Just in time for the holidays.

starcrafttom · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2017 7:09 pm Post subject: Just in time for the holidays.

If the Washington State Legislature does not pass a 2017-19 state Operating Budget by June 30, state parks will close July 1, as part of a state government shutdown.
We’re hoping for the best and remain optimistic that a shutdown won’t happen. Still, we have to plan for the worst – that parks would be closed, and your plans for a visit or campout would be interrupted.
What to do? We encourage you to keep your camping reservation in place, and if parks remain open, you’ll be good to go and enjoy your trip. If parks are closed, campers will be fully reimbursed for any camping nights lost.
How will you know if parks are open? We’ll do our best to keep you updated here—or check our homepage: www.parks.state.wa.us.

so if they dont get it done we will not be able to launch at cornet bay .

starcrafttom · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2017 7:16 pm Post subject:

After thinking about this a while I see that its a more wide spread problem for boater. All of the docks and buoys in the San Juans are ran by the parks department. So can you tie up at say , Jones island?? If they are not getting paid are the rangers going to show up to threw us out? All the camp grounds will be have closed gates but how do you close a dock??

Salmon Fisher · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2017 8:43 pm Post subject:

I would think the buoys and docks would be open, but they might have a way to "Lock" them. I"m sure they would lock the composting toilets, which is what we use most of the time so we minimize need to pump out. I'm sure water would be turned off, too, which would also impact us.
Other than that, we would anchor out and use the islands as normal.
Hope the Legislature gets their act together so as not to impact the holiday for the folks who use the parks.

johnr · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2017 9:56 pm Post subject:

According to Virginia Painter, the Communications Director for Washington State Parks, it's not technically illegal to visit a State Park in the event of a Government Shutdown. Access by car will be blocked (I imagine that gates will be closed) and I don't know what would happen with the docks and mooring buoys.

smckean (Tosca) · Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2017 8:03 pm Post subject:

The lastest I've heard is that there is no signed deal yet.....but one is likely.

The big deal to me is that all the fisheries will shut down without a deal.....no shrimping for example. I can always anchor, but I want to fish!

Brewkid · Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2017 11:08 pm Post subject:

Happy 4th,
WDFW website-
Lawmakers passed the state budget and avoided a government shutdown. This means there will be no interruption of fishing seasons or in services provided by WDFW.

Enjoy your fishing, I know I will!

John
Scallywag.