WDFW wants to buy ranch

[washelkhunter]

Wdfw wants to buy 22 square miles of shrub steppe. The legislature approved 1.8 mill for the purchase, but it will sell for about 7 mill. Wonder where they are going to get the other 5 mill from? Its called the mcwhorter ranch east of Richland somewhere. Why is the state wanting to buy more land when they cant seem to adequately care for what it already ( us) already own?

[shoot-em-dead]

not sure but if they are the ones that want it make them pay double- government has no problem screwing anyone else so why not screw them back.

[gaddy]

according to the paper,its an opportunity to save a large section of arid lands shrub steppe & provide nonmoterized puplic access for recreation thats compatible with wildlife habitat, including hiking, horseback riding, bird watching & some hunting. the upper portion borders the ale reserve.
benton county, the RME, & the nature conservancy are working on the project with the state.
sorry i dont know how to put up links for the full article. TRI-CITY HERALD, sunday.

[bigtex]

Almost all of WDFW land purchases are paid through federal grants. Do some research on the WDFW land acquisition proposal site and you will see almost all of the proposals involve no WDFW money.

[fair-chase]

Almost all of WDFW land purchases are paid through federal grants. Do some research on the WDFW land acquisition proposal site and you will see almost all of the proposals involve no WDFW money.

  Also, since this is a multi phase project/purchase that will likely take several years to complete, I'm sure the legislature will continue to issue the funding that it is responsible for as it comes due.

I for one don't mind this purchase. It wouldn't be my first choice for a land purchase (not by a long shot) but it will open up a rather significant area to recreation. Also, tensions between landowners and hunters in this area have been a sore subject for the department for many years. Maybe this will alleviate some of that.


http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/acquisitions/rattlesnake_mountain.pdf

[shoot-em-dead]

So Big Tex conforms that they are screwing someone to get the money.

[shoot-em-dead]

I wonder how long it will be before the state requires a Pass to enter this property that they acquired for FREE.

[Kain]

I love the IDEA of buying up land for public access but it will just more land they can threaten to close down if we don't pay more.  Remember they threatened to shut down a lot of areas because of budget cuts?

[whacker1]

I like public access, but the purchase of lands by State, Federal, County, City entities removes those properties from the Property tax rolls, which makes it more difficult for each County to make their respective Municipal budgets.  And then in the long run raises our property taxes to support the lands not paying property taxes.

I don't mind lots of public lands, but it seems that their has been an unusually high amount of purchases by WDFW over the last 5 years.  It makes me wonder when enough will be enough. 

I just ask that these purchases are thought out carefully.  15-30 years from now, we will all be paying exhorbinant property taxes and purchasign a $250 discover pass to go look at the birds, let alone be able to hunt on it.  I over dramatized it to illustrate a point. 

I know in the City of Spokane they are trying to determine what municipal properties they can sell, so they don't have to maintain them, and can get them back in the private sector paying property taxes again.  It is not a parralllel example, but again, I am just trying to illustrate a point.

[JimmyHoffa]

I guess my concern is for land that can't contribute from the private sector anymore.  Don't get me wrong I like having land that I can go wander around on, but also feel that private land is important economically.  As private land, an owner can choose how to use the resource in ways that usually keep money moving through the private sector (before it all gets sucked up by the government) and pays taxes on it.
I don't imagine that WDFW land is going to be available to lease for mineral exploration or anything keeping money private.  Guessing that it would be used for encouraging more disco passes or a new special permit.  I'm kind of wondering how the amount of money sent to acquire, loss of tax base and loss of owner revenue/production will compare to having it be public land with disco passes?

EDIT:  I see the above has similar concerns and is a faster typer.

[Kain]

I believe WDFW pays property taxes on their land.  I remember them posting a report on how much the check was.

[buckcanyonlodge]

They are buying up all this and other lands so at some point in the future they can CLOSE it off. Don't think it won't happen.  Does ADGENDA 21 COME TO MIND. Where is all this money coming from?? If it is the Feds they (WE) are broke. Let's see..We are borrowing money from China to purchase scab rock by Richland...  Make any sense to you? My tin foil hat is on tight!!

[Kain]

Here is one of the article where they threatened to close some of these lands.  They cant afford the ones they already have and have not slowed down on buying more.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/landline/2010.html

[JimmyHoffa]

I believe WDFW pays property taxes on their land.  I remember them posting a report on how much the check was.

Okay, saw in the link you provided.  They have a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes that they send the respective counties to substitute as a property tax.  Guess that is good for the counties, but still the money is coming from a government agency, so originally citizens I'd think?

[bearpaw]

I am opposed to the WDFW buying any more lands. 

Noxious weeds are rampant on many of the lands they already have.