DaveD -
I see that the deadlines for comments has been extended to Sept. 10th.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/newreal/release.php?id=aug1707aI'm somewhat surprised your preferred option is the one that would provide for little or no fishing in most cased now or in the future. It was clear from the discussions at the Mill Creek meeting Thurs. that the author of the DEIS was considering carrying capacity that would be seen under current survival conditions. As result under option #1 we would see little increases in populations abundances for those populations in most trouble (the populations in the 5 listed DPS).
You asked which option I would support? AS currently written it is hard to support any of the options. However since my concern is see increased escapements and providing a diverse fishing opportunities if forced to select one it would have to been #3; the status quo. It is the only option the provides any hope that management would see increased run sizes and escapements while providing at least some fishing.
AuntyM.
A couple of times now you have stateed that sportfishers do not have any influences on the outcome and asked it anyone could cite an example where members of the public was succesful in influencing the outcome of anything. I wonder if the folks at WSC would agree with you. It seems to me that since they became active in attending meeting and working the process they have been reasonably successful in infuencing outcomes for issues they care about. yes they have not achieved all they wanted but those members that I talked with seem to think they have influenced the process so that decisions are more in line with their priorities.
Anyone; I'm wrong in that assessment?
While it is not necessary to attend these meetings to be able to provide input on this or other issues it has been my experience that attending such meetings can be of value to many anglers. By the way; if it is such a waste of time to involve oneself in these processes why did you say you will provide written comments? Don't feel that is a waste of time as well?
For those anglers lacking your vast experience and knowledging attending such meetings can provided to further ones education on what these process are and how to more effectively provide input into the process. In addition through the comments, explainations, and Q & As it is not uncommon for some of the complicate fishing managment issues, concepts, etc to be clarified.
At such meetings it is nearly always the case that local WDFW staff are at them. Those folks can be great contacts for the average angler. Not only does it put a face on the agency they are resources for our questions.
Personally I have founda major benefit in attending those meetings is that I get a chance to see what other folks are thinking, how agency staff respond other folks and my comments. Those insights provide me with valuable information on what are key issues and how best to craft my own comments to be most effective in getting to the crux of the matter. One of the beautiies of the EIS process the agency has to respond in at least some fashion to the comments they recieve.
Yes attending those meeting can be extremely frustrating and is not likely to achieve immediate or complete success in advocating their position the one thing I know for sure is that not being involved is a sure way to have not influecne.
Tight lines
Curt