LAST MINUTE NORTH SOUND: Lagers & Letters with TU (skagit CnR season, etc)

Josh

Josh

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A bit last minute, but I'm posting it anyway...

NorthSound TU is having a get together this evening at Larrabee Lagers in Bellingham to encourage letters demanding funding for fish monitoring be returned to the state budget (thus saving the Skagit CnR spring season, etc). More info at this newsletter link (let me know if that doesn't work).

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WHAT: We're gathering to draft letters to key lawmakers and raise awareness.

WHEN: Join us at 7 PM!

WHERE: Larrabee Lager Company (we have tables reserved).

GUEST: Hear from Alexei Calambokidis, TU's WA State Policy Director, on the most effective way to get our message across.

Come enjoy a cold lager, connect with fellow anglers, and make a difference. Let's show up for the Skagit!

https://mailchi.mp/68072b8729e1/nooksack-fishes-need-your-help-14194519?e=0aeb54709e
 
I heard from a reliable source...
"Looks like they found the private funding to open the Skagit in 2026
WDFW just has to approve it now and dial in the season
Still haven’t seen the 2025 final numbers yet"
 
Paige said:
I heard from a reliable source...
"Looks like they found the private funding to open the Skagit in 2026
WDFW just has to approve it now and dial in the season
Still haven’t seen the 2025 final numbers yet"
Click to expand...
Encouraging news!
 
Paige said:
I heard from a reliable source...
"Looks like they found the private funding to open the Skagit in 2026
WDFW just has to approve it now and dial in the season
Still haven’t seen the 2025 final numbers yet"
Click to expand...

I know some folks were working on it. That is great news.
My only concern would be if it’s private funds, I hope WDFW won’t expect that funding now every year. It should be in the budget and on the state, not on the backs of the angling community to provide the money needed each year for monitoring.
SF
 
I agree, the state should be running this. I know one of the private sources mentioned was a guide organization (IIRC), which could easily become a problem if they decide that they fund the fishery so they should get preferential treatment or something along those lines. If the state can't foot the bill (which seems like a stretch) then they should be looking at some sort of usage fee (ala Columbia River endorsement or crab)

I signed up for this event a few days ago, not sure if I'll make it up there though. An hour each way on a wednesday night is rough
 
offensivename said:
I agree, the state should be running this. I know one of the private sources mentioned was a guide organization (IIRC), which could easily become a problem if they decide that they fund the fishery so they should get preferential treatment or something along those lines. If the state can't foot the bill (which seems like a stretch) then they should be looking at some sort of usage fee (ala Columbia River endorsement or crab)

I signed up for this event a few days ago, not sure if I'll make it up there though. An hour each way on a wednesday night is rough
Click to expand...
In the near term, I'm guessing that would be the best route. Our jacked up licensing fees should go to fund monitoring but they don't. There's nothing optimistic about the future budget either, so the most logical means would be opting into a Skagit River endorsement. I don't like it, but IMO it's the least offensive of the options.
 
Stonedfish said:
My only concern would be if it’s private funds, I hope WDFW won’t expect that funding now every year.
Click to expand...
That is my fear also. I just think it will set a bad precedent. And of course I would hate for said private funders to feel as if they have some sort of ownership of the resource. Play the long game and get the state to realize that they made a mistake would be my advice.
 
doublespey said:
so the most logical means would be opting into a Skagit River endorsement. I don't like it, but IMO it's the least offensive of the options.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I don't love this either. But it's probably better than the public/private funding partnership concept for all the reasons already stated.

And hey, at least we get exactly what we pay for with a specific endorsement. Unlike, say, our license fee increases that just dump into the general fund instead of funding access/enforcement/habitat.
 
Since it’s been mentioned, if it ended up going the endorsement route in the future to fund monitoring what would everyone be willing to pay for said endorsement?
SF
 
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Stonedfish said:
Since it’s been mentioned, if it ended up going the endorsement route in the future to fund monitoring what would everyone be willing to pay for said endorsement?
SF
Click to expand...
Little that WDFW does seems logical, but if it were me I'd lay out all the essential monitoring expenses and a reasonable projection for how many endorsements they would expect to sell. Divide expense by projected sales gives at least a reasonable starting point for discussion. If I remember correctly, the Columbia River endorsement was something like $10 or 15. That would seem reasonable to me.
 
Evan B said:
I'll put together a "get inebriated and drunk dial the government" event next.
Click to expand...
Sounds fun but probably unproductive. I found drinking a few ales and watching some sports alone ..:alone is the best. Don’t involve alcohol and politics with others . 😜.
I prefer to George Thorogood’s prescription.
 
doublespey said:
Little that WDFW does seems logical, but if it were me I'd lay out all the essential monitoring expenses and a reasonable projection for how many endorsements they would expect to sell. Divide expense by projected sales gives at least a reasonable starting point for discussion. If I remember correctly, the Columbia River endorsement was something like $10 or 15. That would seem reasonable to me.
Click to expand...



Except the Columbia has about 100,000 more fisherman than the Skagit!
 
Porter2 said:
Sounds fun but probably unproductive. I found drinking a few ales and watching some sports alone ..:alone is the best. Don’t involve alcohol and politics with others . 😜.
I prefer to George Thorogood’s prescription.
Click to expand...
I haven't been drunk in 20yrs so little experience with either. Just wanted to facilitate 😂
 
I wouldn't promote the endorsement idea. Remember, the Skagit steelhead season opens only when the runsize forecast equals or exceeds 4,000 - which I think is very reasonable. However, I wouldn't expect WDFW to cancel the endorsement in years where no season is provided. The Methow anglers got stuck paying the endorsement even when the river remained closed.

Also, the story I heard about private funding went something like: How much would it cost? WDFW: $150,000. OK, we'll raise the funds for monitoring. WDFW: excuse me, I meant $350,000.

WDFW is not to be trusted in financial matters, kinda' like most things WDFW related.
 
Paige said:
Except the Columbia has about 100,000 more fisherman than the Skagit!
Click to expand...
And the Columbia River Endorsement's main thing was to pay commercial, non-tribal gillnetters to not gillnet. Which didn't happen. Us Oregonians are still paying it annually. Washington did away with it but I think is bringing it back again, because reasons.
 
Paige said:
Except the Columbia has about 100,000 more fisherman than the Skagit!
Click to expand...
I only used 10 -15 bucks as a reference point. There are lots more fishermen and lots more miles of river to patrol on the Big C, esp when you include tributaries like Methow and Wenatchee. I don't know the actual numbers, just the process I'd follow for beginning the discussion.
 
Salmo_g said:
I wouldn't promote the endorsement idea. Remember, the Skagit steelhead season opens only when the runsize forecast equals or exceeds 4,000 - which I think is very reasonable. However, I wouldn't expect WDFW to cancel the endorsement in years where no season is provided. The Methow anglers got stuck paying the endorsement even when the river remained closed.

Also, the story I heard about private funding went something like: How much would it cost? WDFW: $150,000. OK, we'll raise the funds for monitoring. WDFW: excuse me, I meant $350,000.

WDFW is not to be trusted in financial matters, kinda' like most things WDFW related.
Click to expand...

I had heard $140k from multiple sources.
For the record, I asked what people would pay for an endorsement, but I hope it never comes to that.
If it does, that would be the start of a slippery slope I don’t think we’d want to go down.
I haven’t fish the Skagit or for steelhead for that matter in years, but I hope there is a season this spring for those that enjoy that fishery.
SF
 
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