ELK TEAM TO PLAN FENCE ROUTE Biologist Shelly Ament, with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, looks over an aerial shot of land between Sequim and Blyn north of most DNR boundaries with Curtis Beus swapping ideas for a fencing route to keep the Dungeness elk herd south of U.S. Highway 101. Photo by Evan McLean By Evan McLean Staff writer Dungeness elk planning changed with the seasons and got focus in the New Year. The Dungeness Elk Working Team reviewed public comment and testimony at its Feb. 7 meeting to solidify a new preferred alternative to fence the local herd south of the U.S. Highway 101 bypass. ?The public often told us they felt we had already made up our mind with the relocation,? said Jack Smith, wildlife manager for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. ?People spoke out four to one against the relocation, and we listened.? The idea to swap the elk with a herd from the south peninsula took a backseat to fencing in the local herd after public comment was reviewed by DEWT in autumn 2006. ?We should be looking at using fencing and it may involve some relocation down the road,? Smith said. ?But it was clear that relocation at a greater distance was not supported by a large contingent of the community.? DEWT members agreed that keeping the public on board would carry the plan to fruition. The team has created a subcommittee to identify several fencing route alternatives for members to choose from. ?The (Department of Natural Resources) is willing to work with us on its property line, the Bonneville Power Administration?s easement is similar in availability,? Smith said. ?Also, working with the state for highway right of way may show that they have funds to help pay for those sections.? Fencing options DNR land lies furthest south of all the fencing options. Jeremy Sage, a wildlife biologist with the Point No Point Treaty Council, said the habitat and foraging opportunities in DNR land are not ideal conditions for the elk. ?Using DNR borders is not out of sight,? Smith said. ?But it can increase costs associated with maintenance, surveying and limit elk viewing opportunities.? Wayne Marion, regional director of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, also wanted the fencing to be further north. ?Having something along the highway with the possibility of seeing elk is much more appealing than somewhere up where you need a map,? Marion said. There are many benefits to using the state right of way like funding mechanisms and halting any need to establish new easements. Yet, the highway?s proximity to urban areas left at least one member uneasy. ?I have a concern to make sure the elk are back in the woods and not drawn back to urban areas with habitat enhancement by the highway,? Tina Vogel said. Habitat enhancement involves planting native species that the elk forage on and will be necessary to ensure the vitality of the herd in an area fenced on one side. Sequim Public Works director Jim Bay was adamant that the elk would not be ?drawn? down next to the highway and that they are already there calving and grazing. He said that Sequim is looking to acquire 65 acres of land near this area. ?Things like having 65 acres right where the elk already forage in line with possible fence routes do not happen all the time,? said Bill Bjorklund, member of the Alliance for Recreation Conservation. Bjorklund and others at the meeting said that a hybrid of the options would likely meet most elk lovers? and property owners? concerns while possibly being the most cost effective. The hybrid Biologist Shelly Ament, with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, put together a subcommittee to explore the options and possibly create a hybrid route that uses established easements, replaces willing private land owner fences and provides viewing opportunities for the public. ?The county will be very willing to sign on to something that incorporates the public sentiment, viewing areas and habitat,? County Commissioner Steve Tharinger said. The subcommittee will be working with Sequim Public Works mapping programs to get a bird?s-eye view of its options. Some of the more difficult areas to pin down are fairly developed parcels south of the eastern city limits. ?I imagine connecting easements along private property lines will not be a deal breaker,? Smith said. ?I think of Eastern Washington where you can see fences tapering around different properties, some land owners will want a brand new 8-foot fence replacing an older one.? Sequim planning director Dennis Lefevre said that the residents of the area have made it clear that the elk need direction out of urban places while still remaining a visible aspect of the area. Smith received an estimate of $1.2 million for the 8- to 10-mile fence. He said that the price could easily go up with a preferred route that has challenging topography or crossing public rights of way. Should a road intersect with the bypass where fencing is scheduled to go, a large cattle guard-like fence would need to be installed to continue that right of way. The next Dungeness Elk Working Team meeting is scheduled for March 21, where the fencing route alternatives are scheduled to be presented. Options for elk fencing route: - Department of Natural Resources - Far from public visibility - Poor foraging area - Maintenance is pricy - U.S. Highway 101 - Possible state contribution - Established right of way - Cross streets become expensive - Bonneville Power Admin. lines - Easement crosses private land - Areas far from public visibility - Hybrid route - Takes best aspects of each - Allows compromise |
|
