just like déjà vu all over again, except that this time instead of 60 people showing up, we need to put 100 people in that room. For that reason, Cindy Olson, who has been leading the efforts on behalf of the dog community (and is one of the True Heroes of sporting dog owners who care about restoring access to Cherry Valley and Stillwater) has asked for our help.
We not only need to be there at the meeting on the 24th - we need to make sure ALL of our friends are there too. Here’s what Cindy asked us to share with you about the upcoming meeting, and why it’s so important.
Let's make this happen!
Toni
Toni Pace, Sec.
Whistling Wings HRC
(253) 569-2778
To all parties interested in dog training in the SWA's
(WDFW’s Snoqualmie Valley Wildlife Areas, including Cherry Valley, Stillwater, etc.)
Please read the following. This document has a link to the SWA ten year plan, a link for providing public comment and the information necessary for attending the public comment meeting on April 24th in the Mill Creek office, the same place we met in April 2016 for the public scoping meeting Paul Gilmore encouraged us to attend on the same topic.
The gate should now be unlocked with the same 65 acres available to us as last year. The plan does not mention this agreement as Brian rolled us back to the previous language as he really still does not acknowledge the work done last year.
We are still working to open more of the historical land but now we need much more visible support from the dog training community.
If you cannot attend, please take the time to send your comments using the link included in this document. Also please forward this to your club members and anyone you know that would like to support this effort.
The dog training community is the only stakeholder that I am aware of that has their rights to use this public land significantly limited or eliminated.
Even this plan eliminates to nominal acreage available in Stillwater. I will be sending an additional email with more information soon.
Your help is needed now. We do have very strong support currently from the Fish and Wildlife Commission but Region 4, specifically, Brian is dead set against reopening the land for our use.
Thanks
Cindy
Subject: WDFW News Release:
WDFW schedules public meeting to discuss draft management plan for Snoqualmie Wildlife Area
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2018 17:03:48 -0700
WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/March 30, 2018
Contact: Brian Boehm, 425-327-4869
WDFW schedules public meeting to discuss
draft management plan for Snoqualmie Wildlife Area
OLYMPIA � The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking public comments on a draft management plan for the Snoqualmie Wildlife Area in northwest Washington.
WDFW will also host a public meeting next month to discuss the plan. The meeting is scheduled from 6-8 p.m., April 24, at WDFW's North Puget Sound office, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd., Mill Creek.
The wildlife area consists of six separate units that cover 2,274 acres in King and Snohomish counties. The Snoqualmie Wildlife Area is located in a rural agricultural region of the Snohomish River watershed. The area provides habitat for waterfowl, eagles, and chinook salmon and provides recreational opportunities, including fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing.
Over the past year, WDFW staff has worked with a citizen advisory group to develop a draft management plan that addresses the status of wildlife species, habitat, restoration efforts and public recreation on the wildlife area.
"We want to encourage people who are interested in the wildlife area to provide input on our plan, which describes how we'll manage habitat and public use in the area," said Cynthia Wilkerson, WDFW lands division manager.
The plan is available for review on WDFW's website at
https://wdfw.wa.gov/…/wildlife…/management_plans/snoqualmie/.
The public can submit comments online through April 26 at
https://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/sepa/sepa_comment_docs.html. Comments can also be submitted at the April 24 meeting.
The public comment period will be conducted under the State Environmental Policy Act, which is designed to ensure that Washington citizens can participate in governmental decisions that could affect the environment.
The department is revising management plans for the state's 33 wildlife areas to reflect current conditions and identify new priorities. WDFW is currently updating plans for Chelan Wildlife Area in Chelan and Okanogan counties and wildlife areas in the Blue Mountains region in southeast Washington. More information about those plans can be found online at
https://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas/management_plans/.
Persons with disabilities who need to receive this information in an alternative format or who need reasonable accommodations to participate in WDFW-sponsored public meetings or other activities may contact Dolores Noyes by phone (360-902-2349), TTY (360-902-2207), or email (dolores.noyes@dfw.wa.gov). For more information, see
http://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/reasonable_request.html.
