Budgets and Decision Making

As Washington State grapples with a budget seriously impacted by the current  economy, drastic measures will need to be taken by those responsible for producing the budget. In the interest of us being an informed citizenry, here are two news pieces that are of concern to responsible boaters.

Personally, I’m conflicted, as the need for social services and support is more than just important, and many of the cuts appear to be attempts to free up funds for this. But there is also a cost in doing this.

You study these pieces, and other material to which you have access, you decide, and you act. And that’s being responsible, so good on you!

The first piece is a joint press release by the People for Puget Sound, Conservation Northwest, Washington Conservation Voters, and  Washington Environmental Council.

The Washington State Senate released a proposed budget today that would undermine environmental protections essential to making Washington a healthy place for families to live. The proposed budget includes deep cuts for many important public interest programs and the environment is no exception.

“As a community, our top priority is to ensure that the current budget crisis doesn’t undermine the qualities that make Washington special,” said Mo McBroom, Policy Director of the Washington Environmental Council.  “Our state’s natural resources and quality of life help us attract and retain businesses essential to our economic recovery.”

“We understand that there will be real and serious cuts,” added Bruce Wishart, Policy Director for People For Puget Sound. “However, these cuts go too deep.  The proposed budget means more toxins in our water, more pollution in our air, and loss of wildlife habitat.  These are essential public health and quality of life measures that will cost more down the road to remedy. We need to preserve the core functions of our natural resource agencies so they have the manpower to help protect Washington’s air, water, and wildlife.”

We rely on the state to ensure that the water we drink is safe, the air we breathe is clean, and to clean up toxic spills.  The reductions in the natural resource budgets will make it challenging for state agencies to meet some of their most essential functions.  The proposed state budget would:

Leave our water and coastal areas more susceptible to devastating pollution like oil spills. Weakening of the state oil spills program for the Puget Sound and costal beaches– a $1.9 million reduction will mean 135 fewer vessels boarded and inspected and fewer oil response drills in our waterways. The Oil Spill Oversight Council will also be eliminated.

Reduce public participation in toxic cleanups, which has been a cornerstone of Washington’s way of life. The entire $2 million program is eliminated for public participation grants making it impossible for the public to have a meaningful role in decision making for toxic cleanup in their back yards.

Harm efforts to protect our water quality by elimination of the Water Quality Account which provides the money for local water quality projects around the state like sewage treatment plants. 18 staff would be lost in the Department of Ecology’s water quality program.

Decrease our capacity to clean up Puget Sound. 7 out of 35 Puget Sound clean up staff would be cut in Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Lose experts where they’re critically needed.  75% of scientists for the Forest and Fish rules would be cut, which severely hampers the state’s ability to respond on salmon recovery issues.  73% of staffing around Watershed science would be eliminated, which hampers the state’s ability to respond on salmon recovery issues, as well as around sprawl

Increase risk of fires and infestation in our forests.  Due to the elimination of the Department of Natural Resources’ Forest Health Program there would be increased risk of forest fires and infestation of invasive bugs and diseases. Fire protection is reduced by almost $5 million increasing risk of property damage and loss to our timber industry.

Decrease our ability to plan for Washington’s future with a 1/3 cut of Growth Management Act assistance to local governments. Growth Management Act hearing boards have been cut from 3 to 1.

This second is an elert from the Recreational Boaters Association of Washington (RBAW).

As we enter the last four weeks of the regular legislative session (they must adjourn by midnight, Sunday April 26th) the real battles are getting underway. Our bill- the boating improvements act or 2SSB 5691- has been taken hostage by Rep. Jeannie Darneille, the chair of the House General Government Appropriations committee, as part of the opening act in the fight over diverting the Recreation Resource Account- the boaters' un-refunded gas tax monies- to the general fund to provide more monies for social services. Just an opening shot in the budget war. We are waiting to see the status of funding for 2SSB 5691 in the Senate budget, then will propose appropriate action to be taken in support of this legislation.


The budgets:

This coming week is when the action really begins as the Senate, then the House, roll out operating and capital budgets. It is expected that we are going to see very negative impacts on State Parks and outdoor recreation. We may see forty state parks proposed to be closed, and tens of millions of dollars moved from dedicated accounts (in operating and capital) that are funded by users- boaters, trail users, hunters, fishers, and others in the outdoor community- to the general fund to support social services.

As budgets are released, specific information will be provided. The Senate is releasing its operating budget at 10:30am on Monday. The House will follow suit at 10am on Tuesday. Capital budgets will be released later in the week.

