[Double_E]

[neek]

Lots of good points made all around. If someone doesn't agree 100% it's not the end of the world. Big question for me is whether this thread will go on until the temporary closure is lifted. It'll be interesting to see how much usage declines after "school" starts next week.

[JonnyQuest]

^ I'll second Neek's opinion. Lot's of good, though-provoking comments from Ski, TW, as well as you, AS. It's OK to disagree, as there's seldom one right answer. Just keep discourse civil.

[altasnob]

[mb]

Altasnob, you have locals saying the problems are real. Now the question is how to manage it? This is one of the scenarios where there is no good answer, only bad or worse. Permits? Determined by money or time? Enforcement of some form? Public education? These problems are happening many places right now. There are many USFS temporary closures throughout the USA in areas which have had severe overuse/bad behavior issues. What is your concrete proposal? Be specific.

[altasnob]

If you read all my previous posts, I already have given my solution very specifically. This is primarily a parking problem. It is not a garbage or crime problem. There is garbage and crime at Cushman and Staircase, but that is not why the various agencies say they have closed this area. Install no parking signs along the lake where the road is narrow, and then enforce those parking rules via towing. Agencies who are legally allowed to enforce these parking rules include the national park, national forest, Mason County Sheriff, Washington State Patrol, Skokomish Tribal Police, and Tacoma Power. All of these agencies will claim they have no funding for this but if they all put their heads together, I am confident they can come up with the funding to do this (rather than just punt the issue from one governmental agency to the next). And then, if 3,000 cars decide to go up there all at once, and cars are parked all the way down to Hoodsport, so long as those cars are legally parked along the road and emergency vehicles can get by, so be it. Washington is a very crowded state and we cannot close access to lands because it's hot and people want to go jump in some fresh water.

[Pyrites]

Being imprisoned is not comparable to being restricted in use of this site. Being banned here or whatever the right term is is more like not being invited to one person’s house party. It’s not imprisonment.

[altasnob]

It's a metaphor.

[Ski]

[RodF]

[altasnob]

The order closing this area says closed "until September 30, unless rescinded earlier." I have read (a not credible source) that says once the lake starts dropping in mid-September, that the forest service will open it back up. Logic being most visitors come to swim in the lake and once the lake drops, the bank is muddy and you can't jump off the rocks so swimming is less appealing. Makes sense to me. The lake is currently at 736.18 feet of elevation (maximum of 738 ft). I will check again in mid-September.

[Ski]

thanks Rod!

[sparker1965]

It was basic math...6 mile backup...parking on both sides of the road....and yes...there were people counting...we, out here in the sticks, have all kinds of mad skills! (Bermuda doesn't have a corner on the triangle market, you know...) I live here...I clean cabins for a living...I clean up along the road. every.damn.monday. Where are you? BTW....there are two deputies and a trooper stationed at the closure. Plenty of people still being turned away...because clearly, reading, (and common sense) are not skills that most humans can count in their arsenal.

[sparker1965]

The lake starts dropping the Tuesday after Labor day. I live here...I know...Until around the second week in October...our cabins are booked.

[altasnob]