Skagit Island Unit changes coming.. get your comments in.

[Chesterdog]

Comment period is open now until Dec. 16.  There's also an online open house Dec. 2, at 6pm  (register below)

2https://rossstrategic.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VhgBSuDhToC0rPZaJZB8uw

I've hunted this unit for many years and it's important that we hunters show up in numbers for this.  It's a tug of war between the tribes, the feds and the state for tidal land restoration and chinook salmon habitat.  We need to make sure that maintaining hunting access on these lands is also a priority. Losing these battles and access to public lands impacts everyone in our community. 

NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Nov. 16, 2020
Contact: Seth Ballhorn, 360-791-4987
State invites public feedback on habitat restoration
project options for Skagit Wildlife Area Island Unit
MILL CREEK – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is inviting the public to provide input on a potential estuary restoration project on the Skagit Wildlife Area Island Unit.
The Island Unit, accessible only by boat, covers approximately 268 acres on two islands in a tidally influenced reach of the South Fork Skagit River within the 17,000-acre Skagit Wildlife Area. Dikes and tide gates on the site allow the production of winter waterfowl forage and freshwater wetland management, making the Island Unit a popular destination for waterfowl hunting.
WDFW is considering an estuary restoration project on the Island Unit to respond to changes at the site and the broader landscape, including aging tide gates and dikes, anticipated sea level rise, and shifting habitat needs. The department is assessing several options that range from no restoration to restoring the entire 268-acre site.
To evaluate options, the department is conducting an alternatives analysis, which is a planning tool used to evaluate a range of choices relative to a set of common criteria.  WDFW is evaluating alternatives based on state requirements and policies, fish and wildlife needs, community values, as well as input from the Island Unit Advisory Group, tribes, and the public.
“We value the contributions of the Island Unit Advisory Group over the past year as we developed four alternatives and the criteria to evaluate them,” said Brendan Brokes, North Puget Sound Director for WDFW. “Now, we’re excited to share these ideas with the broader community and gather their input.” 
The Island Unit is a priority area for restoration because it was historically a tidally influenced estuary that provided critical rearing habitat for juvenile Chinook salmon. The Skagit Chinook Recovery Plan identifies estuarine habitat as the highest priority for recovering salmon in the area. Estuary restoration would benefit Chinook salmon and shorebirds and could also benefit Southern Resident Killer Whales and recreational fishing opportunities. 
To review the proposed alternatives and provide feedback, visit the WDFW Island Unit project webpage. 

People can submit comments on the draft alternatives analysis report through Dec.16 online, via email, or by mail to:
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, North Puget Sound Regional Office
Attn: Seth Ballhorn
16018 Mill Creek Boulevard
Mill Creek, WA 98012-1541

People can also provide comments at an online open house scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. 
The department will select an alternative in early 2021. For questions or more information, contact Seth Ballhorn at Seth.Ballhorn@dfw.wa.gov or 360-791-4987.
WDFW currently manages the Skagit Wildlife Area to preserve and protect habitat, restore native plant communities, maintain healthy populations of game and non-game species, and provide diverse recreational opportunities for the public.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is the state agency tasked with preserving, protecting and perpetuating fish, wildlife, and ecosystems, while providing sustainable fishing and hunting opportunities.
Individuals who need to receive this information in an alternative format, language, or who need reasonable accommodations to participate in WDFW-sponsored public meetings or other activities may contact the Title VI/ADA Compliance Coordinator by phone at 360-902-2349, TTY (711), or email (Title6@dfw.wa.gov).

[ck]

Need to get this back to the top.  Even if you don’t hunt here take a look and comment on this.  According to WDFW’s own info over 1300 boat trailers per season (over 5000 during the study period) were counted at the two closest launches. With this area gone that will be a LOT of hunters looking for new places to go.

[RB]

Is this primarily waterfowl hunting?

[ck]

Yes

[KP-Skagit]

My eagle scout project was building two of the blinds out there. It would be an incredible shame to see it go away. I don't even hunt out there but it is a go to for a lot of guys, and one of the few areas around to hunt ducks on public land that actually holds birds.

[KP-Skagit]

Anyone have a link to the webpage?

[PatoLoco]

Anyone have a link to the webpage?

try this:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8WQFJ2W

[Stein]

I submitted comments, but don't think it will make any difference.  The chinook recovery plan will win.  WDFW hasn't been provided funding for acquiring the tidelands or diked property, so the option they take is to destroy any state property they have to hit the recover plan numbers.

If the recover plan was science based and legitimate, it would be one thing, but there is zero in the plan that addresses the predation by seals, sea lions and over capacity birds, so we destroy public land in the hopes that the very few native chinook that do make it back will be able to find it and utilize it.

If they do, it will turn into a great staging are for salmon predators, just like other places.

It's part of the larger special interest influence within the WDFW that is driving decisions against both their stated mission as well as what biologists advise.  You can see it in the plan where they discuss rising sea levels and aging dikes when the real reason has nothing to do with anything but the salmon plan.  The equipment was aging well before the salmon plan and WDFW didn't seem to have any concern until now.

[JBG]

I submitted comments and attended the online "Open house."  Its pretty obivious this area or a part of it will go back to tide land.  There is literally a state law mandating state organizations look to where they can return land back to "natural habitat" and there is funding for this to happen. 
So the Farmed Island is gone, done deal but what can we do to get the WDFW to enhance a different area to offset this loss? 

[Special T]

I submitted comments and attended the online "Open house."  Its pretty obivious this area or a part of it will go back to tide land.  There is literally a state law mandating state organizations look to where they can return land back to "natural habitat" and there is funding for this to happen. 
So the Farmed Island is gone, done deal but what can we do to get the WDFW to enhance a different area to offset this loss?

Zero.

So the state is mandated to come up with something like 5500 inter tidal acres, and the state only owns 3500 which is what the state agreed to do first.

My questionis this. Since the Farming community offered waterfowlers land up on the salmon habitate alter... Do they think waterfowlers wont return the favor? The state is nearly out of its land to "restore"

I saw an article today that discussed that some if preservative in the rubber from tires is responcible for salmon die off. Ill have to see if i can find it...

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[Stein]

The other part that is fun is that they are only looking for acres to check a box.  It doesn't matter if the location of those acres was where salmon laid eggs or spent any time, or even have ever swam across, all acres count.

I do get the salmon habitat issue, I would like to see drastic improvements on runs as much as the next guy.  There are other ways to do it (or at least try) and the state chose the lowest cost, most expedient and WDFW said, sure thing boss, will do.  Like so many other issue impacting sportsmen, absolutely zero public pushback from WDFW or even other proposals such as asking the legislature to fund private land acquisition or even trying to partner with conservation groups to find other acres.  Zippo.

I get the notion of you get who you vote for from Olympia.  I don't accept the notion that WDFW doesn't even lift a finger or be a voice of science or alternatives or creative solutions in these situations.

[Special T]

Ive always thought with as shallownas the bay is, and how much of it is owned by the state they should have made islands with a floating excavator in the summer time like they do in Louisiana. But that is more expensive and likely a problempermitting wise.

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[hunt4life]

That unit has a lot of money donated by a special person every year! And our state is so messed up they would not even allow to plant corn on the island due to corona!! Anything said in this state towards hunting is a wasted breath! Let’s have a bunch freshly graduated college students tell us we can’t hunt our spots anymore!! Cause a salmon spawned there 100 years ago! If ya want more fish tell the tribes to start using Canoes and spears again!!

[KP-Skagit]

Bumping this ahead of the deadline. It may be predetermined but might as well be a squeaky wheel.