Re: Grooming UPDATES Re: East Kachess Road

[Tony DiPangrazio]

Hi Pete, thanks for asking. Yes this is an entirely different area. As you know the Swauk Pines Restoration Project is east of Hwy. 97 in the Liberty area, which is about twenty miles east of the f/s 4818 in Easton. The F/S 4818 runs north past the dam along the east side of Lake Kachess up past Boeing camp, up to and past the f/s 4826 road. The f/s 4826 road will take you up the west side of Kachess Ridge to the top. This is another riding area that we will possibly lose because of the forests service closures if we can’t ride cross country anymore. They have already tried to reduce the grooming all the way to the top. Once on top you can drop down into French Cabin Creek, Last Resort, the Teanaway, Red Top and over to Mineral Springs and beyond.

 

Although the proposed “new not across the snow program” that Kay Lloyd sent out in behalf of the Kittitas Grooming Council last week regarding the dept. of agriculture and the forest service proposal if passed will effect numerous riding areas, it is very similar to the no off trail riding in the swauk pines restoration project area. During the comment period for the swauk pines restoration project, I heard a few snowmobilers had said staying on groomed trails won’t effect there riding that much. As you know, lot of snowmobilers don’t want to be confined to riding groomed trails. If that were implemented, what’s next the green dot road system? The implementation of the no across the snow issue that the dept. of agriculture and the forest service are proposing is the same thing, their just being proposed individually. Do have any idea how many CDS members sent in comment letters regarding the swauk pines restoration project?

 

Have you heard about the already Voluntary non-Motorized area that will connect to the northeast boundary of the proposed swauk pines restoration project? From past experience I have learned if we don’t ride in the voluntary non-motorized areas we lose those areas altogether for snowmobiling because state parks and the forest service say we must not want to ride there if we don’t use it. Cabin Creek and Mt. Amabilis are two that come to mind.

 

In addition to that, there are restrictions being proposed on the Teanaway land purchase property. That’s the property the DNR withdrew $100,000.00 from our snowmobile account without out asking. Those restrictions will effect dirt bikes to start with, which could ultimately effect the snowmobilers and other motorized user groups. This appears to be another attempt by the dept. of agriculture, the forest service and Washington state fish & wildlife to divide and conquer the different users groups individually, in hopes of facing less resistance.

 

Then there’s the Upper Kittitas County Water Shed plan that the Forest Service and the Yakima Tribe are proposing which might adversely effect the Crystal Springs riding areas.

 

The new Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest Plan has not been released yet, it was due this last spring and is now rumored to be released in the fall.

Some people think the forest service doesn’t want to release their new forest plan just yet, in hopes of getting these various issues approved and implemented so they can reduce more of our motorized riding areas in their new forest plan.

There has also been rumors of a proposed Blewett Pass Wilderness area. One of my friends who lives in Liberty full time was telling me about that, he believes it’s part of the new Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest Plan.

 

Bottom line, if implemented all of these proposals will result in a net loss of use to all of the mixed motorized user groups.

 

United We Stand, Divided We Fall!

 

Tony D.

360-460-6220