Tag: Dungeness Recreation Area

Mother Nature does her thing

We walk in the Dungeness Recreation Area a lot. When we first came to Sequim we walked a trail that led us along the bluff from one overlook to another, and then beyond, to the north and south. The overlooks afford views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca with Victoria and Vancouver Island, British Columbia in the distance. Over the years first one section of the sandy bluff and then another and another still gave way to forces of erosion. The overlook shown above started its slide last June, shown here. A month or so later it looked like this. Today, above, there’s a fence where the trail has been routed inland. You can see the approximate location of the former trail where the wooden fence is in the distance.

Vegetation was cleared to allow more parking. The former overlook is in the distance at the left of this photo.

Dungeness Recreation Area

The trail meanders a short distance through a wooded area and then opens onto this view. Access to the bluff overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca near here has recently been moved inland because of erosion. But this view helps make up for the loss of a beautiful water vantage.

Return to slippin’ and slidin’

A couple of weeks ago the exit side of the road through this lookout at the Dungeness Recreation Area was blocked. When we arrived the other day the whole pullout was blocked, as you can see here. This is the entrance.

Erosion at this part of the bluff has picked up since I last showed it to you in June. It’s worth a look for comparison; the change is dramatic.

The fence post I showed you last month is now hanging freely in space. It was very windy when I took this shot yesterday. The fence blew back and forth like a wooden flag.

Dungeness Recreation Area Master Plan Update 7

In the course of last week’s public meeting on the Dungeness Recreation Area Master Plan update, a member of the community spoke. Rather than siting the proposed 45 recreational vehicle campsites in the park’s forested area, he suggested an area not far from the park entrance, to the east of where a new entrance kiosk is planned.

The area is on a rise above the road and has a large, open field. The views are wonderful. Park planners may or may not consider this option. They are quite far along in their process. But many people attending the meeting favored this idea.

Many locals have not been aware of the Master Plan Update. I have focused my blog on it this week in hopes of informing more local park users of this process. The comment period on the Master Plan Update has been extended to March 23. Click here for more information on the Plan and how to comment.

This is my last post on the Master Plan update. I hope you will further inform yourself on the Plan and comment. But don’t procrastinate. The comment period closes next Friday.

To my blog followers from out of the area, I’ll be back to my briefer posts tomorrow.

Dungeness Recreation Area Master Plan Update 6

The Dungeness Recreation Area (DRA) Master Plan Update includes plans to construct a number of new walking trails. Though new walking experiences are always welcome — there’s a lot to see in this 216 acre gem — two trails seem problematic to me. The first, above, would link to the existing eastern entrance to the park and be constructed parallel to Lotzgesell Road running east to west. The road is seen in the left edge of this shot by the power poles. I assume the new trail would be to the right of the existing trees.

The proposed path would traverse seasonally flooded areas. This pond is not far from one end of the trail. The path would require extensive fill to rise above flooded areas, or a more technical constructed boardwalk. And just outside the park, on Lotzgesell Road, an old county roadbed is presently used by many walkers. As a subscriber to the old “KISS” principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid) it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.

Another trail, branching off the eastern entrance trail, would travel off onto a northern pathway that is currently used informally. Like the trail I mentioned above, this one would skirt a seasonally flooded area. I’m told there is a dike running along the property line on the right. The trail would traverse a large, open field and eventually link to trails that lead to upland, forested areas. It’s a pretty walk but I wonder if it makes sense to construct a trail through an area that Mother Nature likes to flood.

A third path, branching off not far from the northern pathway, would move more sensibly through elevated forested areas, moving east-west. It would emerge in the area shown above, across from an existing trail through forested areas. Both trail locations are marked by light shafts in the photo above.

Finally, planners propose a realignment of the trail that currently traverses areas of the bluffs. Many parts of this trail have been closed due to continual erosion so it shouldn’t be surprising that trail adjustment is planned in response. Planning maps call for six viewpoints, allowing walkers and visitors to look onto the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Many locals have not been aware of the Master Plan Update. I am focusing my blog on it in hopes of informing more park users of this process. The comment period on the Master Plan Update has been extended to March 23. Click here for more information on the Plan and how to comment.

To my blog followers from out of the area, please bear with me. I’ll be back to my briefer posts this weekend.

Dungeness Recreation Area Master Plan Update 5

The Updated Dungeness Recreation Area Master Plan envisions improvements to a small playground located in one of the current campground loops. It wasn’t discussed at length; I’m not sure what these improvements may be.

The playground does get used. Within moments of taking this shot two more children joined the fun.

Many locals have not been aware of the Master Plan Update. I am focusing my blog on it in hopes of informing more park users of this process. Click here for more information and how to comment.

To my blog followers from out of the area, please bear with me. I’ll be back to my briefer posts this weekend.