Cowlitzfisherman-
Your clear dislike and distrust of WDFW is coloring your thinking!

When I suggested that WDFW might consider charging the going rate for use of a boat launch you replied-

"That sounds like the logic of every government bureaucrat that I know! Charge us for something we already have paid for, just to keep your own agency jobs in tack! "

As you well know what we all ready paid for was the acquisition and development of an access site. However, they still require annual upkeep. Someone needs to clean up the garbage that the various slobs leave, repair flood and erosion damage, repair damage caused by vandalism and other general maintenance. This all costs money - above and beyond the original cost. Does anyone doubt that those costs are increasing with the seemly endless increase in users of the various accesses.

As I see it there are really four choices in pay for the upkeep on public accesses (without that upkeep will soon have none).

1) Money from the state general fund - a move I consider very unlikely.

2) The current access permit system - for this to work enforcement action is need to insure compliance.

3) Increase of WDFW license fees - not likely to recieve support for most buyers.

4) Charge launch fees at rate that would recover the maintenance costs. Again it would require enforcement but at least only those using a area are paying. As I suggested earlier in my part of the state the typcial daily fees are in the $5 to $10 range.

I would like to know how you expect the maintenance costs to be meet from the original purchase cost?

Tight lines
Smalma