Who cares? You may think, “Where is Point No Point anyway, and I’ll never use that ramp so who cares?”

The park and ramp project are owned by WDFW. It’s public land-- it’s YOUR park. It’s designed as a public access point for launching small watercraft. The advocates for the ramp are Attorney Generals Office, WDFW, Puget Sound Anglers, Coastal Conservation Association, Northwest Marine Trade Association, The Poggie Club, Bremerton Sportsman’s Club, Kitsap Park Advocates, and the local community supports it too. They are involved FOR YOU, because this decision will apply to every boat ramp in Puget Sound.

One Tribe has opposition, and their most recent objection is that “tribal fishermen set crab pots in as little as 12’ of water…where the proposed ramp would physically occupy…. (so) this will eliminate the use of a geographic area where tribal crabbing occurs.” (So the pots are dry at low tide??)

SO… if the US Army Corps rules the tribal claim is valid, then any tribe can use this same claim on any boat ramp in state marine waters. Legally, this January decision sets a state-wide precedent. This means ANY Corps permit for in-water repairs or modifications on ANY ramp can be contested and automatically denied, thereby taking the public right to access marine surface waters by eliminating launch sites over time as permits requests are submitted.

The tribe can crab anywhere, anytime, in any U & A areas, which means ANY marine waters in WA. Why such strong tribal focus on a single lane ramp in the obscure reaches of North Kitsap county? Because it’s not about the ramp itself (which is about 10 miles off the tribe’s reservation area), it’s about taking control of assess to the water. If the Corps rules the complaint to be valid, then the ruling applies to “the launches nearest to YOU” as well.

OK, OK, more strategic political theories, enough already! But you gotta ask, Why would the tribe care about a single lane beach ramp at remote Point No Point, when there isn’t even a dock? The Tribe nearest Point No Point (S’Klallam) did not see any opportunity at this ramp, and to avoid conflict, applied for and rapidly received theirown permit for new, private commercial ramps at Port Gamble. (The advocates applaud the S’Klallam’s solution and welcome their new launch!) Why don’t the Suquamish do this as well, and not try to control a Fish and Wildlife ramp that they are not even paying for, and that has no commercial use anyway (as determined by the S’Klallam)?

I welcome your input. Try to find fault in this theory, and let me know. We hope you are all tracking this decision, as it will have direct impact on your ability to launch and access the Sound going forward.