SPRING 2007 STATE PARKS REPORT By John Dawson, RBAW Director and Parks Rep A State Parks Fee Committee meeting was held April 19th at the Puget Sound Regional Office in Auburn, WA. With one exception, there will not be any fee or moorage rate increases for the balance of 2007 or for 2008. The one exception could be in the boat launching fee. The existing fee of $5 per launch or $50 for an annual permit will remain in effect for 2007 but, with Park Commission approval, may be increased in 2008 to $7 per launch and $70 for an annual permit. The $7 fee would be a variable rate and would be less at "primitive" launch sites. The annual permit would, as it does now, apply to all types of launch sites. With a very few exceptions the docks and buoys of all the Marine State Parks survived this past winter in good shape. The little damage that was incurred has been or shortly will be repaired. High winds downed a large number of trees on Blake Island and Sucia Island and did impact several trails and campsites. A work party consisting of the Boy Scouts, NBC (Northwest Boating Council) members and State Park employees spent a stormy March weekend cleaning up trails and campsites on Blake. As a result all trails and campsites are now usable. The linear moorage on the western side of Blake is scheduled to be removed and will be replaced by several auger type buoys. This has not yet been accomplished due to Parks need to obtain the use of heavier cranes then they currently have available. This change should be accomplished by Memorial Day. Additional buoys are to be installed around the island but a target date for completion has yet to be set. The permitting for the installation of power on the docks at Blake is completed and Parks is now in the process of getting contract bids. It is hoped that the contracting and installation will be completed before the end of summer. The use of power, when available, will be voluntary. The power will be 30amp but the cost per night has not yet been determined. Sucia Island docks and buoys are now all usable but trail and campsite damage due to downed trees and washouts is considerable. It is possible that some trails will have to be rerouted and some campsites repositioned. If this becomes necessary it could take some time as new permitting and environmental studies may be required. Volunteer work parties, made up of members from several yacht clubs, have been and will be helping to clean up Sucia. State Parks is very appreciative of the volunteer help they are getting at both Sucia and Blake. The original fourteen buoys in Echo Bay on Sucia Island have been replaced with the newer auger type buoys. The new buoys have been slightly repositioned to help establish the proposed "no anchor zone" in Echo Bay. Eventually additional buoys will be put in the bay. State Parks has the required additional buoys but weather has precluded boat crews from working and has also created damage repair that has higher priority. Signage to define the "no anchor zone" is still in the design stage and funding for the signs has yet to be approved. The proposed "no anchor zone" will initially be voluntary and is designed to help protect the eel grass ecology. At a Marine Parks Managers meeting held April 18th the subject of providing mooring buoys for boats larger then 45 feet was discussed. The newer auger type buoy anchors are more then adequate for boats up to approximately 60 feet but ground tackle requirements have not yet been developed. Buoys to accommodate larger boats might have to be re-sited to allow for additional swinging room and if this becomes necessary DNR (Department of Natural Resources) approval may be required. Getting these buoys for larger boat may take a year or two but there is good reason to believe that they will become available. Boaters are reminded that starting January 1, 2008 all the requirements and restrictions of the State Parks Boater Education Program go into effect. Now is the time to start planning. Have a SAFE and fun boating season. Home | About RBAW | Boater News | Events Calendar Our Members | You Can Help | Join RBAW | Contact Us Design & Development by Dan Larsen