The Suiattle Road: why Boundary Bridge looks funny

By Kim Brown, Public Lands Intern

New Boundary bridge spanning the scoured channel. Photo by Gary Paull

The last Suiattle blog left us wondering about the delay to repair the Suiattle River Road. This article tells the story of one particularly unusual-looking bridge across the Suiattle and addresses one of the many factors in the repairs to the Suiattle River Road, the inclusion of the Suiattle in the  Skagit Wild & ScenicRiver system (WSR).  WSR  designation preserves the free-flowing attribute of selected rivers – these rivers will never be impounded. Congressional wisdom enacted WSR as a counter –balance to its various actions that allow dams and other constrictions on rivers.  

Constructed in 1959, the 240 foot-long Boundary Bridge spanned the entire river channel at milepost 9.9, where FS 25 shoots off the Suiattle River Road, providing access to the Circle Peak trail, Crystal and Meadow Lake trails, the Meadow Mountain traverse, and tribal lands. The 2003 floods widened the river corridor and shifted the river south, leaving the bridge 165 feet short, and the river flowing in front of it, instead of underneath it.

After the site was severely damaged in 2003, the Boundary Bridge repair work qualified for funds from the Emergency Repair for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO). Projects in the western region of Federal Highways that are funded by ERFO dollars are managed by the Federal Highways Western Lands Division (FHWA), who work with the land agency on those projects.

WSR designation often requires special road and bridge design to maintain the river’s free flow, water quality and other outstanding values, and Boundary Bridge was one such site.  ERFO dollars pay for “in-kind” repair, meaning putting things back the way they were. FHWA’s repair design included a the re-build of a new riverbank to close in the 165-foot gap left by the 2003 floods – putting back what Mother Nature had ripped out (that’s a lot of dirt!).  

The Forest Service did not agree with FHWA’s design, which had the potential to adversely impact anadromous fish habitat and impair the river’s free-flowing attribute. Then the November2006 floods shifted the dynamic river back to its original channel underneath the bridge,changing the repair site once again. In 2007, the project was put on hold and the excitement about the bridge repair fell silent.

In 2009, Peter Wagner, bridge engineer  for the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (see page 3 of the linked article), designed a bridge extension that addressed the WSR specifications by utilizing a lightweight material so that a pier was not necessary for support. Because the structural integrity of the original bridge was not compromised by the floods, the old bridge was incorporated into the new design. The 210-foot lightweight extension was “launched” from the end of the old bridge to the far bank, and then heavy equipment was driven across to finish the job. The lightweight material used for the extension means that we have an odd-looking bridge – part 1950s concrete, part new-age alloy with a high, criss-cross truss necessary for strength and balance.

The Boundary Bridge repair was completed in 2010, providing not only visual entertainment, but access to the south side of the Suiattle for the first time since 2003.

Next time you're in the neighborhood, take the Suiattle River Road to milepost 9.9, and check out this bridge! (oh, and for the "it had to happen" files:  there's a new washout on FS 25 at FS 2703. It's a nice drive across the Boundary Bridge - I like the way you sorta bounce onto the ramp at the new portion of the bridge)

Next up:  What's the deal with the fish and Downey Creek?!

Index-Galena Road Environmental Assessment

Index-Galena Road. Way cool Photo by Gil Aegerter

By Kim Brown, Public Lands intern

One of these days, the blog won't be about washed out roads! (but this isn't one of 'em)

It’s been five years (and counting) since we’ve driven the Index-Galena Road to Blanca Lake, N Fk Skykomish, Quartz Creek and West Cady Ridge trailheads. Sure, we can – and have – accessed these trailheads from the Beckler River Road, a much longer route since the road was severely damaged by the floods of November 2006. What we’ve missed is year-round access to a tremendous scenic drive, and summer camping at Troublesome Creek and San Juan Campgrounds.

Much of the Index-Galena Road, a county road built on a Forest Service easement, has already been repaired by Snohomish County, using Emergency Relief funds obtained by a grant from Federal Highways through its Highway Trust Fund.

In October, 2011, with just a half mile of repair studies and engineering left to do while working under a Categorical Exclusion (CE), Snohomish County and Federal Highways Administration (FHA) have decided to stop work and compile an Environmental Assessment (EA) before finishing.  EA’s and a CE’s are both accepted procedures under the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), both requiring in-depth environmental studies and designs appropriate for the various Federal and local policies in the project’s jurisdiction.   However, recent litigation regarding the use of a CE instead of an EA on another Federal project prompted this decision. 

An Environmental Assessment means that all environmental and engineering studies must be completed, a road design must be finished, and the results published in an EA for public review and a comment period before work can be done.

