American Whitewater’s Goals

• Access at the traditional Sunset Falls put-in owned by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)
• A cooperative working relationship with WDFW to prevent future conflicts throughout the state.

THE RIVER

• The Washington State legislature designated the Skykomish the first river in Washington’s State Scenic Rivers System (RCW 79.72). This recognition protects and preserves rivers possessing outstanding natural, scenic, historic, ecological, and recreational values.

• The peak paddling season on the Skykomish begins with fall rains (late October) and continues through spring snowmelt (early July) although year-round boating is often possible.

• The reach of river from Sunset Falls to Railroad Bridge, or on to Big Eddy, is the region’s “backyard” run serving thousands of paddlers who have easy access from the major metropolitan area of Seattle-Everett, Washington. It is an internationally known classic whitewater run, featured in the books World Whitewater and 50 Classic Whitewater Runs of North America.

• Local paddling clubs use this section of river for instruction and for many of the region’s paddlers; this run is their first introduction to intermediate whitewater.

• The Skykomish River provides recreational opportunities for several thousand users year-round from across the country and around the world. A 1990 study by Washington State Parks, estimates 10-15,000 users per year. and these users make a significant economic contribution to businesses along State Highway 2, especially in Monroe, Sultan, and Goldbar. Furthermore, the participation in whitewater paddling and fishing has tripled according to a 1998 Outdoor Recreation report.

THE PROBLEM

• Sunset Falls was used as an informal access point for whitewater paddlers for over 50 years. In August 2000, WDFW suddenly began enforcing year-round closure of the area to the public, including paddlers.

• The Sunset Falls property was not developed as a public access area. It is located on a small parcel of public land that WDFW manages as a limited entry site to authorized personnel for the trapping and hauling of fish. The facility is in operation from early August to early December with a peak activity in early October. In the past, those managing the facility allowed paddlers to walk down the road and put-in below the falls. WDFW formally closed the falls to the public in August 2000.

• WDFW now states that they must enforce the closure to protect employee safety as well as public safety. Department staff cited conflicts with paddler vehicles along the narrow access road (especially parking below the locked gate when it was left open) and near misses with paddlers and/or their vehicles with the loaded fish trucks traveling up the road, as reasons for the closure.

THE SOLUTION

• American Whitewater and representatives from local paddling clubs have participated in meetings with WDFW, State Parks, US Forest Service, property owners, and local land trusts. Discussions with some of these groups are ongoing and will continue.

• Options may include allowing paddlers to build a trail along the road so paddlers aren’t in the way of fish trucks, working out an agreement with the local paddling clubs where paddlers pay for, post and maintain signs and ensure paddlers don’t park below the gate, whether it’s locked or not, and instituting the closure only when the fish trap and haul facility is in operation, rather than year-round. Access on the south side of the river has also been explored.

Please contact us if you have additional ideas or would like to assist.