I am not going to encourage attendance at the hearings. First of all, these hearings are usually referred to as "cattle calls" and for good reason. You will wait- possibly for hours- to be able to give a one or two minute bit of testimony. With the current budgets, an effort will be made by legislators to back you into supporting a major new tax package to restore the cuts. A select few who know how to dance this dance will probably testify. The best way for the grassroots to impact the process will be to light up the toll-free legislative hotline with calls to legislators and the Governor.

Keep for future reference- the toll-free legislative hotline number is 1-800-562-6000. It is open 8am to 8pm, Monday through Friday, and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. The operator will take your message, identify your legislators for you, and also deliver the message to your legislators and Governor Gregoire.

After we see the budget details, we will craft sample messages, and include those in the Tuesday update.

The coming week's schedule, as we know it now, is as follows:


Monday
10:30AM -  Release of Senate operating budget.

Tuesday
10:00AM - Release of House operating budget; 1:30PM - Senate Ways & Means hearing on operating budget;1:30AM - House General Government Appropriations work session on the part of the House operating budget that includes natural resources;
3:30PM - House Ways & Means hearing on operating budget.


Wednesday
 Sometime - release of House capital budget.


Thursday
 Sometime (possibly) - release of Senate capital budget;
1:30PM -  House Capital Budget hearing on capital budget. We do not yet know when Senate Ways & Means will have a hearing on the capital budget, although it meets at 1:30pm both Thursday and Friday.


Jim King, RBAW lobbyist

Transiting the Locks, Part Three

Earlier (March 2nd) I gave an overview of the Hiram Chittendem Locks and then (March 11th) focussed on the Small Lock. Today, let's look at transiting the Large Lock.

THE LARGE LOCK

The large lock, or more accurately the large chamber, lies parallel to the north of the small chamber, and is the one primarily used by large commercial vessels - - tugs, tug and tows, fishers, ferries (coming in to the many repair yards), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ships, University of Washington research ships, most anything with close to over a 28' beam or a 150' length (the dimensions of the small chamber).

At times, especially when there is a lot of recreational boat traffic (such as at the beginning and ending of the Memorial Day or Labor Day weekends), or when there is still room after a large vessel is in the lock, smaller boats can be directed into this lock. Sometimes one wonders why the large chamber and not the small, or visa-versa; Only the lock master knows, it seems. Not always obvious, the large lock has gates mid-way in the chamber which can reduce the 825' length in half if a "smaller" locking is called for.

The big difference between the chambers is that while the small chamber has the "floating" steel guide walls that rise and fall with the water level, the large chamber has nothing like that. The lock walls don't move, and the bollards are fixed at the top of the walls. This effects how you secure your boat, as you'll soon see.

PREPARING FOR BOTH DIRECTIONS

(Much of this is a repeat from Part Two: Small Locks)

Coil or flake the 50' lock lines, working out any tangles, and place them at the bow and at the stern. Don't fasten or cleat them just yet.

Rig your fenders, three or four, so that they protect the widest part of the hull, normally snugged up to or even just on, the rub-rail.

Wise to don life jackets - - a must for children and pets if they are on deck. We keep our dog inside during a locking.

Make sure the reverse gear is working well, as you will need to be able to back down to stop.

There are speed limits. From the west entrance buoys (Red #2, Green #1) into Shilshole Bay all the way through the ship canal to Lake Washington it is 7 knots or no-wake, whichever is the slowest. Within this, between either end of the long lock piers it's 4 knots. And within the chambers themselves it's 2.5 knots.

APPROACHING WESTBOUND (FROM THE FRESH WATER SIDE)

Initially, you will not know which chamber you will be told to user; You need to be prepared for either. It helps to have a lookout forward to watch for signals from the locks as you'll probably be focussed on maneuvering your vessel.

There are signal lights. For the large chamber they are on the north wall. For the small chamber they are on the wall that separates the two chambers.

If the signal lights are red you need to wait. You can either tie up on the north waiting wall or drift around rather than tie up. If the latter, be aware of boats coming out the locks. Also, sometimes the lock attendants are not always sure if you really want to lock through, or merely touring to look at the locks. We prefer to drift unless the wait looks to be really lengthy.

Be patient. Sometimes, with luck, you putter right in as soon as you get to the locks. At other times you may wait, even for several hours or more. So, be patient and calm.

