Image taken on 2008-12-01 13:32:02 by WSDOT.
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Posts Tagged ‘North’
SR 20 – North Cascades Highway – Washington Pass, Dec. 1, 2008
Washington is in North East England
Washington is a town in North East England. It is located 10 miles west of Sunderland City Centre itself and roughly the same distance south of Newcastle upon Tyne.
In 1964 Washington was designated a New Town and expanded rapidly when it absorbed the overspill populations from surrounding cities. The new town was divided into a number of small self sufficient villages, with original settlement being renamed Washington Village.
Its industrial past is still present with heritage centres and exhibitions on its industrial roots. Surprisingly green to the south west and with a coastline and the famous River Tyne to explore during your visit.
Dont miss the Sunderland International Kite Festival on July 7 th in Washington. It has a unique blend of music, entertainment and above all kites. Its the biggest event of its kind in the country and one of the most popular throughout the world. Alongside the main attraction of the kite flying, theres a fantastic international music programme, unusual street theatre, an arts and crafts fare and plenty of activities for children. This wonderful free festival regularly attracts an audience of over 70,000 people to the Northern Area Playing Fields in Washington and offers an exciting time for the whole family.
Washington Old Hall is a stone built 17th century manor house, which incorporates parts of the original medieval home of George Washingtons direct ancestors. It is from here that the family took their surname of Washington. There are displays on George Washington, and the recent history of the Hall. There is also a fine collection of oil paintings and heavily carved oak furniture, giving an authentic impression of gentry life following the turbulence of the English Civil War.
Washington Pit is a key landmark in the regions coal mining heritage and it is to open for two weekends this summer. Visitors will be able to see the impressive winding engine which once took pitmen to the coalface and brought coal to the surface, now operated by an electric motor.
Set in 45 hectares of stunning wetland and woodland on the River Wear, Washington Wetland Centre is one of the North Easts biggest conservation success stories.
One of the most revived cities in England, and now a popular city to visit on a city break with new buildings, theatres, art galleries, and tourist attractions therefore it is ideal for a weekend break or longer with its shops, bars and clubs.
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North Ranier Elk Herd Management Plan – State of Washington
The North Ranier Elk Herd is one of ten within Washington State. It is located north of Mt. Ranier, in a range that includes King and Pierce counties. The majority of this herd’s members are location on the western slopes of the Cascade Range. However, there are also small populations located in pockets of habitat near suburban developments and cities, as well as in the foothills. This elk herd is of value both to the general population of Washington State as an aesthetic, recreational, and economic resource, and as a cultural, subsistence and ceremonial one to the area’s native people. In 1989, this herd numbered around 3,400 elk. It has recent declined to around 1,845 elk, a decline of forty-six percent. Current management objectives for elk population of this herd include an increase of herd size to around 2,800 elk.
The range of the North Ranier Elk Herd encompasses an area of about 2,834 square miles (7,341 km). The herd occupies the headwaters of both the Clearwater and White rivers in the north part of Mount Ranier National Park, as well as the greater Puyallup River drainage in the western part of that park. Land in the area is a mix of private, federal, and state ownership. The largest portion of the area belongs to the U.S. Forest Service, but there are also large parcels owned by industrial timber companies. Most lands, including federally and state owned land, are managed to produce timber. Forest Service lands are managed for a number of different uses, including recreation and wildlife, in addition to timber. There is an emphasis on management and growth of old growth forests in the Forest Service lands at this time.
Generally, this area consists of low to mid-level mountains, as well as forested terrain. Steep, difficult to access parts of the elk herd’s range include higher, snow covered elevations along the Cascade Crest. Elevations are between four hundred feet and 14,000 feet (the summit of Mt. Ranier). Elk occupy most of this range, up to nearly 7,500 feet, in alpine and sub-alpine meadows of the national park area during summer and fall. Most of the area belove timberline is covered in coniferous forest.
Originally, the herd area was made up of unbroken mature forest, with a large scale fire occurring about every four hundred years. Clear cut timber operations have greatly changed almost all the forests outside Mt. Ranier National Park, making the area a patchwork of young and recently clear cut forest. This has affected the distribution and numbers of the North Ranier elk herd.
Currently, the most elk in this herd live in the White River unit. This particular sub herd migrates between the high alpine meadows of Mt. Rainier National Park and their winter range in the north. The major migration routes include Buck Creek, Haller Pass, the West Fork White River, and Huckleberry Creek. Between fifteen and thirty percent of elk do not migrate.
