Fudge Point State Park: Parks and Recreation Adds 48 acres to 136 and Approves Classification and Management Plan

Fudge Point State Park, Harstine Island

Almost Complete



 

Upland acquisition of lands for Fudge Point State Park complete

The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board has awarded $368,750 to acquire an additional 48 acres of uplands on Harstine Island. This acquisition will bring almost all uplands and tidelands under the Parks and Recreation ownership, creating an upland State Park of over 180 acres with access to almost 3,700 feet of waterfront in south Puget Sound on the eastern shoreline of Harstine Island. Views of Mount Ranier to the south and the Olympics to the north are spectacular. Fresh water ouflows from upland wetlands creates a unique transitional habitat to experience. Upland camping facilities will provide overnight experiences in the quiet of an isolated area. While an existing geoduck farm exists within the lower tidelands of the lagoon area, it is unlikely to present a problem for access from the water. 

 

Fudge Point State Park Lagoon

April 19, 2011 (looking south)

(before Taylor Shellfish geoduck farm)

 

 

Access for all the public to Washington's marine habitat and unique upland areas on Harstine Island comes closer to reality

July 22 the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously approved the land classification and management plan for Fudge Point State Park. An attempt to pass an amendment which would have removed overnight camping and cabins from the plan was rejected by a 6 to 1 vote. Parks and Recreation will now be able to begin work on improving access roads, developing outdoor camping spots and cabins for overnight use, parking facilities for day use, interpretive centers, and restroom facilities (see the July 2015 Final Recommendation here). For complete planning, steps taken and history, visit the Fudge Point Planning site here.

 

Long term development pland

of Fudge Point State Park

 

 

Get involved. Great things can happen when you are.

 

 

 

 

January 28: Fudge Point State Park Public Hearing - Help create a marine park for everyone.

Get involved in what future generations have access to.

Wednesday, January 28

6:30 to 8:30 p.m

Harstine Community Hall

3371 E. Harstine Island Rd. N., Harstine Island

Submit Comments by Clicking Here (reference "Fudge Point State Park")

 

Fudge Point State Park: Providing 

access to Puget Sound's shorelines for everyone.

One of the last undeveloped pieces of shoreline

and upland areas available for the public to enjoy.*

Washington State Parks has scheduled a public meeting on Harstine Island to discuss the future development of Fudge Point State Park. A series of land acquisitions has created what can become one of the greatest state parks in Washington, providing access to the uplands and shorelines of Puget Sound for everyone. Anyone who believes access to south Puget Sound should be an experience made available to everyone should become involved.

Looking east to Mount Ranier and north

from the shoreline of Fudge Point State Park.

Included within Fudge Point State Park are over 3,200 feet of Puget Sound's shoreline, one of the last shorelines in south Puget Sound of this size which the public will have access to. The views from the shoreline are spectacular, with Mt. Ranier to the east and the Olympics to the north. A fresh water outflow from the upland area has created both a marsh and a delta area over which the tide ebbs and flows, exposing a diversity of life unique to south Puget Sound, including a working geoduck farm.

A freshwater outflow from the upland area.

 

 

As proposed, the shoreline area would remain undeveloped in order to retain the sensitive ecological functions of the wetland marsh area and intertidal area. Both are areas where fresh and salt water mix, resulting in a unique habitat supporting both upland, fresh and salt water species. It is one of the few such areas which remains undeveloped and able to be experienced by the public.

 

Fudge Point State Park: Current

and future ownership.

 

 

 

Additional information about Fudge Point State Park may be found by clicking here. Also found on are comments which have already been submitted which focus primarily on infrastructure concerns (roads and the bridge to Harstine Island) and shellfish companies being worried about poaching on tidelands adjacent to the state park owned lands. The latter has had proposals for exchanging privately owned tidelands for state owned tidelands elsewhere, an easy resolution to the concern. Infrastructure concerns are met by increased revenues generated by visitors which both help to increase the economic activity of the local economy, and perhaps more importantly, to help diversify the economic drivers within the local economy, something Mason County would be helped by. Some of the remaining comments express a desire to retain the natural character of the shoreline so future generations are able to experience an undeveloped stretch of shoreline habitat, and a desire retain the currently rural environment experienced by the local residents. Finally, the types of overnight camping facilities are also commented on.

