Subject: [Tweeters] Stevens Co/Colville Tx Plant Issues and Stevens/Ferry
Date: Jul 29 19:34:07 2012
From: plkoyama at comcast.net - plkoyama at comcast.net


Tweets,
David and I were birding in Stevens and Ferry Counties Wed-Sat. We were at the Colville Tx Plant in 92 degrees on Thurs aft and early on Fri after the 7 a.m. opening. The gate was locked, so I had to go to the office both days, and a friendly staff guy (the manager?) kindly opened the gate for us. FYI, you need to go around to the employee entrance, as the ?public? entry is now locked due to staff cutbacks. The gate to the ponds are closed by 3:30 p.m., though he had closed them early on Thurs, reopening them for us for a half hr. of birding. We saw the same shorebirds as reported below, plus one Least SP on Fri a.m. and Spotted SPs both days.

A concern I want to report is that the Colville City Council is considering closing these ponds to the public, which will be debated at their next meeting. This is due to liability and security issues, especially since recently, birders have actually driven their vehicles through the gates into the pond area. I spoke about what great ponds these are for birders and that we had actually spent 2 nights in Colville in order to bird here. I said I know that a number of birders come here specifically to check out the Tx Plant. I suggested a sign prohibiting vehicles, and the manager replied that this is already in the works, as is reconstructing the gate somehow to keep cars out. (There is no signage at present, but it would not have occurred to us that it?d be ok to drive in there--walking on the dikes is ok.) I am thinking of writing to the City Council to point out the importance of these ponds as a ?tourist attraction.? (It makes me laugh when I recall that my dad used to say he wouldn?t even take us kids to the City Dump, and here I am looking for sewage ponds...) I also told the guy we used to sell a book in the SAS Nature Shop called something like ?The Brown Tour?Sewage Ponds of Oregon.? He was fully aware that this is a popular place for birders. Maybe if some of you local ?folks-in-the-know? have any influence, now is the time.

There is some tough road construction on Sherman Pass with 20 min waits and pilot car caravans weekdays. Also in Stevens Co, the same situation off 395 on Blue Creek Rd (near Addy) which is being graded and will be paved in Sept. The storm of last week caused some scary, awesome damage along Hwy 21 in the Sanpoil, with entire stands of trees down or snapped off?the road is cleared by some apparently heroic efforts, though some of the power lines are still down. A few of the FS roads are still closed. This was our first trip down 21 and the next day along the Col R through Inchelium and Silver Creek Rd.?stunning country.
Penny Koyama, Bothell
plkoyama at comcast dot net



From: Terry Little
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 5:47 PM
To: Tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] Stevens and Lincoln Counties


Hello,

Back in Stevens County today, here are some of the highlights:

Shorebirds at Colville STP - Killdeer, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Soliary Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Long billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Snipe, Wilson's Phalarope

Blessings
Terry Little
Mead, Wa





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