Dosewallips Road DEIS (Olympic Peninsula, WA)

[RodF]

The Dosewallips Road (FS2610 from Brinnon WA on Hood Canal 15 miles to Dosewallips Ranger Station in Olympic National Park) provides access to popular climbing routes for Mt. Constance, Mt. Deception, Mt. Anderson, Sentinel Peak, etc. in the northeastern Olympics [OMR]. In 2002, it washed out 5 miles below the trailhead. Reopening it has proven contentious . In 2004, an Environmental Assessment was completed and the alternative of decommissioning the road was dropped [summary] . Olympic National Forest has since twice refined the proposed route across the hillside above the washout to avoid a small stream and most of the larger trees [Federal Register].

 

In late March, Olympic National Forest expects to release their Draft Environmental Impact Statement for reopening the Dosewallips Road [news release] . To receive a copy of the DEIS, contact Tim Davis ONF 360-956-2375 or email comments-pacificnorthwest-olympic@fs.fed.us with "Dosewallips DEIS" in the subject line, and request DEIS Summary (25 pages) or Full DEIS (320 pages). A 60-day public comment period will follow its release.

 

Environmental issues surrounding this have recently been discussed [nwhikers]. Olympic Forest Coalition, to avoid the necessity of reopening the road to decommission it, now advocates "Regarding moving equipment past the washout, the obvious choices are helicopter, or using the riverbed at summer low flows." [WTA]

[JayB]

I just scanned through the comments briefly, but it seemed as though decommissioning the upper stretch of the road above the washout would require...repairing the roadbed..in order to permit the passage of the heavy equipment necessary to do so.

 

In other words, you'd have to fix the road in order to properly decommission it.

 

It also seemed as though the fix-then-decommission plan is the *preferred* alternative over at the WTA? Rather than fixing or bypassing the washout and *not* subsequently decommissioning the rest of the road?

 

Please correct me if I'm mistaken, since I didn't have time to read through all of the comments carefully.

 

Also - any word on the cost for a proper decommissioning versus what it would cost to restore access to the campground?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Fairweather]

I briefly read through the WTA link you provided and applaud your stands there. The hostile responses you received were sadly typical of environmental elitists now days. I believe strongly this road should be restored and not permanently added to "the list" that includes Westside Road, Suiattle River Road, Middle Fork Snoqualmie, Stehiken River Road, Ipsut Creek, Coplay Lake, etc, etc, etc. WTA needs to relinquish their claim that they support outdoor recreation enthusiasts if they are beholden to fringe environmental interests within their own organization. They adopted a similar position re Middle Fork Snoqualmie CCC Road - now watch as the Dutch Miller Trail disappears. WTA does NOT represent hikers. Tell your USFS/NPS manager.

[RodF]

Also - any word on the cost for a proper decommissioning versus what it would cost to restore access to the campground?

 

In 2003, the Western Federal Lands Highway Division (of the Federal Highway Administration), who would fund this road, estimated the cost of reopening it at $315,000 and the cost of decommissioning it at $485,000 [overview]. Both estimates would have increased substantially since (likely doubled by the time the work is done in 2009), but this remains useful as an estimate of the relative amount of work involved.

 

The bottom line: reopen the road, or demolish a million dollars of irreplacable National Park assets (Dosewallips Ranger Station, campground showers/restrooms, bridges, etc) for $170,000 more. Same environmental impact (have to cut the same trees to reopen the road in either case).

 

However, practicality aside, there is a respectable philosophical argument for decommissioning:

 

"I experience nothing but sheer delight when forest roads wash out. And the harder time the Forest Service has rebuilding them, the better. Why this sentiment? Because closed roads makes our too-small wilderness areas bigger. Because wild country starts where the vehicles stop." link

- Chair, Olympic Forest Coalition; Vice-President, Olympic Park Associates; board member, Washington Trails Association.

 

He applies it to every case: Dosewallips Road, Mountain Loop Highway, Middle Fork Snoqualmie, Stehekin Road, Cascade River Road, Queets/Sams River Roads, Olympic Hot Springs Road... without analysis of each of these very different situations. Apparently it applies to every forest road. And there is a romantic appeal to literally rolling back the calendar to 1920... if you enjoy hiking decommissioned roads. And have an extra day or two to do it. On every trip.

[Fairweather]

Respectfully, why do you consider the decommissioning of primary access road a 'respectable philosophy'? Long term this will result in a shrinking public interest in outdoor recreation and a shrinking public interest in protecting wilderness. This is what Ira Spring believed. I see no point in granting short-sighted elitists the title of "respectable".

[mattp]

I'm with you when it comes to access, Fairweather. I believe that one of the reasons we have wilderness is so that people can enjoy it - within limits of course, and I support management for long-term preservation of wildlife populations, habitat, and just plain wild places too. I support reopening of the Dosewallips road, along with the Suiattle and the White Chuck and the Carbon... though I'm willing to admit I have not really studied any of these projects very closely and I might be convinced otherwise if I knew more about them. But I think you are missing the mark where you seem to refuse to acknowledge that someone might "respectably" disagree.

[RodF]

Fairweather, I actually completely agree with everything you said, but it is always interesting to try to understand where others are coming from.

 

In that spirit, would you entertain a challenge? Read his entire, eloquent short essay, and try to think of just one forest road to which you might agree it should be applied (abandoned spur logging roads aside).

 

If its not easy, that makes the challenge more interesting!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

On March 22, 2004 the Forest Service's Decision Notice on reopening the Dosewallips Road accused opponents of circulating "misinformation and innuendos" on the environmental issues. Strong wording indeed for an official Federal document! It has since become clear that reopening the road along the hillside has less environmental impact (and cost) than reopening the road to decommission it. Yet they continue to oppose reopening. So what is their motivation? "Closed roads makes our too-small wilderness areas bigger."

 

I think its respectable, and worthy of discussion.... in general. But... I agree, not in this case.

 

[RodF]

In other words, you'd have to fix the road in order to properly decommission it.

 

It also seemed as though the fix-then-decommission plan is the *preferred* alternative over at the WTA? Rather than fixing or bypassing the washout and *not* subsequently decommissioning the rest of the road?

 

Jay, as an active WTA volunteer and member, I (and many others) have been very puzzled by this question. So I've asked Jonathan Guzzo, WTA's Advocacy Director, several times since last September. He has refused to answer this question. So beyond the general "decommission and convert to trail" [WTA website], I simply don't know what WTA is specifically advocating, nor how it could be practically and legally accomplished, nor how it could be funded. All I can offer you is Mr. Guzzo's statement "My direct line at WTA is 206.965.8558. My email address is jonathan@wta.org. All WTA members are encouraged to call me if they would like to engage in a substantive discussion on the issues that we address." [WTA mudfest]

[Fairweather]

I'll be honest. I'll use my mountain bike where possible to maintain the level of access I once had. If that means having to mountain bike the last 5 miles of The Dosewallips Road, then I will ride five miles in-kind of traditional foot-only trail--probably not possible up the West Fork, but certainly feasible on the trail toward Hayden Pass. How's that for rebellion? And when the ONP volunteer asks me what the #$%^ I'm doing, I will point out simply that no one else seems to be using the trail anymore...and ride on. I'm fed up with this shit.

 

 

[RodF]

I will ride five miles in-kind of traditional foot-only trail...

 

I admire your rebel spirit, Fairweather! I have stepped aside and waved as mountain bikes rode by me up to 3 miles inside Buckhorn Wilderness, but never in the Park. The trail up to Hatana Falls viewpoint (and beyond) would be a fine bike trail, but I hope they don't catch ya, as I have no idea how big the fine will be...