The Washington Department of Ecology is updating the Willapa Bay (WB) Geographic Response Plan (GRP). An important part of the update process was hearing from the people that live, work, and play in the GRP area. To facilitate this, we opened the plan to public comment from September 24th  to October 24th, 2020.
Below, you will find an overview of comments received and Ecology’s response. Ecology appreciates everyone who took the time to provide comments on this GRP. GRPs are improved by this community’s input and we appreciate your ongoing efforts in protecting Washington’s environment. Feel free to reach out to  Sabrina.Floudaras@ecy.wa.gov or 360-485-5711 with any questions.

Willapa Bay GRP Responsiveness Summary to Comments
Ecology post plans for public review for 30 days. After the 30 day public review period ends, Ecology addresses all comments received. The following is a responsiveness summary to your comments submitted to Ecology.
GRP Section Public Comment Ecology Response
General Change where applicable the Refuge Headquarters (HQ) address to 7112 67th Place, Long Beach, Washington 98631 where it is used in the GRP for contacting Refuge staff. We appreciate being made aware of the change in address for the NWR headquarters. All places in the plan where contact information associated with the NWR boat ramp/parking area building, now references the new headquarters facility located at 7112 67th Place, Long Beach, Washington 98631. We also revised the phone number for contacting staff to (360) 642-3860
General Change where applicable the old HQ name to Cutthroat Creek and change where the GRP references this location. Thank you for sharing updated NWR headquarters facilities information with us. “Headquarters” has been removed from the Refuge title associated with the location at the south end of Long Island, any directions to the refuge boat ramp no longer includes the term “headquarters” in the name.
General Change the zip code on all references to the 3888 US 101 from 98638 to 98624 Thank you for providing the correct zip code for the location.
General The Willapa NWR Headquarters is moving to our Riekkola Unit at the end of 67th Place off of Sandridge Road.  The boat ramp at 3888 US 101 should remain as the staging area for the sites identified in the document.  Willapa NWR will have a new phone number, physical and mailing address. Thank you for the updated WNWR facilities information. The NWR headquarters move to the new address at 7116 67th Place, Long Beach, Washington 98631 and the new phone number 360-642-3860 is revised in all locations in the plan where it was previously located at 3888 US 101, boat ramp and staging area directions located at 3888 US 101 remain unchanged.
General Make consistent directions to the same location e.g. Willapa boat ramp (3888 SR 101 98624); referencing information regarding the Refuge (WNWR, Refuge, etc.). Thank you for recognizing the need for consistent directions. All directions to staging areas and boat launches have been revised to begin at the same starting location, creating a consistent look and functionality throughout the driving directions maps.
Resources at Risk Should this section reference federal cultural resources at risk and not just WDAHP and THPOs? Federal contact? Contact information for the federal U.S. FWS to acquire cultural resources information during spill event has been included in the Cultural Resources Contacts table.
Economic Resources at Risk The only areas listed for the Willapa NWR is C2 on Page 4 – National Seashore Recreation Areas for current HQ and Ocean Park. State Parks has Parks and Beaches.  Is this accurate or should it reflect Willapa NWR beaches too? WNWR beaches have been added into the Economic Resources at Risk table associated with C1 – Parks & Beaches on P. 3 and P. 4. Thank you for identifying these additional economic resources at risk.
Economic Resources at Risk P. 4 C2 National Seashore Recreation Areas:    What about the recreational shellfish harvesting that occurs on the Willapa Refuge Long Island beaches.  The beaches at Willapa NWR Leadbetter Point Unit. Recreational shellfish harvesting is included in the Economic Resources at Risk table associated with C1 – Parks & Beaches on P. 4.
Spill Contact Sheet Should double check the number listed for the U.S. FWS and U.S. DOI contacts We appreciate this comment. A check of these phone lines show they are working properly.
