Bureau releases draft regarding possible Geezer Beach restriction

Of 34 comments, 33 from locals oppose it

 

Last updated 5/8/2019 at 2:09pm



Locals overwhelmingly oppose a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation proposal to ban cars from driving on “Geezer Beach,” a beach named after the elderly who frequent the spot because of its easy accessibility.

The issue is a hot topic among locals passionate about the popular fishing spot behind the Third Powerhouse of the Grand Coulee Dam.

The bureau released its “Draft Environmental Assessment” in April, outlining options of leaving the situation alone, blocking vehicles from the shore, or simply banning recreation in the area altogether.

“The purpose of the proposed action is to address safety concerns related to driving and/or parking vehicles on the shoreline or reservoir within the Reclamation Zone adjacent to Grand Coulee Dam,” the draft EA states. “Over time, Reclamation has observed cars, trucks, and recreational vehicles parked in the reservoir during drawdown, on Federally owned and Reclamation-managed land within the Reclamation Zone. Driving and parking on the drawdown can present a public safety risk to drivers and others, as these vehicles can become stuck, roll into the reservoir, or become abandoned.”

The bureau took comments on the proposal late last year, and residents responded overwhelmingly against the idea of banning cars from the beach. The draft EA includes the comments, 34 in total.

Many of the comments came from fishermen who said that, because of being elderly or disabled, the ability to drive onto the beach is important to them. They asked that the bureau not restrict access.

Many of the comments said that vehicles rolling into the reservoir simply isn’t an issue.

“To the best of my knowledge, there is no record of any privately operated vehicles that have ‘become stuck, roll into the reservoir or become abandoned,’ while people were fishing during the spring drawdown,” Fred Netzel wrote in a comment to the bureau.

“I do not recall an incident actually occurring in that area,” wrote Gary Esmond, who also mentioned he is retired after working for the USBR. “I can find no justification for the paranoia which apparently caused these changes to be considered. More actual incident reports (facts) are needed for any changes to be implemented.”

“A lot of things that CAN happen — DON’T,” wrote James and Alice Frost. “We have not been aware of any of the problems you suggest.”

“There is a certain amount of risk associated in every activity,” wrote Mark Igo. “The risk of NOT getting out and going to Geezer Beach would likely mean sitting home watching t.v., leading to an earlier death due to a sedentary lifestyle and related depression. From my observation, statistically it is far more dangerous to drive from Coulee Dam to Safeway than it is to spend a morning ‘pickup fishing’ at Geezer Beach.”

Other comments noted that people are respectful of the beach, and clean up litter.

USBR Public Affairs Specialist Lynne Brougher said earlier in the year that the idea of banning cars from the beach started when the bureau received a request from the Colville Tribes to address the issue.

“This is a concern for both protection of cultural resources, and protection of water quality,” said Colville Tribes’ Natural Resources Director Cody Desautel in an email to The Star last year. “Driving on the drawdown is restricted everywhere on Lake Roosevelt, and for some reason it hasn’t been enforced on Geezer Beach. This is a highly visible bad example that sets bad precedent, and causes enforcement issues in areas other than Geezer Beach.”

The one comment included in the EA that is in support of the change came from Dan Foster, superintendent for the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area.

“Not enforcing this restriction at Geezer Beach sets an unacceptable example for visitors and shows a lack of consistency for management of the entire area,” Foster wrote.

Greg Behrens, who worked for the bureau and was involved in many geological aspects of the dam, including studying shorelines, the effects of drawdowns, and archaeology concerns, noted that the area has already been highly disturbed during construction of the dam, negating Desautel’s concern for cultural resources.

Behrens further noted that “there are much greater amounts of sand/silt entering the lake through kids building sand castles on the many beaches,” negating concerns about effects driving on the beach would have on water quality.

Cody Leonard offered another tribal perspective.

“My family are all descendants of the SanPoil tribe,” she wrote, “and this is also our fishing waters. I ask that you don’t take away the little bit that we have left to fish on.”

The bureau is still collecting comments on the idea.

Those wanting to do so may send written comments to Lon Ottosen, Natural Resource Specialist, Bureau of Reclamation, Grand Coulee Power Office, PO Box 620, Grand Coulee, WA 99133, or by email at lottosen@usbr.gov, no later than May 20.

The draft EA is also available at https://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ea/wash/geezerbeach/index.html.

For a printed copy, contact Brougher at lbrougher@usbr.gov.

 

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