Jerry Blinn wrote,

> I need some guidance re: access to areas of Ocean Shores.
> I visited there yesterday and was very concerned about
> access protocol.

> At the cul-de-sac at Bill's Spit, there is what appears to be
> a vacant lot, with a cable strung across it. While the lot is
> unmarked, there is a sign on the right side that gave me
> pause -- it has a family name on it. I didn't enter the area
> because of concern that I could cause trouble for
> future birders (or end up in jail? ).

> 1. Is that a public access?

No.

> 2. Can one park anywhere on the cul-de-sac (other than
> across driveways, of course), or just at that cable.

Not in front of the cable. The best place to park is in the unpaved area
on the right as you enter the cul-de-sac. This is the end of Peninsula
Court, BTW.

> 3. There is another open lot with cable just short of the
> cul-de-sac. Is that also public access?

No.

The public right-of-way is an obscure trail along some planted evergreens,
in-between the two cables mentioned. There may still be a small sign. It
is directly across from the unpaved area suggested above for parking, over
some railroad ties, behind a large puddle that often forms on the east side
of the street :-)

The other "public" access is from Bob Morse's lot on Bay Avenue, which
intersects Peninsula Court before the cul-de-sac. Bob's lot has a roped
off parking area big enough for two cars (if the first one doesn't hog it
all :-) with a conspicuous sign, "You are welcome to park here." Bob's lot
is north of the northernmost bayside house on Bay Ave. The only problem
with using this spot for access is that on very high tides, the intervening
marsh may flood, and it also is harder to sneak up on birds loafing on the
spit.

> 4. There are numerous "openings" to the Game Range
> area from Marine View Drive. How does one determine
> if any (or all) of those are legitimate public access? Some
> of those openings have things like cable spool "picnic
> tables" -- does that mean they are owned, or just well used?

They're all owned in the sense that none are public property. However,
people of all interests regularly use those openings to view or walk out
onto the marsh or flats. It's not clear that even the easternmost part of
that marsh/flat area is public; some is owned by the Quinault tribe, for
example, who put up the fence on the west side of the road out Damon Pt. to
block a long-used parking area on their land. In general, I would not
worry about using this area so long as you are prepared to act politely and
to leave promptly if confronted.

> 5. Is the sewer district currently allowing parking inside
> the fence and access to the Game Range via their land?
> (It's been a while, and things sure are looking different.)

I don't know whether anyone has tested access recently inside the fence,
but construction has destroyed areas inside that might once have been
attractive for birds. The fence completely surrounds the treatment works,
so access to the Game Range here must now be on foot outside the fence,
either north or south of the treatment works. The more usual access to the
Game Range these days is from the south end of Tonquin Avenue, which
crosses Marine View Drive west of the cement water tower.

> 6. For humor only -- did they pave ~only~ the parts of the
> Damon Point road that ~weren't~ pot-holed?

The state committed ~ $1.2 mil. to pave the Damon Pt. road before last
winter, when the road washed out. In its wisdom, it chose not to pave
portions that might wash out again in the future, but to still spend the
money where the road didn't wash out before. Incidentally, in yesterday's
11.2' high tide, both newly constructed culverts (where previous washouts
occurred) were flooded. The Damon Pt. "pond" is now an estuary.

> I'm hoping some of these answers will be helpful
> to more people than just me -- and could avert problems
> with the residents.

Good for you, Jerry.
------------------------------------------------------------
P W (Bill) Smith
Grays Harbor, Washington USA
birdman at techline.com