ENTERING WESTBOUND

When the light for the large chamber (the one on the north wall of the large chamber) changes from red to green you can enter the large chamber. Generally, as soon as the light changes the lock master will announce over the PA system that larger vessels are to enter first, and then smaller ones. (My 47' boat is usually considered a "larger" vessel). Unless otherwise instructed, and with that proviso, entrance is on a first-come-first-in basis. To accommodate as many boats as possible, larger boats are tied to the wall and smaller boats rafted to the larger boats.

Move in slowly and cautiously at your own comfort speed- - the lock attendants will never rush you. Watch for a signal from the attendant (they give clear pointing gestures) as to which side of the chamber you'll tie to, usually the north side. As you get further in the attendant will instruct you where to tie or raft. You will need to have a crew member stand by on each your bow and stern lines.

If instructed to tie to the wall, take the boat up as far in as the attendant signals you and and close to the wall without scraping. Then hand the eye of your stern lock line and of your forward lock line to the attendants who will walk alongside you (as in walking a dog)  and put each line on a bollard, stern line first to stop your forward motion. You then take in the slack, pulling the boat up against the wall, and cleat down. Now get ready to help those rafting to you, assisting them as needed and making sure that you are well fended off from them. Have them use their own lines, looped over your cleat, and then back to them. This way they control the lines when they need to cast off.

There could be two, or even three, smaller boats all rafted abreast of you.

If you are instructed to raft to another boat (the attendant will tell you which one) first have the eye of your stern lock line and of your forward lock line cleated on that side. Come alongside gently and hand first your stern, then your bow lines to the crew of the boat you're rafting to. Get them to loop the line over their cleat, then you take in the slack tight and tie it down on your boat. This way you control the lines when you need to cast off. Check your fenders, and get ready, if needed, to help someone raft to you.

All this takes some time, so be patient.

When all is ready the lock master will announce that the water level is going down and to stand by your lines.

If you are on the wall, you'll have some work to do. Slip a few turns of your lines off the cleat so that the cleat can act as a brake to control your letting line out. Don't rely on brute strength - - you'll probably lose! Use the cleat. As the water level drops slowly let out the lines, yet keeping your boat against the wall. Expect some slight outbound current as the water level drops. You'll find that the stern line gets most of the work to hold the boat against the wall. The added weight of the boats rafted to you also adds to your work.

If you're a rafted boat, no need to do much except to be alert and make sure you continue to lie snug against the boat you're rafted to. Watch that your fenders are where you want them.

Once down to the tide level (it takes about 15 minutes), the lock master will instruct you to tie down your lines. Then the forward lock gates are opened. Expect some outbound current as the tidal water and the water in the chamber combine and settle. Then, and only on the lock attendant's instruction, be prepared to cast off.

If you're a rafted boat you will be instructed to leave first. When told, slip your lines free (hopefully the boat you're rafted to will help), bow line first, then stern. Now ease you boat forward out of the chamber.

If you are on the wall, when ready the lock attendant will thrown down first your bow line, then your stern line. The attendant may ask for a little slack to get the eye off the bollard. Now ease you boat forward out of the chamber.

As you clear the south pier of the locks be alert for the current from the dam spillway tending to push you to starboard.

A couple of points I missed in the earlier posts explaining the locks. Sometimes when the BNSF railway bridge (a 100 yards west of the lock exit) is in the down position and the tide is high, expect to see sailboats milling around between the locks and the bridge waiting for it to raise - - there is only 43' clearance at high tide. You'll have to carefully navigate through them. Second, kayaks, canoes, and other non-motorized craft are ONLY allowed in the small lock.

As you continue on at 7 knots to the west entrance of the channel, secure your fenders and clean up your lines, and when you reach the Red #2 and Green #1 buoys, you're all set to head to your destination.

APPROACHING EASTBOUND (FROM THE SALTWATER SIDE)

Again, initially you will not know which chamber you will be told to enter; be prepared for either. 

There are two sets of signal lights for the large chamber, one on the pier northwest of the railroad bridge, and another on the end of the concrete wall that separates the two chambers. The lights on the wall are paired with those for the small chamber; the large lock lights are on the left.

Again, unless there is a lot of traffic inbound assume that you will be using the small chamber.

If the signal lights are red you need to wait. You can either tie up on the south waiting wall under the railroad bridge or drift around to the west of the bridge, keeping somewhat to the south so as not to impede traffic coming out of the locks. Again. we prefer to drift unless the wait looks to be really lengthy, or the wind and current are a bit too strong.

