Hunter Farms Fishing Camp on the Skok to be shut down

[shawn]

Fishing Camp Along Skokomish River to Be Closed Down
By Christopher Dunagan (Contact)
Tuesday, September 1, 2009


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SKOKOMISH RIVER

Hunter Farms, which owns property along the Skokomish River, has been given until the end of September to close down a makeshift fishing camp that has generated public complaints.

The company was found to be operating an unpermitted RV campsite, according to Christine Clark, a code-enforcement planner with the Mason County Department of Community Development.

Clark said the enforcement action is not directly related to recent concerns about sanitary conditions along the Skokomish River, including Hunter Farms’ property. It is normal to allow a month for compliance, she said.

Any more than two recreational vehicles on a site is considered a “mobile home and recreational vehicle park” under Mason County’s zoning code, Clark said. On Aug. 19 and Aug. 21, she noticed between 20 and 50 RVs camped along the river, she said. On Aug. 24, she sent the letter.

Bill “J.R.” Hunter Jr. said his family-owned business would comply with the order then work with county officials to find a way to allow the camping next summer.

Hunter said he does not consider the site an RV park. It is rather a “fish camp,” which typically does not need a permit, he said. “It is no different from people going out in their RVs and camping out in the woods for a weekend,” he noted.

Last week, the Washington State Department of Health closed commercial shellfish beds in Annas Bay at the mouth of the river. The reason for the closure was the discovery of human excrement in bushes where people were fishing along the river, officials said.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife added portable toilets along Highway 106, and Hunter Farms increased the number of toilets in the fish camp.

Hunter said most people in the camp used facilities in their RVs or the portable toilets. He said he saw little or no evidence of human waste during a walk around the property.

Scott Grout, who leases some of the shellfish beds closed by state officials, said the situation has improved since last week, but the number of people fishing still raises concerns. Grout said Hunter Farms has been given too much time to shut down its camping facilities.

Dave Herrera of the Skokomish Tribe, which also was blocked from harvesting shellfish, said tribal officials are waiting for an answer to a letter sent by Tribal Council Chairman Charles “Guy” Miller. In the letter, Miller demanded that Fish and Wildlife shut down the fishing and find a way to clean up the human waste.

Herrera said he finds it frustrating that Hunter Farms was allowed to operate until Sept. 30, at which time most of the fishing will be over.

State Department of Health officials say they can’t tell when conditions will allow shellfish harvests to resume.

For a discussion about water-related issues, check out the blog Watching Our Water Ways at kitsapsun.com.

[jens]

Thanks for the info. I went there for the first time several weeks ago and was wondering how these lucky people get to park so close to the river. Pay $75.00 and you can.