Goose,

Going for restrictions is never pleasant but something needs to be done here. It was told to me earlier by Jim Bain that his WDFW source says there is need for proof of "environmental impact" or something to that effect in order for the department to take a position.

This seems odd to me because WDFW is not considering the other impacts sleds have on small rivers like the wynoochee. Like I said before, aren't safety and asthetics worthy issues?

The department is probably going to weenie out of doing something pro-active so we will do it on our own. Probably through the public input process at commission meetings next time reg. change proposals come out.

It's been my experience that e-mail or any communication less than direct contact with WDFW will produce little to no results. Their communications and public realtions skills are horrible. Other than rule proposal meetings, I honestly don't know of any other avenue to take because everything eventually has to be OK'ed by the commission.

This is worth pursuing. The reaction I've encountered on this board and on the river has been one of overwhelming support for the need for a ban of some kind.

I propose an outright ban in the summer because some of the local idiots are sledding it in the low clear water of summer now to get to "the hole" ruining all the water in-between for everyone else. I also would propose a ban of any motorized boat above black creek during the winter season. That will allow the increasing number of guides to hammer it out with each other on the lower 4 miles of river to the mouth with little driftboat traffic.