ENTERING EASTBOUND

When the lights for the large chamber change to green  start moving ahead to enter the chamber. Generally, as soon as the light changes the lock master will announce over the PA system that larger vessels are to enter first, and then smaller ones. Unless otherwise instructed, and with that proviso, entrance is on a first-come-first-in basis. To accommodate as many boats as possible, larger boats are tied to the wall and smaller boats rafted to the larger boat.

As you approach the locks be alert for the current from the dam spillway tending to push you to port.

Move in slowly and cautiously at your own comfort speed- - the lock attendants will never rush you. Watch for a signal from the attendants as to which side of the chamber you'll tie to, usually the north side.

You will need to have a crew member stand by on each your bow and stern lines.

If instructed to tie to the wall, take the boat up as far in as the attendant signals you and close to the wall without scraping. Because you are well below the top of the wall, the attendant will throw down the end of a light messenger-line. Tie the eye of your stern lockline to this line so that the attendant can pull up your line and loop the eye over a bollard (thus stopping your forward motion). Then the same thing with your forward line. You then take in the slack pulling the boat up against the wall. and cleat down. Now get ready to help those rafting to you, assisting them as needed and making sure that you are fended off from them. Have them use their lines, looped over your cleat, and then back to them. This way they control the lines when they need to cast off.

There could be two, or even three, smaller boats all rafted abeam off you.

If you are instructed to raft to another boat (the attendant will tell you which one) it is the same procedure as going outbound. First have the eye of your stern lock line and of your forward lock line cleated on that side. Come alongside gently and hand first your stern, then your bow lines to the crew of the boat you're rafting to. Get them to loop the line over their cleat, then you take in the slack tight and tie it down on your boat. This way you control the lines when you need to cast off. Check your fenders, and get ready, if needed, to help someone raft to you.

All this takes some time, so be patient.

As with going outbound (westbound), when all is ready the lock master will announce that the water level is rising and to stand by your lines.

If you are on the wall, you'll have some work. Slip off a few turns of your lines off the cleat so that the cleat can act as a brake to control pulling the line in. Again, don't rely on brute strength; Use the cleat. As the water level rises keep pulling in the lines, keeping your boat against the wall. Expect some slight outbound current as the water level rises You'll find that the stern line gets most of the work to hold the boat against the wall.

If you're a rafted boat, no need to do much except to be alert and make sure you continue to lie snug against the boat you're rafted to. Watch that your fenders are where you want them.

Once up to the fresh water level (it takes about 15 minutes), the lock master will instruct you to tie down your lines. Then the forward lock gates are opened. Expect some inbound current as the fresh water and the water in the chamber combine and settle. If there is a large vessel ahead of you, expect a strong stern wash coming at you as she gains power to exit.

Then, and only on the lock attendant's instruction, be prepared to cast off.

If you're a rafted boat you will be instructed to leave first. Slip your lines free (hopefully the boat you're rafted to will help), stern line first, then bow. Now ease you boat forward out of the chamber.

If you are on the wall, when ready the lock attendant will release first your stern line, then your bow line. The attendant may ask for a little slack to get the eyes off the bollards. Now ease you boat forward out of the chamber.

As you clear the locks secure your fenders and clean up your lines. Remember, it is 7 knots/no wake all the way to Lake Washington.

SOME HELPFUL HINTS

With the small chamber you keep the eye of the line aboard; with the large you give over the eye to the lock attendant.

Outbound (westbound) you release the bow line first, then the stern line, when leaving either lock; Inbound (eastbound) you release the stern line first, then the bow line, when leaving. Remember, always release the saltwater-end lines first, outbound as well as inbound!

If you would like a free copy of  "Transiting the Locks", an advanced module in my Training & Reference Manual, I'll be happy to send one to you. Simply post a comment (below) to let me know.

World Wildlife Earth Hour Saturday, March 28th

Have you all heard about the World Wildlife Fund Earth Hour? 2,848 cities, towns and municipalities in 84 countries have already committed to VOTE EARTH for Earth Hour 2009, as part of the worlds first global election between Earth and global warming. Click here for more information.

Travel Reminder

Remember, effective June 1st - - that's just a little over two months away, you'll need documents for crossing the USA-Canada border, as well as the USA-USMexico border. All this is explained and accessed on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative page.

And for your vessel, you'll also still need to pay a user fee of $27.50 for re-entry to the USA; best to purchase in advance. Allow for processing and mailing time. 

Seattle Post-Intelligencer RIP

"Almost 200 daily newspapers have folded in the past 10 years and in markets like Seattle, two competing papers are very rare," wrote Seattle Times business reporter Eric Pryne early this year.