Response Strategies and Priorities Jeldness Road has been used multiple times as an access point to get to Refuge sites.  This is a privately owned road which is not a public access point. We appreciate for your exceptional local knowledge. The strategies that included the use of Jeldness Road for access to strategy sites that are no longer accessible were revised to deploy to by boat from 3888 US 101 Refuge boat launch/parking area, and the corresponding driving direction amended.
Response Strategies and Priorities There are three points that were named as Tide Gates which are no longer there.  The dikes and tide gates were removed.  Boats are required to access these sites.  The name of these sites has been changed to the stream name they are associated with (in comments below). Thank you. Strategies WB-39, WB-40, and WB-41 no longer include associated implementation details related to closing the tide gates and now require boat access, deployable from the NWR boat launch/parking area with corresponding driving direction amended. The names of the sites were also corrected to correspond to the stream names they are situated on.
Response Strategies and Priorities It might be clearer to have all directions to the Refuge boat launch area at 3888 State Route 101 (U.S. 101) to be the same.  The Driving Directions often start at different locations and different directions to get to the same location. Thank you for suggesting this need for consistency in the driving directions. The driving directions now start from the same location for the sites, accessible by boat from the Refuge boat launch at 3888 U.S. 101 S.
Response Strategies and Priorities WB-29 P. 85 – Sunshine Point – Staging Area is at Willapa NWR Headquarters and boat launch area.  Driving directions should be to finish at 3888 US 101, 98624, on the right as all others that use the Willapa Refuge boat ramp. The name and driving directions for the boat launch and staging area for this site has been revised.
Response Strategies and Priorities WB-30 P. 86-87 – Lewis Slough – Staging Area:  Change Willapa Bay NWR Headquarters and boat launch area to Willapa NWR boat launch area. The name and driving directions for the boat launch and staging area for this site has been revised.
Response Strategies and Priorities WB-31 P. 88 – Kaffee Slough – Staging area: Change Willapa Bay NWR Headquarters and boat launch area to Willapa NWR boat launch area. The name and driving directions for the boat launch and staging area for this site has been revised.
Response Strategies and Priorities WB-32 P. 90 – Baldwin Slough (north entrance) – Staging Area: Change Willapa Bay NWR Headquarters and boat launch area to Willapa NWR boat launch area. Revised the name of the refuge and driving directions to the boat launch for the staging are
Response Strategies and Priorities WB-33 P. 92 – Baldwin Slough (south entrance) – Staging Area: Change Willapa Bay NWR Headquarters and boat launch area to Willapa NWR boat launch area. The name and driving directions for the boat launch and staging area for this site has been revised.
Response Strategies and Priorities WB-34 P. 94 – Long Island Slough – Staging Area: Change Willapa Bay NWR Headquarters and boat launch area to Willapa NWR boat launch area. The name and driving directions for the boat launch and staging area for this site has been revised.
Response Strategies and Priorities WB-35 P. 96 – Lake Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Headqtrs – Implementation: Using plywood to block culvert would back up water.  If this is for long period of time (especially in the winter storms) water could overtop the road causing damage to the dike road ramp, boat ramp and dock. Staging Area:  Change Willapa Bay NWR Headquarters and boat launch area to Cutthroat Creek and boat launch area. Thank you for your input on this strategy. The reference to use plywood in the implementation of the strategy and revision the booming strategy and the name of the refuge and driving directions to the boat launch and staging area have been made.
Response Strategies and Priorities WB-37 P. 100-101 – Bear River (main channel) Staging Area: Change Willapa Bay NWR Headquarters and boat launch area to Willapa NWR boat launch area.                  Driving Directions 3. Delete Bay from Willapa Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The name and driving directions for the boat launch and staging area for this site has been revised.
Response Strategies and Priorities WB-38 P. 102-103 – Bear River (west channel) Staging Area: Change Willapa Bay to just Willapa. Driving Directions:  #5 Change Willapa Bay to just Willapa. The name and driving directions for the boat launch and staging area for this site has been revised.
