URGENT: Help Stop the Dike Removal at the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge

[huntrights]

Help Stop the Dike Removal at the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge


This is an urgent request for help from Washington State sportsmen, waterfowl hunters, and conservation minded citizens.  I will post it in the Hunting Activism & 2nd Amendment Issues and Waterfowl forums.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are planning to remove the dikes at the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge.  This is something we do not want to have happen.  A friend that is closely involved in the issue has provided the following summary information to explain why we don’t want the dikes removed.

“1.  Many of these refuges (including Willapa) were purchased for the specific purpose of "Waterfowl Conservation" and the law states that the original purpose of the proclamation justifying the purchase cannot be changed, altered, or degraded.
 2.  The primary source of funding for many of these refuges was monies from the sale of waterfowl stamps (52% in the case of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge) per the "Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Act".
 3.  Much of the WNWR was procured via condemnation from unwilling sellers under the authority of the Migratory Bird Act" specifically for the conservation of "Waterfowl" (ducks, geese, brant).  This proclamation states waterfowl and references no other wildlife species.
 4.  The dike removals and creation of marine estuarine habitat at other sites such as Nisqually and South Bend have had a devastating effect on waterfowl utilization of at least a 90% reduction. 
 5.  Waterfowl do use our natural marine estuarine habitats but not nearly in the densities that they utilize the freshwater habitat and short grass fields behind these dikes.  Diversity of habitats is the key.
 6.  Since the completion of alterations at other sites there has been no marked improvement in utilization by waterfowl or other wildlife species.
7. Stopping the dike removals has the support of many organizations;  Cranberry Growers Association, several Washington State County Farm Bureaus, Washington State Farm Bureau, Discovery Coast Audubon Society, Pacific County Commissioners, Delta Waterfowl Foundation, and the Washington Waterfowl Association to name a few.”

Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler has introduced language into the Interior Appropriations portion of the Omnibus Appropriations bill that would prohibit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from using any of these monies to remove the dikes at the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge.  If this language is accepted it would eliminate these funds as a possible source of funding for the removal these dikes.

The House appears to be willing to accept the language into the bill but it will be an uphill battle to get it through the Senate.  To help get this language into the bill, please contact Senator Patty Murray via her website; she is the representative that will play a key role in getting this through.  Your message to her can be as simple as the following:

“Please support the insertion of the language proposed by Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler into the Interior Appropriations portion of the Omnibus Appropriations bill regarding the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge."

It is as simple as that for you to make a contribution in stopping the removal of these dikes and the loss of this very important freshwater habitat.  You can only make a difference if you get involved; Senator Murray will be more likely to support this language insertion if enough people contact her.  If you can get family and friends to do the same, it would be very helpful.

Senator Murray’s web contact form:

http://murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactme

Thank you in advance for your help.

[duck stamp]

You no that after that town meeting we had in february down at llwaco I thought we had won the battle. In september I called the Willapa wildlife office and talk to this nice lady about this coming season and I ask her about the dikes and she said that they decided to go with Plan #2 which will be the end of the dikes.  I wish all waterfowlers would send Patty M that E-mail and tell her to try to keep the dikes up.

[Special T]

What a bunch of @ss clowns!

[Humptulips]

So easy with that link you provided. Took me two minutes.

[280ackley]

Done

[huntrights]

Pass the word along.  That's the only way things will change.  Thank you.

[huntrights]

You no that after that town meeting we had in february down at llwaco I thought we had won the battle. In september I called the Willapa wildlife office and talk to this nice lady about this coming season and I ask her about the dikes and she said that they decided to go with Plan #2 which will be the end of the dikes.  I wish all waterfowlers would send Patty M that E-mail and tell her to try to keep the dikes up.

Get your friends and family to write to Senator Murray, I've provided the simple message and the link to get it to her; it just needs to come from all of you.  I wrote Senator Murray immediately once I heard Congresswomen Jamie Herrera Beutler's proposal would help prevent the destruction of this important waterfowl habitat.  We need to help our representative help us; please send those emails to Senator Murray.

[jeepguy]

nothing wil help this  they have made thier mind up and they will carry through with it  it sucks big time but thats the trend anymore used to have afew good places togo up north the blew all the dikes open  no  way to stop it . we lost our fields to tidal waters now the few land areas are over crowded over hunted now you gotta have some sort of watercraft and moniter tides  .if they dont break'em we should be able to get ours closed up again it just aint right i feel your pain  goodluck  envoromental  B.S  its too late to save the fish  too bad IDIOTS have no touch of  F'N reality the game department  SUCKS ASS BIG TIME!

[huntrights]

It is very important that you write to Senator Murray.  Please trust what I am telling you!

[huntrights]

If you don't write, there is less chance of stopping this.  It's as simple as that.

[fethrduster]

I grew up hunting the salt marshes in Willapa Bay a LOT.  The hunting was always good, sometimes excellent. Being new to this issue, am I to understand that the main problem is that some freshwater fields will be wiped out?  Since the hunting is just as good in the salt marshes, I'm not sure I understand the problem completely. 

[JackOfAllTrades]

We're to 'ASK' Patti Murray for something?  (yes, it was difficult to type that bit@$'s name)...   

I'd like to hear more about the affects of the surounding lands behind the dikes if the dikes are removed. Who will pay for the removal? Is there a dike district in in charge? The paw is not a big river, but floods do happen. What will this do to the locals that live near/beyond current flood areas?

-Steve

[duck stamp]

If they take the dikes down the salt water will kill all the fresh water grasses, every other year they drain the Porter Point unit in the spring to let this Smart Weed grow and then just before hunting season they let the fresh water come in to the normal level.  when they do this there are hundreds `of ducks  feeding on this smart weed, its a sight to see also there is  about 150 elk that live just behind the dikes and the grasses that grow in the fresh water are one of there main foods that would be lost if the dikes are removed.  If you are ever driving down hi way 101 right after the town of South Bend you will see Potter Sough the state took out the dikes there about 4yrs ago? If you look towards the Willapa river every thing is dead  on the other side of the hiway where the fresh water is you will see ducks and geese feeding.

[JackOfAllTrades]

How would this affect areas up stream towards Lbam?

Also, other than feed for the Elk, how would this floodding affect the limited lands that the Elk have to roam. Do the dikes (depth of water) keep, (for the most part), Elk from wandering across the hiway?

-Steve

[duck stamp]

If they take out the dikes the Elk would have no more grass to feed on and they would head right for the cranberry bogs and in time they would be in Long Beach.   As far as flooding there is only 5 streams that are behind the dikes and 2 of them dry up in the summer and these streams have nothing to do with Lban they are small streams and the only time they get high is when there is a lot of rain.  but with 2 fish ladders on the dike they can regulate the flow of fresh water from the streams. If you get a chance drive down there and check it out your self  you can hunt ducks Sunday- Mondays and Thursday at Porter Point and if you like you can take a small boat and hunt on the inside of the dikes in the fresh water.