Snohomish County, Federal Highways, and the USFS hosted a public Open House on February 1^st to kick off the process. Termed “scoping,” this Open House and 30-day comment period will help the engineers finish the design. They’re not expecting slide-rule advice, but if you have concerns about any portion of the design, step up.  Likewise, this is a good time to express your support for the completion of the project.

When the NEPA process is complete, work should commence in 2014 or 2015 (see timeline here), depending upon the window of opportunity for work - that period of time construction is least likely to interrupt wildlife breeding habits, and when soils are dry enough that heavy equipment will do less harm (lookin’ for a good time? Wait for a blog about the ecosystem of soils!)

Check out the documents on Snohomish County’s website, which includes the current design of the road, sign up for email updates, and submit comments by February 29, 2012, encouraging the completion of the Index-Galena Road to  tina.hokanson@snoco.org.

A hiker’s orientation to the Suiattle River region

By Kim Brown, Public Lands Intern



Sulphur Mtn. fire lookout site and the true summit beyond

 A generation of hikers have never seen what lies beyond milepost 12.0 of the 23 mile-long Suiattle River Road – and many who have seen it, have missed out on all the Suiattle region has to offer since a series of washouts in 2003, 2006, and 2007 have steadily gnawed away at the road. An important portal to the west side of the Glacier Peak Wilderness Area, the Suiattle River Road, which runs along the Suiattle River northwest of Darrington, has been missed by many Northwesterners. Nearly a decade later, the road is still not repaired. To some, this blog post is a reminder to what we’ve been missing – to others, it’s a primer.

Initially a Native American route used for hunting and trading across the Glacier Peak region, then later a logging railroad grade, the present-day Suiattle Road was built in phases, completed around 1931. Generations of people have enjoyed the wild places of the Suiattle River, including renowned guidebook author and conservationist Harvey Manning, who received his advocacy epiphany high on the flanks of the mountains above the Suiattle River (see pg 62 of linked article).

Trails wind through old growth forests, popping out at high mountain lakes and meadow- laden ridges that lead to glaciers and thick walls of volcanic ash deposited by Glacier Peak, Washington’s most remote volcano. Destinations accessed by the Suiattle River Road include the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the Suiattle River Trail, Miner’s Ridge Fire Lookout, the Milk Creek trail, Lime Ridge, Sulphur Mountain trail, Bath Lakes High Route, Sulphur Hot Springs, Green Mountain Lookout, Huckleberry Mountain trail, Downey Creek trail, the Ptarmigan Traverse and Dome Peak. Popular drive-in campgrounds near the roads end include Sulphur Creek, Buck Creek and Downey Creek.

On October 21, 2003, nearly 10 inches of rain fell in the Suiattle watershed. Floodwaters swept away multiple bridges, including the 265 foot-long Skyline Bridge, as well as a steel -beam bridge that led to the Milk Creek trail, and Boundary Bridge, the automobile bridge that spanned the river at Forest Road 25.

The Suiattle Road suffered a washout at milepost 14.4, and further down the road, the river scoured the bank away from the foot of the Downey Creek Bridge. The Sulphur Creek Bridge at milepost 22.9 was also damaged. A helicopter rescued hikers caught on the wrong side of the damage, and later the Forest Service constructed a temporary ramp to get the trapped vehicle across Downey Creek.

Over the years, undaunted hikers constructed various styles of ladders to clamber onto the Downey Creek Bridge and beyond.

In 2006, more floods added damage to the ailing Suiattle Road. This flood was especially devastating, because now the road ends at milepost 12, making each trailhead that much farther away.

And so time goes by. In 2007, milepost 6.0 was severely damaged and the Forest Service built a temporary re-route. The Boundary Bridge was repaired in 2010, and a new bridge spanning the Suiattle at the PCT was completed in 2011, marking the official re-opening of the PCT on the west side of Glacier Peak, administratively closed since 2003.

So – What’s taking so long to fix the road? Stay tuned!

In the meantime, pull out your Green Trails maps and peruse 112 Glacier Peak, 79 Snowking, 80 Cascade Pass, and 144 Benchmark….

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Ross Lake National Rec Area's new Plan

By Kim Brown, Public Lands Intern

The turquoise of Ross Lake & green mosses and trees

Here’s more information to impress your friends with:  North Cascades National Park (NCNP) and Ross Lake National Recreation Area (Ross Lake NRA) are both managed by the National Parks Service (NPS), but the Park and the NRA are managed for different objectives.

