Field reports: Sportsmen-related bills introduced in Olympia

LEGISLATURE –Here’s a sampling of legislation of interest to sportsmen that’s been introduced in the Washington Legislature.

• SB 5201 and companion HB 1248, regarding issues that impact the Department of Fish and Wildlife, include a variety of measures, such as increasing the penalty to $2,000 for poaching eagles, swans, loons and other protected wildlife.  The bill also would prohibit feeding bears, cougars and wolves.

• HB 1124 and companion SB 5356, would extend the current pilot project to allow hound hunting for northern tier counties from Chelan across to Pend Oreille. It’s being opposed by groups such as the Humane Society of the United States. 

• SB 5112 eases restrictions on firearm noise suppressors.

•  HB 1095, regarding payments in lieu of taxes for lands managed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

• HB 1387 and companion SB 5385, would increase most hunting and fishing license fees, although a few would be decreased.

• Measures are still being worked out for merging the Fish and Wildlife Department with Parks and Recreation and other agencies as proposed by the governor.

Rich Landers

Sierra Club honors Spokane omni-outdoorsman

CONSERVATION – A Spokane man who’s woven conservation into far-ranging outdoor interests is being honored by the local Sierra Club and the Spokane-based Center for Environmental Law and Policy as their 2010 Watershed Hero.

Richard Rivers was an avid archery elk hunter in 1990 as well as co-chair of the Spokane Audubon Society and helping lead a legal appeal that eventually led to the end of livestock grazing on the Little Pend Oreille Wildlife Refuge.

The retired physician is a die-hard fisherman who has volunteered hundreds of hours to conduct birding surveys for agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and transporting captured sage grouse for relocation in Lincoln County.

He is a backcountry skier, backpacker and mountain biker who served on The Lands Council as well as hunting and fishing groups. For decades, he’s been a familiar sight at policy-making meetings ranging from sustainable forestry to water quality.

Rivers will be honored at the groups’ annual Winter Waters fund-raising banquet starting 7 p.m., Feb. 12, at Patsy Clark Mansion, 2208 W. 2nd Ave.

Tickets: $25. Contact: Jenifer Priest (509) 209-2899, jpriest@celp.org.

Rich Landers

River access improvements planned at Barker Bridge

SPOKANE RIVER – City of Spokane Valley officials pledged to improve the boater access to the Spokane River at the site of the new Barker Road bridge during a meeting with citizens and other agency representatives on Tuesday.

“The work will begin in March,” said Terry Miller of the Spokane Canoe & Kayak Club. He was one of several people at the meeting of groups involved in overseeing the construction project.

Also at the meeting with city engineers were representatives from agencies such as Department of Ecology and state parks.

“They plan to hire contractors to knock down the hill, remove about 100 cubic yards of material and flatten the area and then come in to landscape a trail down to the beach,” Miller said.

They also plan to move barriers back about 20 feet so a vehicle can more easily back a raft or other light craft closer to the river, Miller said.

The $11 million project has been criticized for fouling the river with erosion and reducing rather than improving the critical access it has provided for paddlers and anglers.

Rich Landers