Current management plans intend to make little to no change in the distribution of this herd. Commercial and recreational timberland allow for growth in population, and elk near urban and suburban development will probably continue to decline. Elk-human conflict in these areas is expected to increase, meaning that there will be more nuisance complaints and concerns about damage caused by the animals.
Plans for the management of the North Rainier Elk Herd include better data collection to improve over all management, general increase in numbers, and providing opportunities for hunters without causing numbers to decline. Post hunting season numbers should exceed a ratio of twelve bulls for every hundred cows. Local hunting of black bear and cougar is intended to be coordinated to maintain the elk population appropriately, as the numbers of these predators have increased in recent years. In addition, cooperation with local tribes is planned, in order to help implement the conservation and management of these animals. In areas where elk expansion is desirable, partnerships are to be developed in order to increase the amount, availability, and quality of elk habitat.
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Washington Square looking north, Manhattan.
Image taken on 2008-12-15 05:21:30 by New York Public Library.
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North Cascade Elk Herd Management Plan – State of Washington
The North Cascade, or Nooksack, Elk Herd, is the smallest of the ten herds living in the State of Washington. It is also the northernmost herd in the western part of Washington. However, despite its size, this herd is of considerable benefit to the citizens of Washington, in both aesthetic and economic arenas. It also provides recreational value, in the form of animals hunted and the opportunity to view wildlife in its natural habitat. The North Cascade herd also is important to Native American tribes in the area, providing subsistence, cultural resources, and ceremonial uses.
This herd was reintroduced into the state, resulting from successfully imported animals placed in the area in 1946 and 1948. The peak population of this herd occurred in 1984, at 1,700 elk. However, a sharp decline has occurred, and now the herd numbers no more than 300 individuals.
The core population of this elk herd in the Nooksack game management unit occupies an area of about 492 square miles (1,230 square km). In addition to this core population, another 125 elk live in agricultural land bordering the Skagit River. These elk mostly live in small, relatively isolated pockets of habitat. Remaining members of the herd live north of the Skagit River, in higher elevation, forested areas, and have been known to cause nuisances and damage to property. Expanding urban development is threatening the continued existence of these elk.
Data collected on the population and growth trends show that this herd has good potential. Although the survey data was limited in the sample size possible, it showed good production of calves. However, these favorable conditions have not been enough, since the herd has remained static at low population levels. Although the hunting season has been closed on this herd, unaccounted mortality may be preventing the population from rising.
Although the habitat changes caused by timber harvesting should have favored growth in the herd’s population, increased human access may be resulting in additional deaths. There have been some problems with damage caused by elk on agricultural lands. However, the private lands along the River are important elk habitats, and should be protected and preserved to maintain the population of this herd.
This area is covered mostly by coniferous forest below the timberline. Three major zones of forest exist, depending on elevation and available moisture. They are the western hemlock zone, Pacific silver fir zone, and mountain hemlock zone. The western hemlock zone is the most important in timber production, and is likely to be effected by timber harvesting. Intensive logging, especially the practice of clear-cutting, has compromised the herd’s ability to survive in the winter range and breed in the summer range. Heavy road traffic and human disturbance are the largest causes of this. Unfortunately, most of the winter ranges for elk are also within this zone. Some parts of this zone, in the foothills along the southern and western perimeter of the elk’s range, are used for agricultural purposes.
The current management plan for the North Cascade Elk Herd calls for increasing the population in the Nooksack unit to around 1,450 animals, with an addition 200 in the Sauk unit. The goal for the entire herd area is around 1,950 individuals. The expansion of this herd into the available range south of the Skagit River, in the Sauk unit, is to be promoted. Both tribal and non-tribal hunting seasons would be able to be reestablished if there are enough animals to support them.
To help decrease mortality from human action, and to help people understand the value of their natural resource, public awareness of elk should be promoted. This includes photographic and viewing opportunities. Damage from elk on private property should be minimized to promote better public opinion of the elk management plan and of the herd.
The plan also calls for management of hunted units to acquires post-season bull ratios that are consistent with the state guidelines. These call for more than twelve bulls for each hundred cows. Mortality rates for bulls are to be less than fifty percent. To help preserve an adequate population, the forest service, state, and private lands should all be encouraged to maintain or increase their current capacities for providing elk habitat. Critical areas used by elk should be preserved and enhanced when possible.
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