Heads-Up for Chopoka Anglers

I'm sure Dave Upthegrove will support PNWFF members once we flood his office with emails, right?

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So in compliance with @Evan B's reminder below to keep this thread unpolitical; what say forum members that individually we phone or write our local congressmen and state senator and suggest DNR's proposal is unacceptable. I personally have no desire to fish Chopaka but it angers me that the solution to budget shortfalls is to screw up our angling (and hunting) opportunities.

Phone contact number - https://leg.wa.gov/help/contact-us/

Email link - https://leg.wa.gov/legislators/how-to-send-a-message-to-a-legislator/
 
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509 said:
Are they going to gate the campground?? Or just shut off the water and lock the outhouse??
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Should be good fishing if it reopens… but there’s always the get arounds…
 
I doubt that they would padlock the access as there is a federal BLM campground adjoining the state DNR site. And the site is a trailhead. The only thing that I think that DNR could do is NOT service the vault toilet. However, this situation might put less urgency on finding a solution to the dam issues at the end of lake.
Steve
 
Never underestimate a government agency to do the wrong thing.

BLM might not have easement across DNR. The Forest Service had to buy easements from DNR to cross state land. Same taxpayers, but it mattered to DNR. The private timber companies just swapped easements saving both parties money and time.
 
Matt B said:
Did they pick the most popular ones hoping to piss people off enough to write in and try and save their (budget’s) ass?
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That is what crossed my mind after reading the list too.
 
Some reminders on the rules here:

  • DO NOT: Go on partisan attacks, rants, or tell people how to vote. This is not the place for that sort of thing. If you're talking about any political affiliations, political parties, etc., then it's not within the guidelines.
  • DO NOT: Make posts or replies on political things otherwise unrelated to wildlife or environmental conservation.
  • DO: Discuss how to navigate the changing landscape in regards to public lands, fisheries management, or anything else related to these topics. There are going to be a lot of changes happening, let's discuss what's happening and how it affects us vs pointing fingers and blaming each other.
  • If posting an article link as a new thread, please offer some of your own thoughts to begin a discussion. Don't simply paste a link and post only that.
 
Trying to stay within the political side rails here, but this example appears classical government bureaucracy. An agency threatened by a funding cut responds by closing whatever thing they manage that is most popular with the public. Maybe for spite, but usually hoping for a public backlash that results in the funding being restored. I'm not hopeful this time around, because even with huge record revenue, WA still has a three billion dollar budget gap. As a lifelong WA resident, this seems borderline incomprehensible, but wondering where has all that money gone would cross the political prohibition, so I won't.
 
Evan B said:
Some reminders on the rules here:

  • DO NOT: Go on partisan attacks, rants, or tell people how to vote. This is not the place for that sort of thing. If you're talking about any political affiliations, political parties, etc., then it's not within the guidelines.
  • DO NOT: Make posts or replies on political things otherwise unrelated to wildlife or environmental conservation.
  • DO: Discuss how to navigate the changing landscape in regards to public lands, fisheries management, or anything else related to these topics. There are going to be a lot of changes happening, let's discuss what's happening and how it affects us vs pointing fingers and blaming each other.
  • If posting an article link as a new thread, please offer some of your own thoughts to begin a discussion. Don't simply paste a link and post only that.
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I edited my above post with some links to phone or write our legislators about this potential loss of recreational activities.
 
Buzzy said:
I edited my above post with some links to phone or write our legislators about this potential loss of recreational activities.
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Your post wasn't an issue. You posted who to contact.
 
Unfortunately the Chopaka Circus will now move to another lake to be decimated. The bright side could mean a potential come back for the lake that was once a size 12 gray Humpy delight!
 
Wow, Oxbow in Jefferson is also a major boat launch/take out for the Hoh. Have to drive through the camping area to get there. Will he launch be closed?
 
LBL said:
Wow, Oxbow in Jefferson is also a major boat launch/take out for the Hoh. Have to drive through the camping area to get there. Will he launch be closed?
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I'd assume so. Doesn't seem like there's any effective way to prevent people from occupying the sites otherwise.
 
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