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Citizen Comments:
Ocean Shores has so much to offer. My husband, three children and I recently visited my aunt and uncle there during the Sand &Sawdust Festival. The beach, the attractions and the residents themselves are amazing. One of the highlights of our most recent visit, however, was discovering the Weatherwax forest. How lucky the citizens of Oceans Shores are to have easy access to such a gorgeous old-growth forest. We were disappointed to learn that it may soon be replaced with a mall or golf course. It would be tragic to lose an irreplaceable forest like the Weatherwax property. I certainly hope the citizens of Ocean Shores find their forest worth saving. Heather Snyder < return to topTo Ocean Shores Citizens for Balanced Growth: My husband and I visited Ocean Shores this Spring for a week, intending to become acquainted with local venues, services, community activities rather than more "traditional tourist" places. We were so pleased with our discoveries. The unexpected treasure was learning about and visiting The Weatherwax property the city leaders were so wise to purchase. It is such a magnificent coastal marine forest that allows people to experience a pristine area viewing animals and trees, breathing in clean air and listening to silence and nature that occurs in such places. We commend the leadership on this acquisition and urge that leadership to make this area a permanent Ocean Shores Historic Place [like our National Parks] not subject to be destroyed or misused in the future. Eleanor M. Smith
< return to topWeatherwax Visit by South Australians Priscilla Fargher Dear Sir/Madam This is just to let you know that whilst spending a week visiting We congratulate you on keeping such a historical and ecologically Yours sincerely Priscilla Fargher
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(Below is Janet Strong's report on the Weatherwax ecosystem. She is a The portion of land with the oldest forest, between the power line road and Duck Lake, possesses the characteristics of an old-growth forest. This alone exhibits the natural history of the Ocean Shores peninsula, as well as providing habitat for animals needing large trees, and the upper canopy. That area, as well as the portions to the west of the power line road and to the east of Duck Lake, contain forest stands of great plant diversity. When you have a large variety of native plants, you attract a large variety of wildlife, from birds (a recent bird survey of the Weatherwax acreage found 77 different species of birds), to large and small mammals, to amphibians like salamanders, to butterflies and other insects. The "snags" or dead and dying trees and downed logs are present in all three zones. These critical features of a healthy forest provide homes and food to a surprisingly large number of wild creatures, including woodpeckers, squirrels, bats, raccoons, many small birds, ducks and other species. (50 different birds and mammals in western Washington depend on snags for their necessary habitat.) The pocket wetlands and the larger wetland along the western edge would be very important for the area's amphibians (salamanders, frogs and toads), especially in the spring during their concentrated reproductive period. Their greening up early in the spring provides a much-needed food supply to browsers such as deer. Another point to consider is the fact that all the small wetlands and the long, large one are most likely connneted to each other hydrologically, with the water table being a short distance below the ground. The ground is hummocky and the low spots with wetland vegetation are "lenses" where the high water table is exposed on the surface. Disturbances like ditching or channeling in one section could have deleterious effects on the larger natural system. The vertical structure, from the ground-hugging forbes, to shrubs, to younger trees and finally overstory shade trees, logs and snags, provide a multitude of nesting, resting, feeding and hiding places for the area's wildlife. Although the "point" jutting out into Duck Lake is much younger and contains some non-native plant species, its plant composition, especially the food plants beneath the trees, add even more diverse places for wildlife to the mix. Tying the whole system together is Duck Lake, sitting right in the middle of all these various forest types. Open water is an important component for animals resideing in the adjacent forest and nearby forests are critical for some water-dependent wildlife. The open water and its wetland edges compliment and complete the natural system. The whole combination of lake, wetlands and multiple forest ages amounts to a biologically rich system and a great natural asset as it exists to the city of Ocean Shores and its citizens. < return to topOcean Shores is an "ecological nirvana" As a relative newcomer to Ocean Shores, I have already developed a profound interest in preserving its uniqueness. Our town is located on a fragile peninsula with more than 70 species of birds — some rare — hundreds of species of fish — some endangered — and a rich playground for our local wildlife. Throw in our pristine beaches and native vegetation and we have a mix for ecological nirvana. But our town and peninsula are so small that the least change to our environment leaves a footprint visible to us all. I hope that the newly-elected mayor and city council members will be very sensitive to the fragility, beauty and uniqueness of our ecosystem when making future decisions about proposed commercial, industrial, recreational and resort-type development projects. Michael Ocean Shores Published in The Daily World June 6th, 2008 < return to top
“The Weatherwax” needs to be preserved I have been coming to Ocean Shores for weekend getaways since I was a boy and I’m still finding new surprises. Last weekend my college freshman son and I were bicycling around the area’s back roads and we bumped into the entrance of “The Weatherwax” property. We had never heard of it before, but being adventurous types we ducked in to see what it was all about. What a happy discovery! Entering this little patch of forest is like being transported into another world — a primeval forest of cedars, mosses and muted sunlight. The quiet and sense of solitude in “The Weatherwax” is truly spiritual. What a gem to have such a pristine spot in the middle of Ocean Shores. There will undoubtedly be pressure from developers to carve it up into little lots for short-term monetary gain but I hope your community has the backbone to stand against it. Don Fall City Published in The Daily World June 3rd, 2008 < return to topTake a walk in the Weatherwax, the Coastal Rain Forest located in Ocean Shores I took a walk in the woods the other day at the Weatherwax property located in Ocean Shores. What a surprise! I had heard how beautiful this coastal rain forest was and I am still in awe of the fantastic things I saw there. I was expecting an adventure with difficult trails but I was able to navigate the area quite easily. The ferns, moss, lichen, mushrooms and berries were so pristine up close. Woodpeckers had drilled holes in a trunk very near the trail and I could see the detail without binoculars. I am writing this to encourage all of you to go to the Weatherwax property for a walk in the woods. I'm sixty five years old and don't consider myself an outdoor person so it's nice to have an easy, safe walk that can be as little as ten minutes or as long as one cares to make it when a bit of free time is available. It's an easy adventure with benches to rest on and sights you will never forget. Listen to the birds sing and check out all the new spring growth. Catherine Rizzuti-Eggleston (Published as a letter to the editor in the Daily World) < return to topAt the Ocean Shores City Council meeting on September 10 there was one Consent of the governed? It doesn't happen here. The Ocean Shores City John Clark September 12, 2007 < return to topCity wantonly disregards the democratic process Tuesday, September 11, 2007 11:02 AM PDT I am appalled that City of Ocean Shores employees and council members The city's wanton disregard for a democratic process that would enable I previously called the city's Administrative Office and Planning My request was quickly dismissed by every city employee I spoke with. It's apparent that the city does not want community input on its It's apparent that the city is intent upon developing every square Unfortunately, city employees are so out of touch with the desires of Who will benefit from this sale? The answer is simple: Developers, Realtors, and out-of-town real Who will be harmed by the sale of the Weatherwax property? Wildlife, The majority of citizens in this community do not want to live in an The citizens of this community own the Weatherwax property and as City employees and council members do not have the right to usurp the Marie Wallace < return to top |
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