Field reports: REI helps fund state park staffer

PARKS – Recreational Equipment Inc., has awarded $10,000 to Riverside State Park Foundation to help fund a new volunteer coordinator position at the Spokane-based park.

Jake Graham has been hired to help organize helpers to maintain the park despite the agency’s budget crisis.

REI went a step further. Carol Christiansen, community outreach coordinator, said the store has signed up dozens of volunteers for park work projects.

The Riverside State Park Foundation, is a volunteer nonprofit group. New members are welcome. Info: riversidestatepark.org.

• Volunteer for park projects by calling park headquarters, 465-5064 or email riverside@parks.wa.gov.

Landslides, washouts block mountain roads

ACCESS – Recreationists headed for the higher mountains are encountering issues in some areas with landslides and washouts from this year’s rain-charged spring and summer runoff.

Here’s a sampling:

• Hikers headed to Iron Mountain area east of Bonners Ferry must walk an extra half-mile to the trailhead because of a washout on Boulder Creek Road. The washout and lingering snow have kept trail crews away.

• Glacier National Park’s Going to the Sun Road was blocked for three days last week after a dozen or so mudslides buried the road.

Fish Lake proposed for rotenone rehab

FISHING – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Department is proposing to treat Fish Lake in Spokane County, Little Beaver Lake in Okanogan County and Burke Lake in Grant County this fall to remove species ranging from brown bullhead to northern pike.

Trout populations would be restored after removing competing species that have taken over, said Bruce Bolding, agency fish manager.

A public meeting on the proposal is set for Thursday , 7 p.m., at the WDFW Region 1 Office, 2315 N. Discovery Place in Spokane Valley.

Forest Capital sells timberland in region

FORESTS – Forest Capital Partners, which has a regional office in Colville, has sold its 1.88 million-acre timberland portfolio to Hancock Timber Resource Group and Molpus Woodlands Group.

FCP, with headquarters in Portland and Boston, paid $1.65 billion for the timberland in a 2005 deal with Boise-Cascade. Selling price isn’t available.

“We will continue current practice for public access,” said Brian Carmichael, Hancock spokesman. “We have no plans for changes at Colville office.”

Hancock is acquiring 138,000 acres in Idaho, 264,000 in Washington, 573,000 in Oregon and 376,000 in Louisiana.

Molpus is buying 138,000 acres in Idaho, 286,000 in Minnesota and 110,000 in Louisiana.

Hardy Kruse dies

FISHING – Hardy Kruse of Spokane, who ran one of Spokane’s first fishing shops with a special corner for fly fishers, died last Sunday. He was 85.

Kruse ran The Sport Cove at Two Swabbies in Spokane Valley for 30 years before closing 10 years ago.