Today, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (1863-2009) sadly joins these ranks.

The end of an old friend (I subscribed in August, 1974, when first in Seattle) is always a loss. As with a great many, I'll miss the paper's bias, columnists like friend Joel Connelly, Robert Jamieson, Art Thiel (before I lost him to the sports pages), and, of course, David Horsey's great editorial cartoons.

But more than just the loss of a daily morning friend, I find myself saddened and concerned about the slow but sure loss of the print media. It was last October when I read that the Christian Science Monitor, for many the newspaperman's newspaper, would be closing down its print edition (except for a weekly edition) in April and moving to a daily online-by-subscription edition. The Monitor would be 100-years old this November.

In a previous life-time I worked very closely with the press. News editor managing all Canadian Army news stories and releases, liaison with the parliament press gallery (Canadian version of the White House press corps), press officer during the United Nations operations in the Belgium Congo (and by default filing for Time Magazine, the Canadian Press, United Press International), as well as being named an honorary life member of the National Press Club of Canada. While not in any way claiming to be a professional journalist, I do carry a healthy bias for the media. And it so troubles me to see what is happening.

My concern now is the loss of news in depth, and hence, the loss of being informed. TV and radio news, while very immediate, for the most part barely scratch the surface of a story; news items are really only a story's "lead paragraph", and the morning's network shows, which do include some news, are primarily magazines. Few TV or on-line reporters have time to be specialists in their fields - - sports reporters the exception. Internet news is limited (the PI will continue as 'SeattlePI.com'). Can you imagine scrolling down through 90 column-inches of print on a single story or article on your BlackBerry or Kindle? Well, maybe on your Kindle.

The editorial side (i.e. the news) of print media is dependent on advertising income, and internet news advertising income is very small by comparison. When the Christian Science Monitor moves to the internet it says that its current news room staff of 95 will experience "a modest reduction", speculated by insiders as meaning down to no more than 25. And so the ability and quality of reporting goes down as well.

This is a period of extreme financial difficulty for all news organizations. Arthur Sulzberger Jr., publisher of the New York Times, was asked at a conference in California last October whether the Times would be a print product in 10 years. "The heart of the answer must be (that) we can't care," Sulzberger said. He added that "we must be where people want us for our information."

A few summers ago we were moored at Cap Sante, Anacortes. Our new-found dock neighbors were ever so delightful, sharing fresh barbecued oysters, and flowers, with us. He is a retired owner/executive with the Seattle Times. Their boat, with the proper Seattle Times logo and type, is named "Final Edition".

I'm sorry and sad to see any final editions.

- 30 -

Musings From The Aft Deck: Frogs

An often non-nautical bit of relaxed musing, from the aft deck.

A recent comment posted on meteorologist Cliff Mass' Weather Blog brought back memories. The writer, who evidently lives in our village of Kingston, wrote, "The frogs have been out despite the cold weather. One hears their chirping late into the evening."

A hundred years ago (well, say 45 years ago) we lived in what's called the Eastern Townships in la Province de Quebec, Canada, university student living in the midst of rolling, hilly, farmlands.My youngest, Christopher, was born there.  Winters were cold - - the Sherbrook River frozen four feet thick. Farm activity pretty well at a stand-still, roads of packed snow and plowed drifts five or six feet high at times. Winters lasted.

Then, sometime in April, you'd be woken up with a mighty chorus of frogs chirping and croaking and ribbitt-ing coming from the now thawing mud ponds. Hibernation had ended.

And as the morning grew, from the farms activity started. Horse drawn sleds pilled high with wood and cans would start to silently slide up the snow-packed roads and into the woods, the horses puffing great clouds of steamy breath, sleds chased by gleeful kids hanging on and then tumbling off in a great game.

Later in the day trails of smoke could be seen rising from the woods, even as far away as Vermont and New Hampshire, as stoves were started.

The maple sap was starting to run, responding to the frogs' call.

Spring had come, and later in the season we'd hear the thunderous and powerful crashing of the river ice breaking and piling and crunching as the water slowly starts to flow.

On Seattle's Lake Union our harbinger of Spring was the sudden absence of the winter water fowl.

This year I'll settle for any sign.

A Weather Radar on the Scope?

Check out meteorologist Cliff Mass' blog (it's also in the column to the left of this main section) to read about the $2-million funding just approved in the omnibus spending bill for a coastal weather radar. The Northwest is the only costal area of the continental U.S. that has no radar. With additional funding to make this a probability, perhaps we boaters and others will finally get more improved long-range weather forecasting.