Frenchman Coulee (Vantage) Area Management Plan - Comments Needed!

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is taking comments on their new "Columbia Basin Wildlife Area Management Plan" that has direct implications to the climbing and camping at Frenchman's Coulee and other nearby locals.

Specifically they are considering: 

• "Management of rock and ice climbing to protect birds of prey" 
• "Development of trails plan for Quincy Lakes" (Ancient Lakes Coulee and Frenchman's) 
• "Development of a campground at Frenchman's Coulee"

And many other topics that relate more to other user-groups and habitat enhancement / management

Here is the actual draft plan 
& 

Here is a workbook type deal that asks questions and "guides the public through the draft plan" 

Email comments to SEPADesk2@dfw.wa.gov by Nov 17! 

Hello WDFW Review Board,

Thank you for taking the time to review historic and emerging recreational activities within the broad Columbia Basin Management Area (among many other priorities)! 

I am fully on board with a campground in the Frenchman Coulee area and encourage the capacity and diversity of sites to be thoroughly considered. Camping in the Frenchman area is used by rock climbers, hikers, and increasingly concert-goers from the Gorge Amphitheater. If the campground is too small - it will fill up quickly every weekend and lead to folks spilling over and camping outside the designated areas. If all sites are reservable online - the area will fill up months in advance of every show at the Gorge (in addition to winter weekends). I’d encourage a diversity of available sites from walk-ins, reservable, RV only, Bike-only and short hike in (can not drive to site - must walk in a short distance). This will ensure that there is space for the broad diversity of users of the Frenchman Coulee. 

Secondly, Rock Climbing has been a historically accepted activity within the Quincy Lakes District for over 70 years and I see no reason for there to be a deviation from that precedent. Cliff-nesting raptors are a huge concern and of course, the impact climbers have on these birds should be thoroughly studied! I would encourage specific, granular seasonal closures and research of nesting sites. Collaboration with the Washington Climbing Coalition and the Access Fund would be a great partnership. As both Orgs have a long history of encouraging and respecting evidence-based and specific raptor nesting closures. Climbers and hikers can also be a valuable asset to survey and record the locations and nests of raptors, as has been demonstrated by the North Cascade National Park Complex Climbing Management Plan near Newhalem.  Lastly, survey and remediation of social trails used by hikers and climbers would also be an amazing improvement for the area! 

As climbing grows in popularity, so does its potential to educate users of fragile environments / species and appreciate these open wildlife spaces. Like hunting and fishing - the potential for corporate sponsorship / funding abounds, and large projects are possible (look at the two bathrooms at Frenchman Coulee for example!).

I would love to speak with you all further on the importance and appreciation we have for these valuable rock climbing recreational resources that we return to time and time again. I believe Climbers care for these spaces and maintain them (perhaps) more than other user groups, as we return regularly and see the impact of any increased use. 

I appreciate you all reviewing this plan and fully recognize how many stakeholders and priorities you all juggle. Keep up the great work! 

Here's my email for some potential talking points...   Would love to hear some other's thoughts / feedback! 

Thank you Nathan for bringing this to attention of the climbing community.

I've read through the draft plan and attempted to summarize what is relevant to Frenchman Coulee:

• Recreation (p51)
  • Providing recreation is one of the primary management objectives of the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area, along with managing habitat for wildlife.
• Volunteering and stewardship (p56)
  • The Columbia Basin Wildlife Area has benefited from long-term participation of a few groups and individuals who volunteer on a variety of projects to support the agency's conservation and recreation objectives.
  • An objective of this plan is to strengthen and continue to expand these partnerships and uncover more opportunities for interested parties to volunteer.
• Goal 3. Achieve species diversity at levels consistent with healthy ecosystems. (p62)
  
  • 3J. Reduce the impact of rock climbing on nesting raptors by actively managing rock climbing.
    • Consult with climbers on routes.
    • Identify currently used climbing areas.
    • Identify nesting sites to protect.
    • Designate open/closed areas to climbing.
    • Survey for cultural resources
    • Support designations with land use rules.
    • Plan in advance for cultural resources review for activities that disturb ground.
• Goal 4. Enhance recreational experience through site development. (p64-65, p102)
  • 4B. Continue to improve recreational experience, user expectations, and support of the wildlife area by providing information such as on the web, at kiosks, in maps, brochures, and directional signage.
  • 4D. Develop designated trail networks in high use areas, and decommission some user-built trails.
  • 4E. Develop a Campground at Frenchman's Coulee. (Consider climate change impacts when locating and designing the facility.)
    • Identify grant programs and other sources of funding for campground development (possibly Title 28--if on BOR land).
    • Partner with climbing and other groups interested in the campground.
    • Conduct cultural resource survey in advance of campground development.
    • Plan in advance for cultural resources review for activities that disturb ground.

Hopefully this ends up with a) no increase in any kind of civilized campground facilities and b) us getting to climb at winter walk wall again.

Just got off the phone with Patricia. I voiced concern about development of a campground and she stated they want to keep it very primitive.

Please do email comments/concerns to the email in 1st post as these are part of the official record and taken into consideration.

• Camping
  • Concern is primarily environmental impact: Highly used / cars parked everywhere
  • They are not interested in turning it into a highly developed campground (no picnic tables)
  • I mentioned appreciating the primitive aspect and how camping out there on a weekday / summer it can be empty and feel special. She agreed with this sentiment
  • I mentioned appreciating being able to make last minute plans and not worry about finding a spot to camp
  • No fees for camping (I mentioned a climber's campground in CA that started free and is now charging $28/night)
  • WDFW manages Bureau of Reclamation lands
  • Dispersed camping is allowed on all WDFW lands
• Trails
  • Prevent damage to fragile shrub steppe environment
  • Create maps for established trails
• Raptor Nesting
  • This is mainly a concern for Banks Lake
  • They have had positive communications with Access Fund and found climbers to be respectful of closures
• Signage
  • This is a statewide goal for signage
  • Large undertaking and general concerns of vandalism, etc
• Other
  • They are managing 200,000 acres with a small staff. 1 person for the area / 1 regional
  • Chad is area manager and was out for the day
  • Rich is regional manager

^^^Nice!

To explain my previous point, Winter Walk Wall is the wall on the north side of Frenchman Coulee. It hosts some (6-7) spectacular sport climbs, like 140 feet tall and on great rock (entablature). Leland Windham FAs about 20 yrs ago, but Bill Robins went to the landowner with a story about lawsuits and reduced property value because of climbing accidents. (Even if it was a concern then we've passed a law here (HB something) so landowners can't be held liable for that sort of thing.) She gave Bill permission to chop the bolts, later Leland reestablished them but climbing was not permitted by the landowner. The land is hunting property with no residences and covers the mesa top plus the cliffs and the north half of Frenchman Coulee. In April the landowner passed away, and since the Grant county assessor doesn't know how to run a website I can't figure out who owns it now, but I would guess it's still up for sale.  

the wall is enormous, obviously, and in my evaluation holds enough potential to double the amount of sport climbs at the coulee. Literally. This is the perfect opportunity to convince the land managers to purchase it for the public so I encourage everyone to send an email with that in mind!

Just got off the phone with Patricia. I voiced concern about development of a campground and she stated they want to keep it very primitive.

Thanks for making the call Morgan and these are encouraging comments!

And Daniel, this does seem like a fairly logical acquisition for the WDFW if they have the funds to do so! I’ll write to them saying as much.