Response Strategies and Priorities WB-39 P. 104-105 – Willapa Bay NWR Tide Gate #1 – Title:  Change the title to Willapa NWR Lewis Creek Slough; (Refuge doesn’t have a tide gate at this location); Implementation:  Willapa NWR no longer has a tide gate at this location.  Change WB NWR to W NWR.  Staging Area: Should be changed to Willapa NWR boat ramp parking lot.  Field Notes:  Jeldness Road is a privately owned road, Refuge had removed dike so there is no access to where the tide gate was.  Driving Directions:  Item 1-3. Since access to this site is by boat only direction should be to Willapa NWR boat ramp; Jeldness Road is privately owned and doesn’t provide access to this site. The use of “Bay” from Refuge title has been removed along with language for the tide gate that no longer exists and associated implementation details related to closing the tide gate. Removed the use of Jeldness Road for access to strategy site, and revised the strategy as boat access only and deployable from the Refuge boat launch/parking area. Corresponding driving directions to the referenced change was also added.
Response Strategies and Priorities WB-40 P. 106-107 – Willapa Bay NWR Tide Gate #2 – Title: Change the title to Willapa NWR? (Outside Channel?) Slough; Refuge doesn’t have a tide gate at this location; Implementation:  Willapa NWR no longer has a tide gate at this location.  The phone number listed in this section should be changed to our new office number.  Who at the refuge should this be? Change WB NWR to WNWR.  Staging Area: Delete Bay and HQ from Willapa Bay NWR HQ.  Staging area should be changed to Willapa NWR boat ramp parking lot. Field Notes:  Jeldness Road is a privately owned road, Refuge had removed dike so there is no access to where the tide gate was.  Driving Directions:  Item 1-3. Since access to this site is by boat only direction should be to Willapa NWR boat ramp; Jeldness Road is privately owned and doesn’t provide access to this site.  NOTE:  I believe that this is the channel that goes along the outside of the dike that was removed. Specified the name of the strategy as “outside channel” as suggested and removed “Bay” from Refuge title. Removed language for the tide gate that no longer exists and removed associated implementation details related to closing the tide gate. Removed the use of Jeldness Road for access to strategy site that is no longer accessible by car because the road is private. Revised the strategy as boat access and deployable from the NWR boat launch/parking area, and included corresponding driving directions to the referenced change.
Response Strategies and Priorities WB-41 P. 108-109 – Willapa Bay NWR Tide Gate #3 – Title: Change the title to Willapa NWR Porter Point Creek Slough; Refuge doesn’t have a tide gate at this location; Implementation:  Willapa NWR no longer has a tide gate at this location.  The phone number listed in this section should be changed to our new office number.  Who at the refuge should this be?  Change WB NWR to W NWR or WNWR.  Staging Area: Delete Bay and HQ from Willapa Bay NWR HQ.  This should be changed to Willapa NWR boat ramp parking lot.  NOTE:  We have a new HQ which is located at the east end of 67th Place off of Sandridge Road.  (Address ?). Field Notes:  Jeldness Road is a privately owned road, Refuge had removed dike so there is no access to where the tide gate was. Driving Directions:  Item 1-3. Since access to this site is by boat only direction should be to Willapa NWR boat ramp; Jeldness Road is privately owned and doesn’t provide access to this site.  NOTE:  I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE CHANNEL THAT GOES ALONG THE OUTSIDE OF THE DIKE THAT WAS REMOVED. Revised the name of the strategy to “Porter Point Creek Slough” as suggested and removed “Bay” from Refuge title. Removed language for the tide gate that no longer exists and removed associated implementation details related to closing the tide gate. Removed the use of Jeldness Road for access to strategy site that is no longer accessible by car because the road is private. Revised the strategy as boat access and deployable from the NWR boat launch/parking area, and included corresponding driving directions to the referenced change.