 

Take the opportunity to help create what can become one of the great shoreline experiences for future generations. Get involved. Many others are.

For additional  questions contact:
Michael Hankinson, Parks Planner
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
PO Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504-2650
Phone (360) 902-8671 FAX (360) 586-0207
email: michael.hankinson@parks.wa.gov

*Currently, Taylor Shellfish has a geoduck farm in the tideland area below mean low tide. It is exposed rarely and, as Taylor Shellfish has pointed out many times, geoduck farming is compatible with the public's use of tidelands. It is hoped that the state and Taylor Shellfish will ultimately resolve whatever perceived conflict there may be through a 1031 exchange with tidelands elsewhere.

Fudge Point, June 2013, looking north.

Tidelands from mean low tide to extreme low tide

are owned by Taylor Shellfish. Higher tidelands

are owned by Washington State Parks.

 

Mason County Shellfish Expansion - Part 2: County Considers Whether Public Tidelands Should be Leased

[Update: County contacts for this project are John Keates (JohnK@co.mason.wa.us) or the Mason County Commissioners (click here for contact information).]

 

When is enough too much?

 

Welcome to the neighborhood

 

 

County Tidelands on Harstine Island

 

Mason County is considering leasing 19 acres of the few remaining tidelands available to the public in south Puget Sound to the shellfish industry. The parcel is located between McMikken Island State Park and upland property also owned by the state on Harstine Island. If leased it would most likely be converted to geoduck farming, a process taking place along a large area of the eastern shores of Harstine Island and south Puget Sound.

County parcel the shellfish

industry wishes to lease.

Access across tidelands becomes restricted
Throughout  south Puget Sound people are finding long held access across tidelands restricted through geoduck cultivation. Whether it be access to the water or adjacent neighbors, the shellfish industry has decided it will now control who can do what on the tidelands. In the extreme, people who question whether permits are in place receive letters from shellfish attorneys telling them long held use of the tidelands to access neighbors is no longer an option for them. In the case of Mason County's tidelands, a hole between McMikken Island State Park and the adjacent upland area on Harstine Island will be created.

Taylor Shellfish geoduck farm on Fudge Point

restricting upland access to state park lands -

- and another wetland outflow habitat lost.

Shellfish industry is out of tidelands
For years it has been known that the shellfish industry is out of tidelands to use for geoduck farming. All of their privately held tidelands have been converted. Most private owners of tidelands who wish to lease have done so, leaving only public tidelands available, such as those being considered by Mason County. Apparently it is not enough.

DNR's management of tidelands
In addition to Mason County, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is also being pressured to lease the few public tidelands under their control to the shellfish industry. Multiple parcels are now under consideration throughout Puget Sound. Rather than supporting the replanting of subtidal areas currently being "clear cut" by the shellfish industry, DNR instead follows industry's lead and pursues the removal of nearshore intertidal tidelands from the public's use. It is not management of a state resource for the public's benefit but instead management for an industry's benefit to feed the elite of China and provide profits for a few.

When enough is too much - irrational exuberance is not sustainable
In the pursuit of money short term decisions are made which result in long term damage which takes years to recover from. Currently the pursuit of tidelands to grow a shellfish which only the Chinese are willing to pay extreme prices for is the result of nothing more than irrational exuberance. It is not sustainable and fractures the nearshore habitat and long established neighborhood relationships.

Fudge Point State Park Becomes a Reality

UPDATE, July 1
Special thanks: As the dust settles there are some special thanks to specific legislators for the funding of Washington Wildlife and Recreation Fund (WWRP) which allowed for the acquisition of Fudge Point, among numerous other programs. Take time to let them know you appreciate their effort. They include:

Capital budget writers
Representative Hans Dunshee - (360) 786-7804
Representative Judy Warnick -(360) 786-7932
Senator Jim Honeyford (360) 786-7684
Senator Sharon Nelson (360) 786-7667

Others who played critical roles:
Washington Wildlife Recreation Coalition Board members:

Speaker Frank Chopp - (360) 786-7920
Representative Hans Zeiger (R-Puyallup) - (360) 786-7968
Representative Steve Tharinger (D-Dequim) - (360) 786-7904
Senator Christine Rolfes (D-Bainbridge) - (360) 786-7644
Senator Andy Hill (R-Redmond) - (360) 786-7672

and lobbyists Majken Ryherd and Jim Richards.

