Community > Advocacy, Agencies, Access

WDFW plans public meeting in Tonasket on plan to restore Sinlahekin Wildlife Are

(1/4) > >>

whacker1:
February 26, 2010
Contact: Dale Swedberg, (509) 223-3358



WDFW plans public meeting in Tonasket
on plan to restore Sinlahekin Wildlife Area



TONASKET - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has scheduled a public meeting March 18 to discuss a wide-ranging plan to reduce fire danger and restore the health of forestlands in the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area.

Dale Swedberg, who manages the 14,314-acre wildlife area in Okanogan County, will outline WDFW's restoration plan and answer questions from those attending the meeting from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Tonasket High School Commons, 35 HS Highway 20 E, Tonasket.

"This is a major project with long-term benefits for both the wildlife area and the people living nearby," Swedberg said. "But restoring these lands will involve a fair amount of controlled burning and we want to give people a chance to ask any questions and share any perspectives they might have."

During the coming winter, WDFW plans to begin thinning dense stands of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir on 1,833 acres of the wildlife area to preserve older, more fire resistant pines and foster growth of vegetation that benefits native wildlife.

Controlled burning may begin as early as this fall in grassy areas to remove the buildup of old vegetation and promote germination of shrubs, forbs and grasses, Swedberg said.

"The Sinlahekin Wildlife Area is long overdue for a major forest fire," he said. "Thinning and controlled burning now can help prevent the kind of devastation we've seen in other Okanogan County forestlands in recent years."

Working in partnership with the Nature Conservancy, WDFW plans to complete work on the Sinlahekin Ecosystem Restoration Project in 2012. Funding for the project was recently provided through grants from the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

CP:
I had the privilege of working with Dale for a few days last spring in the Sinlahekin.  He’s done an extensive historical study of the area, particularly the impact that fire control and the lack of natural burning has had on forest and wildlife.  Very dedicated and intelligent manger, the WDFW could use more like him. 

Shootmoore:
While I am glad to hear that they are planning on doing this, I have to question how the state is coming up with the funds now during the economic recession and budget deficits?  When there is a big push by the state to raise taxes they have the funds to do this kind of thing?  When they are talking about closing prisons, raising taxes etc etc etc they have the money to provide grants for habitat restoration?

While I am all for wildlife habitat rehab, is todays economy and budget cuts the time to be handing out this money?

Shootmoore

wolfbait:
Maybe it is wolf money. ;)

Kain:
They keep buying up land that they cannot afford to manage.  They need to spend more money on more officers so that we can keep timber land and other public land open.  Would be money much better spent.  I have state land near me that is all locked up because of target shooters and garbage dumpers.   

Another thing they could do is have a program where you could work for your licenses and tags on WDFW managed lands. 

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page