Need a few volunteers for a Saturday of work on the trail. This is really important in our efforts to get a long-term program of flows for the Sultan River.

We can all go paddle after we put in a few hours--was hoping to do this in August but the Forest Service wants our help with the trail now.

American Whitewater has scheduled a work party with Washington Trails Association for Saturday June 19 from 8:30-3:00 to work on the Sultan River trail into the gorge on the Upper Sultan. Please respond to info@americanwhitewater.org if you can make it.

Details here:

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Article/view/articleid/30748/display/full/


Edited by James - 02 Jun 2010 at 9:09pm

I am just throwing a guess out there, but the general theme of this work party seems like trail repair for over usage of the trail that the miner made. I personally doubt that it was over usage in the sense of too many paddlers, more like over usage in the sense of not just the miner. The trail from my memory is going to need gravel and or some type of drainage design. We were sloggin through knee deep mud at times out there so my thought is bring a shovel and a pick !!!

What is also interesting is that the first email which went out made it sound like future flows were contingent upon paddlers repairing and maintaining this trail system. Although that sounds reasonable to me a few folks that I have spoken with don't seem to agree.



Edited by James - 02 Jun 2010 at 9:39am

First of thanks to those who have stepped up!

Theme of the day is to repair a couple of the worst spots on the miner trail. PUD stepped up with some materials, WTA has offered to help coordinate, and USFS has asked for our help. We need to answer the call on this one. The plan is to develop a new trail (USFS has been doing some recon on the route) but they've asked us to help with some repairs on the old trail before they start. Future flows are not entirely contingent on a good volunteer turnout but it will definitely help our cause--i.e. USFS is facing challenging management issues and we enhance our standing by being part of the solution.

If anyone has further questions or concerns please drop me a line.

BTW--Sultan watch for this weekend.

Right now (6 PM on Wednesday), the reservoir is at 1448.5' and the South Fork is flowing at around 900 cfs which puts total inflow into Spada at 4,000 cfs.  It's unlikely the utility will be able to keep ahead of that and Friday's forecast is for rain--in other words it's likely the project will spill (occurs at 1450'). Worth watching for a potential opportunity.