I'll be there Saturday with another contingent with a different topic. Our cause to open the Skagit C&R season is on the one yard line and we want some assurances there will be funding for the federally mandated monitoring that needs to be done.

When we first approached the commissioners nearly six years ago, everyone thought it was a good idea. The department's own science was supportive of a season. There wasn't any evidence to not do it. It was good for the local economy. The Upper Skagit Tribe was in favor of it. And yet, even with all these positives it took the department (with us pleading regularly) nearly four years to assign someone to write the management plan. Nearly a year to write it, and nearly a year for the feds to approve it, if in fact they do.

So, if you are looking for some overnight miracle, you might as well stay home.

If you are committed to the end result then get ready to attend lots of meetings, and with more than just WDFW. What you guys want, will need to become your second job. Get a good lawyer - that's your first step.