Take the time to call or write and tell them "thanks."
>>

Funding for the acquisition and creation of Fudge Point State on Harstsine Island has been approved and signed into law. For everyone who made the effort to create what will be seen in the future as one of the state's great parks, thank you. Tell you state legislators and Governor Inslee "thank you" for having the foresight to make this a reality for future generations to enjoy. And to the Scott Family, thank you.

Fudge Point State Park

Harstine Island, Washington



Uplands and 3,200 linear feet of tidelands

to mean low tide have become a park.

 

Contact information to express thanks, and to encourage making this the state's premier park:
Governor Inslee - https://fortress.wa.gov/es/governor/
Find your Legislators - http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/
Others who played a role:
Senator/Commissioner Tim Sheldon - http://www.co.mason.wa.us/commissioners/
Senator Karen Fraser - Karen.Fraser@leg.wa.gov
Members on the Capital Budget Committee - http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/CB/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx

Fudge Point: Our Heritage Defined

"What defines our heritage is what we leave to people, and open spaces and parks are the most important." Walt Hitchcock, Harstine Island on the creation of Fudge Point State Park.

Currently before the legislature is an opportunity to fund what could become part of the greatest state park Washington has. Your representatives in Olympia can make a difference if you contact them. [click here to find who your Legislator is or see below for additional contacts]

Fudge Point, Harstine Island

South Puget Sound



 

Fudge Point is made up of tidelands over 3,200 feet in length, ranging in width from 100' to over 300', tied to over 55 acres of upland area available for trails and day use. Views of Mount Ranier, Mount Saint Helens and the Olympics are available from these tidelands. Funding the acquisition of Fudge Point presents one of the last great opportunities to acquire a piece of Puget Sound's shoreline which generations far into the future will be able to enjoy.

Fudge Point and its Tidelands 

 

"This [funding] represents an opportunity to be the best state park the state owns, their flagship park." Mr. Hitchcock

Walt Hitchcock, a neighbor and supporter of a future Fudge Point State Park whose family has owned property on Fudge Point since 1909, could not have put better the opportunity which presents itself. In the November 15, 2012 of the Shelton-Mason Journal, Mr. Hitchcock is quoted as saying: "What defines our heritage is what we leave to people, and open spaces and parks are the most important." Mr. Hitchcock, while initially concerned about the project, now supports the funding and creation of this park. In the article, Mr. Hitchock is quoted further as saying, "This [funding] represents an opportunity to be the best state park the state owns, their flagship park."

The Trust for Public Lands purchased Fudge Point from the Scott family who, like the Hitchcock family, are long time residents of Harstine Island.  They have seen Harstine Island move from use of a landing craft as a ferry to its becoming accessible with a bridge. Both families have seen Harstine Island pressed from development of all sorts, from all sides. Both have chosen to support the creation of Fudge Point State Park while it is still possible so future generations may experience what their ancestors did before them and what they did.

Support for the funding of Fudge Point State Park will define the heritage left by this generation for those in the future to look back on. Make a difference and contact your legislator.

Additional contacts to consider calling to ask for support:

Senator Jim Honeyford
Washington State Senate
PO Box 40415
Olympia, WA 98504-0415
360-786-7684
http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/senators/Pages/honeyford.aspx

 Senator Sharon Nelson
Washington State Senate
PO Box 40434
Olympia, WA 98504-0434
360-786-7667
http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/senators/Pages/nelson.aspx

 Rep. Hans Dunshee
Washington House of Representatives
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
360-786-7804
http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/representatives/Pages/dunshee.aspx

 Rep. Judy Warnick
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
360-786-7932
http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/representatives/Pages/warnick.aspx