WB-42 P. 110 – Parker Slough (this is actually Dohman Creek) and Access:  Is only accessible by boat. Staging Area:  Change Willapa Bay NWR HQ to Willapa NWR boat ramp/parking lot. Field Notes:  This is not accessible through Jeldness Road. Driving Directions:  Change the (2.47 Miles) to ~5 miles.  Delete #5 (Government Road is a dead end) Revised the name of the strategy to “Dohman Creek” as suggested and removed “Bay” from Refuge title. Removed the use of Jeldness Road for access to strategy site that is no longer accessible by car because the road is private. Revised the strategy as boat access and deployable from the NWR boat launch/parking area, and included corresponding driving directions to the referenced change.
Response Strategies and Priorities WB-43 P. 112-113 – Porter Point Unit Parker Slough Tide Gate. Title: Change this title to Riekkola Unit Dohman Creek. Implementation:  There is no longer a tide gate at this location so a boom will need to be deployed at the identified channel.  Contact number should be changed to WNWR new phone number at our new HQ location. Field Notes:  There is no dike access road to this location. So edit these notes. Driving Directions:  This should be directions to the WNWR boat ramp and parking lot at 3888 State Route (U.S 101), 98624. Revised the name of the strategy to “Riekkola Unit Dohman Creek” as suggested and revised contact number. Removed language for the tide gate that no longer exists. Revised the strategy, and added that it is boat access and deployable from the NWR boat launch/parking area, and included corresponding driving directions to the referenced change.
Response Strategies and Priorities WB-44 P. 114-115 Tarlatt Unit (Lower Slough) Implementation:  Change WB NWR to WNWR;  There is no tide gate at this location.  The Tarlatt Slough tide gate is owned and maintained by Pacific County.  Boom should be deployed at the location identified for the Lower Slough which will need to be done by boat. Staging Area:  Change to Willapa NWR boat launch area. Field Notes:  This is wrong and since access to this site will need to be done by boat should be from the Willapa NWR boat ramp at 3888 SR 101 (U.S. 101), 98624. The actual tide gate for this is the Tarlatt Slough (Upper Slough) identified on pages 116-117.  Driving Directions on page 115 are to this tide gate. Removed “Bay” from the Refuge title and removed language for the tide gate that no longer exists and revised the associated implementation details related to Pacific County closing the tide gate. Revised the strategy as boat access and deployable from the NWR boat launch/parking area, and included corresponding driving directions to the referenced change.
Response Strategies and Priorities WB-45 P. 116-117 Tarlatt Unit (Upper Slough) Implementation:  Change Willapa Bay to Willapa, National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters to National Wildlife Refuge boat ramp.  Change WB USNWR to WNWR; change the contact number to WNWR new number and correct extension number. Removed “Bay” from Implementation, revised directions to NWR boat ramp and updated the contact number to the new NWR Headquarters building for notifications communication.
Notification Strategy WB-45 P.128-129 Tarlatt Slough Implementation and Communication Process and Action sections:  Change WB NWR to WNWR.  The contact number and extension needs to be changed to the new Long Beach number and to the correct extension number. Driving Directions:  This should be to our new HQ location at the east end of 67th Place (off Sandridge Rd). Removed “Bay” from Implementation, revised directions to NWR boat ramp and updated the contact number to be the new NWR Headquarters building for notifications and communication.
Notification Strategy WB-42 P. 130-131 Parker Slough (This is actually Dohman Creek) Implementation and Communication Process Action sections:  Change WB NWR to WNWR.  The contact number and extension needs to be changed to the new Long Beach number and to the correct extension number. Driving Directions:  This should be to our new HQ location at the east end of 67th Place (off Sandridge Rd). Revised the name of the strategy from Parker Sloug. Removed “B” from WB NWR acronym and replaced it with WNWR, revised directions to NWR boat ramp and updated the contact number to be the new NWR Headquarters building for notifications and communication.