Subject: Re: Wallace Gravel pit public fishing access
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 13:47:18 -0700
From: "Lee Van Tussenbrook" <VANTULV@dfw.wa.gov>
To: <tigger@desertlinc.com>, <commission@dfw.gov>, <director@dfw.wa.gov>, <cpr-fish@toledotel.com>
CC: "Dan Budd" <BUDDDDB@dfw.wa.gov>, "Terry Legg" <leggtjl@dfw.wa.gov>

Dear Mr. Woodcock:

I have been asked to briefly respond to your issues regarding Wallace access on the Cowlitz. We have had complaints in the past and have investigate those on numerous occasions. Those investigations did not lead to denial of access or any other problems; although complaints from anglers have been received at the regional office by a few individuals.

So far it appear access during normal daylight hours have not been as much of an issue as weekends and nights due to proximity of the gate for their gravel operations.

I have asked Terry Legg, our Real Estate westside supervisor out of Montesano, to initiate another investigation into the access which will include discussions with the pit owner, investigation of willful acts regarding our properties, denial of access to the public, signage and locking of the access site.

By having meaningful discussions with the pit owner and ensuring that users in the area have input we feel we can resolve many of the issues that have caused heartburn to many at this site.

We will not relinquish access and our hope to work to a win-win solution for everyone.

I will forward your e-mail to Terry as well so you can be informed of any progress.

Thanks for your interest.

Lee Van Tussenbrook
SW Regional Director
360-906-6704

----- Original Message -----
From: woodcook Family
To: VANTULV@dfw.wa.gov
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 9:06 AM
Subject: Wallace Gravel pit public fishing access


Sir

It has come to my attention that the State owns access to the Cowlitz River and that the fishing public is being denied access to this resource. I have been informed that the DFW has failed to enforce the agreement the Wallace entered into with the State to allow public access.

This Public Fishing access location needs to be properly signed and the easement enforced so as to allow the fishing public access to the area that was purchased by them.

There is no logical reason for not ensuring that the public has access at this site and it is the responsibility of the DFW to ensure that this is accomplished.

Keith Woodcook

Lee:

First, I would like to thank you for keeping CPR-Fish informed on what WDFW is attempting to do to address the issues that were addressed in my 11 page complaint letter to you on October 7, 2003. But there still appears to be some very serious misnomers about our public access, or should I say lack of public access at the WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site that has taken place.

You have stated in your reply to Mr. Woodcock that; "We have had complaints in the past and have investigate those on numerous occasions. Those investigations did not lead to denial of access or any other problems; although complaints from anglers have been received at the regional office by a few individuals."

I personally have to take issue with your response on this issue. In my 11 page complaint letter, you were given specific information in my attachment EXHIBIT #2 that clearly shows and verified, that the public was being denied access to the WDFW "Wallace" public fishing site. The Sheriff report (EXHIBIT #2) was sent to both you and Ray Croswell by fax very shortly after the report was filed in May of 2001.

It is important to note, that the report was filed on a "Friday" and that it was not filed on a weekend.

Your reply also said; "So far it appear access during normal daylight hours have not been as much of an issue as weekends and nights due to proximity of the gate for their gravel operations."

Lee, why should our "public access rights" be dictated by any "private party", especially a person who was paid extremely well with State funds for this public vehicle easement and parking rights? Moreover, we are required by state law to purchase our WDFW personal use stickers to use this and all other WDFW public fishing areas and we can even use it now. For at least the 2 years now, the public has been denied all their night time use and access to this WDFW parking area. Why? All of this was supposed to be taken care of over 2 years ago by Ray Croswell.

On June 10, 2001 I sent this email to Ray Croswell:

>>> Bob Reid <cpr-fish@toledotel.com> 06/10 3:15 PM >>>

Ray,

Either you are lying low; sick, or you are avoiding me (probably a little bit of each!). As you know by now, I have walked the plank again for WDFW. I am referring to the complaint that I had to file with the Lewis County Sheriff Office (you and Lee were mailed a copy of it). It should be quite clear by now that CPR-Fish is not going to let this issue slide by again. I appreciate your candid help and look forward to getting this issue resolved in a way that "us fishermen" don't get the short end again. I am going to do all that's within our organizations power to see that this access area remains open, and maintain it's current location. I am pursuing several other opinions to let the pubic know just what's going on.

It would be great if your office could get it act together, for once, and follow the same course. Time will tell! I believe that its now time for WDFW to send a strong letter to the Wallace's stating that the access gates must be remained opened, and that a new access road located alongside of the power line road must be brought back to what the Wallace's originally agreed to do. That also goes for the parking area that they claimed was supposedly washed away during the 1995-96 floods. As you have already seen, the Wallace's had already scalped and removed the parking area long before the floods had washed anything away.

Please give me a call Monday morning. If my line is busy, please try to contact me by email, and I will call you right back!

Thanks again for all the hard work that you have done to date.
Bob Reid,
CPR-Fish

This was Ray's response:

Subject: Re: wallace Access Issue
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2001 08:14:41 -0700
From: "Ray Croswell" <CROSWRCC@dfw.wa.gov>
To: <cpr-fish@toledotel.com>
CC: "Lee Van Tussenbrook" <VANTULV@dfw.wa.gov>

Bob, I am not avoiding you, I don't know how! This last week I was being pushed in to many direction. I did call Randy Wallace a week ago Friday and told him that he had to get it open and were going to go all the way this time on making it happen I had planned on stopping by and visiting the site and him last week (but did not get it done) My call and personal visit will be the last stops before the Strong Letter. Tuesday I will be in North Bend for another reorganizing meeting for the lands program. After I send this I will give you a call. I have a staff meeting and program conference call this morning.