April 9, 2026
Mr, Dave Upthegrove
Commissioner of Public Lands
WA Department of Natural Resources
Via email: cpl@dnr.wa.gov
Dear Commissioner Upthegrove,
Thank you for your attention to issues at Chopaka Lake and for acknowledging the deep connection that so many individuals and organizations have to this lake and surroundings. The Washington members of Fly Fishers International appreciate the realities you outlined and the challenges facing the Department of Natural Resources. However, we believe the proposed closure of the Chopaka Lake recreation area reflects a narrower set of options than the situation warrants and leaves important alternatives insufficiently explored.
Your letter presents the issue largely as a choice between keeping sites open at the risk of safety and liability, or closing them to better concentrate limited resources. Respectfully, this framing overlooks viable middle-ground solutions that could maintain public access while addressing the very concerns you raise.
Across Washington, FFI’s members and its 18 affiliated fly clubs have successfully partnered with land managers to help maintain recreation sites around the state. For example, our Clark County affiliate, Clark-Skamania Flyfishers, has partnered with DNR for more than 20 years to maintain and protect camping and access at Merrill Lake.
Volunteer stewardship programs, adopt-a-site models and seasonal service adjustments are all proven approaches that can reduce operational burdens without eliminating access altogether. DNR needs to explore finding such solutions for Chopaka Lake and Washington FFI stands ready to help in that effort.
We are particularly concerned by the absence of site-specific justification for closing Chopaka Lake. While general criteria such as operational cost and maintenance challenges are mentioned, no data or comparative analysis has been provided to explain why this campground, specifically, rises to the level of closure. Additionally, some of the reasoning appears internally inconsistent. Limited access and the presence of gates, for example, can often improve management and reduce misuse rather than justify closure. These factors would seem to present opportunities for more targeted management strategies, not fewer.
We also note the call for the public to “recreate responsibly” and assist in maintaining the lands we all value. We strongly agree—and would welcome the opportunity help with that effort. For example, we could help with fundraising to make and install signage. If the public is being asked to share in stewardship, then it follows that the public should also be invited into structured partnerships that help keep these places open.
Finally, while we understand the fiscal constraints you described, the conclusion that closures are unavoidable presents a sense of inevitability that does not fully account for other solutions. Difficult decisions are indeed required, but their are still choices—and we believe there are better options.
We respectfully request the following:
- A clear, site-specific explanation of costs leading to this campground’s proposed closure
- Access to the criteria and data used to evaluate all sites under consideration
- A pause in closure decisions to allow for exploration of partnership-based alternatives
- An opportunity for stakeholder groups, including ours, to collaborate with your agency on sustainable solutions
We stand ready to be part of the solution. Fly fishers have a deep interest in Chopaka and as a group FFI and its affiliated clubs are capable of supporting the stewardship goals you have outlined. Working together, we believe it is possible to protect both the integrity of Chopaka and the public’s ability to responsibly enjoy it.
Thank you again for your time and consideration. We look forward to the opportunity to engage further.
Respectfully,
Directors
Washington State Council Fly Fishers International
Steve Jones
President
360 606-5947