The primary purpose of a NRA is to provide for outdoor recreation, rather than the focus of the National Park System on conservation and historic preservation. The management plan of an NRA is consistent with the management plan of its land manager, in this case, Ross Lake NRA is managed by North Cascades National Park. 

OK now for the business at hand: It's time to update the management guidance for Ross Lake NRA, which historically has been a part of the North Cascades National Park General Management Plan (GMP). The separate Ross Lake GMP will guide management of the Ross Lake NRA for the next 15-20 years.

NPS has completed the Environmental Impact Statement detailing the various Alternative management plans for Ross Lake NRA, the Preferred plan being Alternative B (see Chapter 4, Alternatives, at bottom of the page of this link ). The public comment period ends January 17.

Since the last GMP was implemented in 1988, campgrounds have been severely damaged by storms and visitation has increased, so a facelift is needed for Ross NRA.

Alternative B allows for the management of future storm damage with as little interruption to recreation as possible.  Visitors may have more front-country and better backcountry trails, more front- and backcountry campsites, better campground amenities, more educational opportunities and new viewpoints. Sport climbing in the gorge between Newhalem and Diablo will be better managed through four Climbing Management Areas.

Wild places will be kept wild, continued efforts for the preservation of grizzly bear habitat, and nearly 5,000 acres of previously proposed Wilderness at Big Beaver Natural Preservation Area and Thunder Creek will be officially added to the Stephen Mather Wilderness Area. Goodell and Newhalem Creeks and a portion of the Skagit will be recommended for Wild & Scenic River status.

With the new GMP, we may see an on-line reservation system for backpacking permits, which will benefit National Park visitors as well.  You’ll still have to pick up the permits in person, however. The last mile of the road to Thornton Lakes (within the Wilderness boundary), will be officially decommissioned and a better trailhead built.

A second water taxi for Ross Lake Resort will better serve backpackers and resort visitors, its footprint on the lake being tempered by more restrictions on types of motors allowed on the lake.

Currently a National Forest Byway and a Washington State Scenic Highway, the North Cascades Highway will be nominated as a designated National Scenic Byway.

An immediate change will be the name -- to better associate the Ross Lake NRA with North Cascades National Park, it will be re-named “North Cascades National Recreation Area.”

Ross Lake, the Skagit River, the Seattle City Light dams and the North Cascades Highway corridor compose a special destination for recreationists, and the proposed Alternative B for the GMP will continue to provide a range of opportunities at the re-named North Cascades NRA, while providing an appropriate gateway to the grandeur of North Cascades National Park.

 

State DNR to kick off recreation planning for the Snoqualmie corridor

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is planning for the future of recreation on 53,000 acres of state trust lands, natural areas, and other lands managed by DNR along the Snoqualmie corridor in eastern King County. DNR is inviting the public to an open house on January 18 in the City of Snoqualmie to kick off the planning process and get feedback from citizens.

Who: DNR Recreation Program

What: Snoqualmie Corridor Recreation Plan Open House

When: 7 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Where: Snoqualmie Middle School, Commons Room
9200 Railroad Ave. S.E.
Snoqualmie, WA 98065
Directions

Why: The Snoqualmie corridor, located in eastern King County,
offers tremendous opportunities for outdoor recreation near the ever-growing Seattle metropolitan area. In the past 20 years, DNR has increased the amount of land it manages in the corridor. Some are state trust lands-working forests; other lands form the largest network of natural areas in the state. As a major provider of recreation opportunities in this landscape, DNR understands the need for a comprehensive and strategic approach to recreation management.

Meeting Format: The first part of the open house will be a brief presentation by DNR staff on the planning process. Following the introductory presentation, the public will have the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas about recreation in a "listening station" format.

Snoqualmie corridor planning area
The 53,000-acre planning area includes two newer DNR-managed properties:
the Raging River State Forest, purchased in 2009 to replace state trust lands previously transferred out of trust status, and the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA), which was designated in 2009 by Peter Goldmark, Commissioner of Public Lands.

While the main focus of this effort is to develop recreation management plans for Raging River and Middle Fork Snoqualmie, the planning process also involves DNR-managed lands with existing management plans, such as Tiger Mountain State Forest, West Tiger Mountain NRCA, Mount Si NRCA, and Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area.

The corridor also includes recreation lands managed by federal, state, and local entities. Although planning will not include activities on those lands, this strategic planning process will look at ways to improve coordination with managers of many of these lands.

During the last few months, DNR has been gathering information related to recreation in the Snoqualmie corridor. This information will help to guide planning for future recreation opportunities. In addition to the open house, the public will have numerous other ways to be involved throughout this process.

More information about the Snoqualmie Corridor Recreation Plan.