!Action Needed! Flooding of Farmed Island In Skagit County

[Special T]

The advisory group on the so called "Salmon Restoration" on the farmed island has had its first meeting. If you are a waterfowler, Hunt the Skagit, or have hunted one of the many other areas that have been "Restored" pay attention.  The Washington Waterfowl Association is fighting for the land you use. Here is an email I received a while ago.



WWA NW Chapter members,

At our November chapter meeting, I shared information in regards to the Farmed Island Advisory Group with the attending members.  I also mentioned that I would send out the official Advisory Group information when made available.  Yesterday I received a notification that the information was now included in the WDFW site and can be found in the “Advisory Groups and Management Boards” section of the “About WDFW” tab on the WDFW home page.

The link below will direct you to the site.  Information contained includes:

       Island Unit Restoration Project info
       Advisory Group Members
      Charter and Ground Rules
      Agenda, Presentation from 1st meeting (Nov.1st) and meeting summary. These items are in the meeting Calendar drop down at the bottom of the page.  The presentation from the 1st meeting includes all four current options for the analysis. Option 1 - No Restoration (WWA’s position!!), Option 2 – East Island only restoration, Option 3 - Lower half only of both east/west islands restored and Option 4 – Full Restoration.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/advisory/iuag

I have also attached the files for your reading pleasure (real slow days in the blind).  The WWA members on the Advisory Group are: Reb Broker, James Ono and Rick Billieu.  Questions or additional information on the Project can be obtained through these members or the wdfw project leaders noted on the site.

Rick Billieu

NW Chapter Chairman

http://wwa.wildapricot.org/resources/advisorygrouproster_1.pdf

http://wwa.wildapricot.org/resources/11-1-2019_meeting_1_agenda.pdf

http://wwa.wildapricot.org/resources/11-1-2019_wdfw_presentation.pdf?fbclid=IwAR31HnHc0BgZ9Z_kd023aaZJJS4jsjp8LwHRvIAQCdT1F7A

Some of you guessed what was missing. Restoration of Mill town as an estuary restoration option.The WDFW owns 214.5 Acres on Mill town island. The 2 pieces of private property on the island are on the south end highlighted in yellow. There is a 54acre piece between them that is owned by the Federal government. The 2 middle proposals for the Farmed island are 110-170 acres. Which do you think sportsmen are going to miss more?

CALL TO ACTION!

Do you know why the Mill town Island isn't one of the options? Do you know why the State is NOT pushing for estuary restoration on Mill town Island First? The advisory group Is the chance for Public input from all stakeholders asking questions about these choices.

If you would like some of these questions answered Contact these 2 folks. Tell them you want Mill Town Island to be one of the options so at least it can be discussed

Seth Ballhorn
Habitat Community Engagement Coordinator
seth.ballhorn@dfw.wa.gov
(360) 791-4987

Jenny Baker
Environmental Planner
jenny.baker@dfw.wa.gov
(360) 466-4345 X250

[Stein]

Is Ducks Unlimited helping destory this waterfowl spot, or just the other ones?

WDFW is only interested in reporting the number of acres they "reclaim", not on whether it actually benefits salmon or not.  They use our money to create the hunting opportunity and then use our money to destroy it.  They have no data that other projects have worked or whether this one will or not.

[Pnwrider]

That’s too bad, I’ll help anyway I can. I learned to duck hunt out there. Haven’t been back in years but once or twice a year I get the itch to run back up that way.

[Special T]

Is Ducks Unlimited helping destory this waterfowl spot, or just the other ones?

WDFW is only interested in reporting the number of acres they "reclaim", not on whether it actually benefits salmon or not.  They use our money to create the hunting opportunity and then use our money to destroy it.  They have no data that other projects have worked or whether this one will or not.

Click on the roster for the advisory group and you will see whom is/isnt on it.


At this juncture all you can do is 1 write a polite convincing letter letting the staff know your unhappy that flooding mill town island isnt an option.  You have to let them know they are giving us a false choice because a real option isnt being discussed.

The state has to flood acres but it's stupid that they are doing the farmed island before mill town. If your in the valley or just to the south let your state rep/senators know your angry and why. 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Theoutdoorsman]

Shouldn't breach any.  And I agree that if one is breached it should be Mill Town, not Farmed Island.  We must push back.  We must stand up.  We must fight for this as public land owners!

[Chesterdog]

This is a big deal, and I am admittedly late to the party.  I had no idea they planned to flood the whole island.  I grew up hunting out there just as Pnwrider said.  I'll start writing letters.  Thanks for bringing this to my attention.  Let me know if there is anything else we can do or any other info I can pass on to my hunting circle.