Capitol Forest Survey

[fishhead]

Here is a link to the recreation use survey for Capitol Forest. Look under the Capitol Forest heading for the pdf file.www.wa.gov/dnr/base/recreation.html

It's important that our voices be heard in this survey!

 

[Tod]

Thanks :thumb:

Everone that uses Capitol Forest MUST do this survey. The people who don't like us are filling out plenty of them and we will be SOL unless everyone possible participates.

 

[fishhead]

BTW folks I sent this on to the NMA a couple weeks ago and there is no mention on the site. Perhaps a couple reminders would be in order!

I think this should pop up on the radar screen ASAP!

 

[Tod]

It's there now.
http://www.nmaoffroad.org/landuse.htm

Thought it was there last spring.
Just shows how closely I look at the site. :silly:

 

[fishhead]

Thanks Tod

For those who don't know Capitol Forest has the most miles of maintained trail with largest variety of skill level in the west side.

DNR faces pressure from within and outside intrest groups to close the forest facilities for various reasons. including funding and overuse

 

[Tod]

Capitol Forest has the most miles of maintained trail with largest variety of skill level in the west side.

and the half that is open to motorized use is already closed during with winter and early spring.

DNR faces pressure from within and outside intrest groups to close the forest facilities for various reasons. including funding and overuse

Greg Ariss of the DNR summed it up for me quite clearly
"State land is not public land" and went on the explain that in his opinion the DNR has no obligation to allow access to any of "their" land.
:|

The funding issue REALLY pisses me off. In addition to IAC grants the DNR receives, they also get over a million dollars a year, from our ORV funds. I have met with Doug Sutherland, the State Commisioner of Public Lands and ask where that money is spend and they DO NOT know. Just disapears I guess. Futhermore addition funding has been available and the DNR has failed to even apply for what would be handed right to them. Unfortunately it will get worse before it improves.

I'll be making more trips to the Capitol this legislative session to stir the poo.
:p

 

[MXP1MP]

I know, I couldn't find the survey last time, was it not up?

So if you enjoy thurston tahuya reiters walker better write in.

 

[fishhead]

Tod makes a good point! The DNR's response to recreational use of the forest is to close areas. Their response to illegal activities which they condone by inaction is to close the forest. They consider riding accidents to be "stress" on the forest. They mention a riding fatality at another area to be "meth related" and leave it at that. So just who is the "State" anyway? A bunch of "b'crats" who do as they please or worse?

 

[Tod]

The DNR's response to recreational use of the forest is to close areas.

They do have a legal obligation to protect the value of state trust land, but unfortunately the DNR hides behind this responsibility to avoid doing the right thing.

Their response to illegal activities which they condone by inaction is to close the forest.

The DNR northwest region (5 counties) did not even have a functioning law enforcement officer for over a year. From January 1997 until just recently, in any of the areas where motorized recreation was present they made zero arrests and wrote a total of one ticket (it was thrown out of court because they didn't even do that correctly)

So just who is the "State" anyway?

Per the State constitution, Article I, Section 1:
All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.
:thumb:

Yeah, I know, I can turn any topic into a flame/rant :flame:

happy trails
Tod
:yeehaw:

 

[fishhead]

Maybe Greg Ariss should look at his boss's title which is "Commisioner of Public Lands