Spada Lake. Static
Point lies off frame, to the right.
Photo Mountlake
Terrace web page.
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Summary:
A year ago, we feared that the road leading to the turnoff for Static Point was going to
be closed for a lack of funding. This was proposed by the Washington State Department of
Natural Resouces (DNR). However, as of Spring 2009 we are told that the Snohomish PUD plans to
maintain at least part of what is called the "South Shore Road" and access to Spada Reservoir.
The approach hike to Static Point may remain little further than it has been in recent memory.
FERC Relicensing Process:
The climbing area known as Static Point is approached via roads that serve Spada Lake, the reservoir
behind the Culmback Dam in an area known as the Sultan Basin. The dam is part of the Henry M. Jackson
hydroelectric project which is licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory COmmission (FERC). The
Snohomish County Public Utilities District (Snohomish PUD) operates the hydroelectric project and
federal Regulations require that they provide some degree of recreational access as "mitigation" for
the impacts of the dam. The PUD is currently engaged in a relicensing process and the new license
will last 50 years so it may a very long time before the public has an opportunity to provide input
in a planning effort of this scale; the time is now for climbers, hikers, and others with a
recreational interest in the area to get involved.
In the Fall of 2007 Mark Hanna and I attended a workshop to learn more about the
various interests at stake, and there we met representatives of the PUD, the City of Everett,
the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources, U.S. National Forest Service,
and user groups including whitewater enthusiasts, mountain bikers, and miners. Much of the
discussion that day dealt with roadway access in the area, and many present expressed interest in
maintaining public recreational use in and around Spada Resevoir. We also visited the reservoir
with land managers and looked at a closed road that used to provide easier access for kayakers and
the DNR representative showed us where they proposed to close the South Shore road.
DNR Management at Static Point:
Several land mangers are involved in discussions related to surrounding areas but the Static Point
crag itself stands on land managed by DNR. The primary mission for DNR with repsect to most of the
land they manage is to operate a timber harvest which is to support public schools in the State
of Washington. The lands managed for this purpose are termed "trust lands." However, DNR also
has preservation and recreation programs and they specifically set aside small portions of
their holdings for greater preservation status as Natural Resource Conservation Areas (NRCA's) and
Natural Area Preserves (NAP's). At least two active Washington climbing areas are found
within NRCA's but climbing is not allowed in a CAP. Static Point lies on or near the
boundary of a present NRCA which is going to be expanded and merged with nearby areas
so the crag will lie fully within the new NRCA.
At the 2007 Workshop, one DNR land manager reported that the South Shore Road which provides access
to Static Point needed upgrades to comply with modern environmental regulations and he said this was
going to drive them to close that road back at Olney Pass or shortly beyond because the cost of these
upgrades was out of their budget. He also reminded everybody in the room, at least twice, that the
DNR "didn't have to" provide any public access and he argued that by closing the South Shore Road
the public would gain "enhanced" recreational opportunities in the area because former day hikes to
Greider Lakes would be replaced by an overnight trip with greater opportunities for solitude.
If the South Shore Road were closed, this would mean an additonal two or three miles' hike to
reach Static Point. This was disheartening, but in addition to this the DNR representative
acknowledged that they had to provide access to Spada Lake and, in order to provide boater access,
he said they were proposing to reopen an old road to an alternative boat launch site - a
road that has been abandoned for nearly 50 years and which has almost disappeared. I'm not a
timber manager or environmental expert, but it looked to me like the process of reopening
that road would likely be more intrusive than simply maintaining the existing road.
South Shore Road to be Maintained by PUD:
Climbers reach the trailhead for Static Point via two or three few miles of the road known as the
"South Shore Road" at Spada Reservoir. Years ago, there was a road up the South Fork of the
Sultan River, passing right beneath Static Point. DNR has been removing this road, however, and
for the last ten years only about a quarter mile of it remained. That spur is now gone or
nearly gone as well so climbers have to walk from the South Shore Road, a hike of nearly an
hour to reach Static Point. The South Shore Road was in the past operated by DNR and the Forest and
while it was noted above that DNR proposed to close the road, the PUD now proposes to keep it
and take over maintenance. We hope that they are able to do this because we believe that the area
offers outstanding recreational opportunities and Static Point is only one of them.
Our present optimism is based on a 12/31/2008 "Preliminary Licensing Proposal" that is available
over the Internet.
PDF File. In particular, see section 5.7.3.1.1 and you will find this on page 224:
As described in Section 5.7.2.2, the DNR intends to abandon the South Shore Road and convert
it to a pedestrian trail from Olney Pass to the east. Since the stakeholders would like the
District to retain vehicular access to some of its developed recreation sites along the southern
shoreline of Spada Lake, it proposed to take over road maintenance from Olney Pass to the South
Shore Recreation site. This multi–use (both the District and the DNR) 5.2-mile-long road segment
would be maintained by the District under an off-license agreement with the DNR. This action would
allow continued vehicular access to both the District’s South Fork and South Shore recreation sites,
as well as to the DNR’s South Shore Road and trailhead. The DNR’s planned trail along the South
Shore Road would provide the public with pedestrian only access.
The Washington Climber's Coalition supports the continued access to the south shore of the Spada
Resevoir as proposed here.
-Matt Perkins
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