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

[huntrights]

I would like to thank those of you that have taken the time to read and respond to the original post.  I hope all of you have written Senator Murray and respectfully made your request.   I also hope that you have passed this on to your friends and family.

There were a few questions or comments that I personally did not have the answer to so I asked a friend who is very familiar with the situation.  The main point made is that it is not a done deal to remove the dikes.  All of you, your friends, and family are encouraged to write Senator Murray.  Letters/emails in large volumes will get her attention; we need help with that.  We have the backing of the Pacific County Commissioners, and 3 State Reps. on this already, and they too are contacting, or have contacted the Senator.  The key is to have the people, that would be all of us, write Senator Murray.  I am going to quote the rest of the response:

“As for the post in regards to good hunting in the Willapa salt marshes.  Waterfowl deplete available food sources in our marine estuarine habitats by the end of November at the latest.  For healthy waterfowl populations, and to hold birds in these locales, nearby upland fresh sheetwater and food sources must be present.  If we lose them, the quality of the hunting in these estuaries will be degraded.  This is well proven by the decline in waterfowl utilization at Nisqually and the subsequent drop in waterfowl hunting success in the nearby estuarine and inland habitats.  The Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge held over 55,000 ducks and geese at peak times, now it peaks at less than 10,000 birds and maintains around 4,000 maximum.  The fresh sheetwater habitats and short grass fields hold and sustain much higher waterfowl concentrations than any marine estuarine habitat, though both are necessary and complement each other.”

I hope that helps clarify the need to keep these dikes intact.

Again, thank you in advance for your help by writing Senator Murray.

[huntrights]

Your voice has made a difference.  Thank you.  However, keep this on your radar; the battle is not over.  Please be ready to write your representatives when the call comes again.


December 21, 2011
Congress Approves Federal Protection for Willapa National Wildlife Refuge
U.S. Fish and Wildlife directed to not breach dikes
 
Washington, DC – Today Jaime Herrera Beutler commended the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate for recently approving temporary federal protection for the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge in Pacific County, Washington.  Jaime fought for this specific protection that directs the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to refrain from flooding the refuge until at least April of 2012.
 
This protection for Willapa was part of the 2012 federal appropriation bill that was passed by overwhelming bipartisan majorities in Congress last week.  Specifically, the bill’s conference report contains language directing the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife to refrain from removing the levee systems on the Lewis Point, Porter Point and Riekkola units, allowing it more time to address strong community concerns over this management alternative that would flood the refuge.  The measure was approved by the House on Friday, December 16 (passed 296-121) and Senate on Saturday, December 17 (passed 67-32).   
 
“This is good news for the folks of Southwest Washington who care about the future of this refuge,” said Jaime.  “It’s clear that the proposal to permanently alter this valued community treasure does not have the public fully behind it.  I will continue to do whatever it takes so that this permanent change doesn’t move forward without the support of this community.
 
“I’ve been glad to take this issue to Congress for the folks of Pacific County, but we secured this protection because of the collaborative work of many.  Senator Hatfield, Representative Blake and Representative Takko, Pacific County Commissioners Jon Kaino, Norman Cuffel, and Lisa Ayers, recreationalists, hunters, cranberry growers, and local citizens deserve credit for making their voices heard.
 
“I’ll continue working hard so that residents of Southwest Washington are the ones who shape the future of this refuge they care so deeply about.”
 
Background:
 
In early 2011, Jaime became aware that the USFWS was pursuing controversial management alternatives that would flood and permanently alter the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge – and the Pacific County Community largely knew nothing about it. 
 
Jaime worked with USFWS to extend the public comment period, and in March personally hosted a listening session in Ilwaco for hundreds of Pacific County residents to ask questions and express concerns.  Despite the lack of local support, however, USFWS officials were readying plans to breach the dikes in preparation for their preferred management alternative.
 
She helped lead a bipartisan coalition of elected officials and citizens to successfully convince the Salmon Recovery Funding Board to cancel funding for the dike breach in May.  The Army Corps of Engineers subsequently cancelled the permits to demolish the dikes.  Yet efforts to move forward with this change to the refuge are not dead, and Jaime continues to hear from concerned citizens who want to preserve the refuge as it has been for nearly 75 years.
 

[duck stamp]

thanks jshunt for all the work you have done on this important subject (taking more land away from waterfowl hunters) I have hunted down on that willapa refuse for more then 50yrs and what a shame it would be if they take the dikes down.

[Encore 280]

I've noticed that area on the right side of the hiway for a few years now. Was down there this weekend. I thought that was that invasive grass that they've been trying to kill off. The last few summers they've been running around in those airboats and going into the flats and spraying. Look's kinda ugly now. On the left side of the hiway there's a couple of duck blinds in there and that's where we saw the elk yesterday. Nice looking spot in there.

[sakoshooter]

If you don't voice your opinion on Willapa, it'll end up just like Nisqually - a fraction of what it used to be.

[pianoman9701]

Message to Sen. Murray sent.