Help reopen Williamson Rock

https://www.change.org/p/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service-reopen-williamson-rock?recruiter=704911916&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

Don't know exactly how much this will help but it's worth doing to get it on the radar.

Come on people, lets get this issue resolved and at least get it the attention it deserves.   Sign the petition.

Done...   

signed!

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Only 168 signatures and 6 replies to this thread (including mine and the original poster's reply). C'MON PEOPLE!

Check

Hoping the local community doesn't give up the fight Ben.  Alot of us have never had the chance to climb there and it's a damn shame

Signed

Keep it going people!

Can we get a sticky for this thread?

Id like a little more information on the situation. Where are the environmental assessment documents? I know it will ruffle a lot of feathers but we don't need to have access to every piece of rock. Where is the discussion about the endangered species? Is a day at the crag worth removing an animal from existence?

DanielHart wrote:

Id like a little more information on the situation. Where are the environmental assessment documents? I know it will ruffle a lot of feathers but we don't need to have access to every piece of rock. Where is the discussion about the endangered species? Is a day at the crag worth removing an animal from existence?

You could do a little research on your own, if you were interested:

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=why+is+williamson+rock+closed+to+climbing

"The real reason for the closure was the Federal Government bowing to lawsuits threatened and brought by special interest groups." 

What special interest groups??

Nick Votto wrote:

"The real reason for the closure was the Federal Government bowing to lawsuits threatened and brought by special interest groups." 

What special interest groups??

Primarily the Sierra Club and The Centers for Biological Diversity.  Those two are the biggest proponents to keeping Williamson closed and they have the legal muscle and money to keep it going.

DanielHart wrote:

Id like a little more information on the situation. Where are the environmental assessment documents? I know it will ruffle a lot of feathers but we don't need to have access to every piece of rock. Where is the discussion about the endangered species? Is a day at the crag worth removing an animal from existence?

There are no year round pools or habitats for the MYLF near Williamson or at least in any area that is impacted by climbers.   The areas that have MYLF's are downstream of the climbing.   It's my understanding that the decline in MYLF population was and is due to non native trout and a bacteria carried by another frog species that is non native to the area.and not human activity.   This info is secondhand as told to me by a NFS ranger who has been working on the access issue.   He said between the trout and the non native frogs the non native frogs were almost entirely responsible for the MYLF decline.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url= fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO…;ved=0ahUKEwj5opn6lJrTAhUU0mMKHWcoBOUQFghEMAk&usg=AFQjCNGxC6jNwiVKSUMNu51R2hq5tUrjig

Simple Google search gives all the info requested; this isn't top secret information.  You might have even got a letter from Robert Redford and the Sierra club about this before the closure.

The order in the link above states that recreational activities in the creek are the main concern.  This might seem like common sense but I'll say it anyways.  Rock climbers don't climb or hike in the creek bed.  

Note that this closure also affects the PCT. I've never had the chance to hike this portion on the PCT but I'm pretty sure the PCT doesn't go within creek bed.  

An entire closure of the area makes no sense. Areas deemed necessary to be closed were agreed upon, Climbers offered to build the new trails needed, and a soft opening was in works but even that fell through. 

Yep, the PCT as far as  I have hiked it in that area doesn't cross the creek, it might cross it at some point way down stream but for the most part it stays thousands of feet above the creek.   Seasonal closures can also be another answer, when there is water in the stream, no climbing near the stream until it dries up in the late Spring.   Unfortunately the Sierra Club wants non of that. 

I can do research but if I were on here advocating an issue I would provide information to back up my argument not telling people to do research on something they were previously not aware of. 

Seasonal closures are a great method of managing property where endangered species are present. I'm sure there's someone out there that can find some grant money or a willing party to pay for a non biased assessment of the habitat and a site management plan. Things don't always just fall in your lap and signatures are pointless in proving what is right and wrong. So what if a bunch of people signed a paper if something is being harmed then it's being harmed 

Kevin Mokracek wrote:

Primarily the Sierra Club and The Centers for Biological Diversity.  Those two are the biggest proponents to keeping Williamson closed and they have the legal muscle and money to keep it going.

I'll be honest with you. I looked at your petition and when you started calling environmentalists a "special interest group" I moved on without signing. I'm not saying that they're right and you're wrong. I'm just saying that once you start acting all butthurt that people might want to protect an endangered species you lump yourself in with the same assholes who want to dump coal mining tailings in streams, gas hibernating bears, etc. If they're wrong say why and give us facts. I'd love to climb Williamson.