RMEF Article on East Cascades. Scary!!!!

[colockumelk]

http://www.rmef.org/Conservation/HowWeConserve/Landscapes/Initiatives/Washington/Washington.htm

Please read this article.  If you enjoy elk hunting in the Yakima and Colockum elk herds this is very interesting and scary at the same time.  Hopefullly the RMEF succeeds.  They will definately need all the help they can get. 

[bbarnes]

I have been a member of the RMEF and I'm questioning the goals of this organization.They have in the distant past done some good things. But in the past few year myself and others have tried to get them to help out in the western part of our state, and our requests fell on def ears.For instance the Vancouver chapter, and the loowit chapter in longview gross the most dollars of any banquets and they own no land here.Also for a non profit group how much money is the head of this group make, you will be shocked.I'm curious if there part of the Y to Y Yukon to yellowstone movement.It also struck me funny when they were ask to help feed the starving elk at Mount Saint Helen's,they declined and no donations were given.These are just things to think about and personal experiences, myself and others have had.I would urge people to go under public disclosure, and follow the money trail and see where it leads you.B Barnes keeping public lands public.

[norsepeak]

to the best of my knowledge, this has already happened.

[vandeman17]

to the best of my knowledge, this has already happened.

I believe I heard the same thing that it has already been done.

[Bob33]

This looks dated.  What is the source? 

[littlemac]

The public comment phase of the Western Pacific Exchange ended on May 31, 2007. The DNR staff will compile the comments submitted by the public along with the final exchange concept in Fall of 2007 to the DNR Lands Board, and request approval. The other three exchanges mentioned above are still in work, but  are progressing more slowly than the Western Pacific exchange.

The RMEF Foundation article refers to the swap that was approved in Sept. 2009.

WDFW PHASE 1 LAND EXCHANGE

On September 1, 2009, the Board of Natural Resources approved the WDFW Phase 1 Land Exchange. This transaction calls for DNR to convey to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) 9,019 acres located in Kittitas and Thurston counties and for WDFW to convey to DNR 5,416 acres located in Kittitas, Okanogan, and Yakima counties. This exchange would allow DNR to consolidate its forestland ownership in the Loop Loop and Wenas areas while WDFW would expand and consolidate its Colockum, Lake Lawrence, and LT Murray Wildlife areas.

See more here:  http://www.dnr.wa.gov/BusinessPermits/Topics/LandExchanges/Pages/amp_exc_wdfw_phase_1.aspx

[littlemac]

Here's another exchange that is completed.

Central Cascades Exchange

This exchange of 21,000 acres of state trust lands for 82,000 acres of land owned by Western Pacific Timber, LLC, was completed on February 22, 2008. The exchange was approved by the state Board of Natural Resources at a monthly meeting on November 6, 2007. Although the total values of the lands exchanged are roughly equal, the transaction produces a net gain of nearly 62,000 acres of state trust land.

Details are here:  http://www.dnr.wa.gov/BusinessPermits/Topics/LandExchanges/Pages/amp_exc_central_cascades.aspx

[Elkaholic daWg]

I have been a member of the RMEF and I'm questioning the goals of this organization.They have in the distant past done some good things. But in the past few year myself and others have tried to get them to help out in the western part of our state, and our requests fell on def ears.For instance the Vancouver chapter, and the loowit chapter in longview gross the most dollars of any banquets and they own no land here.Also for a non profit group how much money is the head of this group make, you will be shocked.I'm curious if there part of the Y to Y Yukon to yellowstone movement.It also struck me funny when they were ask to help feed the starving elk at Mount Saint Helen's,they declined and no donations were given.These are just things to think about and personal experiences, myself and others have had.I would urge people to go under public disclosure, and follow the money trail and see where it leads you.B Barnes keeping public lands public.









  I feel the same, as you might surmise by my sig. down there

[colockumelk]

Sorry my bad.  I accidentally came across this.  And read it.  if it's already happened then that's truly a good thing.  Hopefully a step in the right direction.  I kinda feel embarrassed that I didn't catch that.  Again sorry.

[vandeman17]

Sorry my bad.  I accidentally came across this.  And read it.  if it's already happened then that's truly a good thing.  Hopefully a step in the right direction.  I kinda feel embarrassed that I didn't catch that.  Again sorry.

Being that I have really enjoyed reading your posts and love what you are trying to accomplish, I think we can let it slide! Just keep up all the good work!