absolute bullshit im mad (spokane locals please read)

S

sal_the_salmon

Steelhead
We need to come together on this one.

www.spokesman.com

Off limits? Proposal would restrict access to damaged areas along Spokane River

Aiming to protect and rehabilitate the Spokane River and its tributaries, the Spokane City Council is mulling a proposal to restrict access to some sections of public land near the shoreline.
www.spokesman.com www.spokesman.com

this proposal would restrict access (to only users with boats) to a sizeable and popular public access section of the spokane river.

we CAN NOT let this pass.

I have reached out to some councilmembers aides to try to get some phone time with the people who are voting on this.

As far as i can tell, its not backed by any science, the DOE, DNR, WDFW, etc.

for reference, this is roughly 15 percent of the public (non boat) access to the lower spokane river.
 
or at least a plan to restore. Right now it say they will reopen it once the native vegetation regrows... aka never..... lmao. And to be honest, the riparian zone in that section of the spokane river has been gone for about 100 years. and whats left isnt even half bad as it is.

i bet they have a house on the river and are tired of people walking in front of it.... or some other nonsense.
 
sal_the_salmon said:
or at least a plan to restore. Right now it say they will reopen it once the native vegetation regrows... aka never..... lmao. And to be honest, the riparian zone in that section of the spokane river has been gone for about 100 years. and whats left isnt even half bad as it is.

i bet they have a house on the river and are tired of people walking in front of it.... or some other nonsense.
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This sound VERY very similar to METROs strategy in my neck of the woods. Purchase and or lock up public land to 'manage forever'

Edit: unless your homeless then camp and trash away.
 
This is beyond my expertise but it seems I recall from somewhere that access across public lands to a navigable body of water can not be blocked (I do believe the state has the power in some instances). I can't find the documentation now.
It seems from one of the comments that they may be doing this because of the impacts of the homeless. If that's the case that should be addressed, it's unfair to the majority of the tax paying populace to loose a right to use the area because of another problem the council hasn't properly delt with.
 
Tom Butler said:
This is beyond my expertise but it seems I recall from somewhere that access across public lands to a navigable body of water can not be blocked (I do believe the state has the power in some instances). I can't find the documentation now.
It seems from one of the comments that they may be doing this because of the impacts of the homeless. If that's the case that should be addressed, it's unfair to the majority of the tax paying populace to loose a right to use the area because of another problem the council hasn't properly delt with.
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its ALREADY illegal for the homeless to camp there but its not enforced for a variety of reasons, which will still apply and ironically the camping will still probably happen.
 
I know these areas well. While I don’t know about the science of this, the homeless camps in these areas can get bad.

Maybe Jerry with River keepers would know more?
 
sal_the_salmon said:
its ALREADY illegal for the homeless to camp there but its not enforced for a variety of reasons, which will still apply and ironically the camping will still probably happen.
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Are they maybe closing public areas to avoid having to police the homeless/straight interface at the public area?
 
This, from the sponsor of the legislation, makes no sense.
“All of this coincides with trying to get Latah back to water instead of mud,” said Councilwoman Lori Kinnear, the legislation’s sponsor.
Latah Creek is in definite need of restoration but its problems start miles upstream of the Spokane River.
The bottom line is the homeless will still be there and those that respect the land will be locked out.
What, if any, river user groups are supporting this?
@Millsfly any input or direction on this?
 
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sal_the_salmon said:
50' hmmmmmmm. i wonder how that effects these homeowners
View attachment 5932
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The 50' areas are on East South Riverton between Mission and the Greene Street Bridge, an area not heavily fished.
The real stickler is everything from Monroe Street Bridge down to Sandifur Bridge and then on to Peoples Park.
Also the words "To start" in the article are a little concerning.
That said, I don't doubt that some of the homeowners that you pictured may have 'altered' the vegetation.
 
SculpinSwinger said:
I’m not a Spokane local, but issues of homeless camps in riparian areas, and the privileged in others ring true here…
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expect this isnt being proposed as a act to remove encampments... its proposed for "river restoration". regardless of your opinion on the housing and drug crisis we are in, it should come as no surprise that meth camps along the spokane are doing damage. the problem is, this is not a solution. im not sure if you have much first hand experience, but my experience its a serious threat to river users and the river ecosystem.
 
Old406Kid said:
The 50' areas are on East South Riverton between Mission and the Greene Street Bridge, an area not heavily fished.
The real stickler is everything from Monroe Street Bridge down to Sandifur Bridge and then on to Peoples Park.
Also the words "To start" in the article are a little concerning.
That said, I don't doubt that some of the homeowners that you pictured may have 'altered' the vegetation.
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i was thinking more along the lines about how the city plans to trespass them from there back lawn and what legal issues that could come from that.
 
sal_the_salmon said:
expect this isnt being proposed as a act to remove encampments... its proposed for "river restoration". regardless of your opinion on the housing and drug crisis we are in, it should come as no surprise that meth camps along the spokane are doing damage. the problem is, this is not a solution. im not sure if you have much first hand experience, but my experience its a serious threat to river users and the river ecosystem.
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I am in complete agreement with you. It is those of us in the middle that get denied access to what we pay taxes for.
We have laws against camping in riparian zones , but they are not enforced. My home river was once heavily polluted, but through 5 decades of work and expense it is healthier. The last 5 years in particular we have been losing some of the gains we had made.
It pisses me off
 
mcswny said:
He’s young, but I believe @Oliver1329 is a Spokane local and fishes there often as well.
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I am a Spokane local and I fish this river a ton. If this passes, I'd be so sad. Where they are closing is where I've learned to fish. I've grown up fishing this and is still one of my favorite stretches of river to fish. THIS MUST NOT HAPPEN!

Also, the river closes on March 25 to protect native redband trout spawning. During this closure, we aren't allowed to fish. Something to think about because they could close these public areas around those spots during the closure as long as they open it when the river opens back up.
 
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Oliver1329 said:
I am a Spokane local and I fish this river a ton. If this passes, I'd be so sad. Where they are closing is where I've learned to fish. I've grown up fishing this and is still one of my favorite stretches of river to fish. THIS MUST NOT HAPPEN!

Also, the river closes on March 25 to protect native redband trout spawning. During this closure, we aren't allowed to fish. Something to think about because they could close these public areas around those spots during the closure as long as they open it when the river opens back up.
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Yes, lots of good wading water in that lower stretch that they want to close.
This picture is just a small sampling of that stretch.
1645285671773.png
Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the closure date is the 15th...wouldn't want to see you get busted.:)
 
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