Moran State Park lagoon bridge closed
posted 05/05/05
PRESS RELEASE: Visitors to Moran State Park who want to use the Cascade Lake Loop trail will need to add approximately one mile to their walk beginning immediately since State Park officials are temporarily closing the lagoon bridge over safety concerns.
State Parks personnel are investigating reasons for the failure of one of the bridge deck logs and will have both short- and long-term recommendations in the near future.
In the interim, the lagoon bridge will be closed so hikers will need to take the lagoon extension trail. A hiker starting at the Day Use Area (swim beach) going counter-clockwise around the lake, would proceed towards the lagoon on the trail, follow the signs to Rosario (to the parking lot near the tennis court), turn left, and walk on Palisades Road to the next trail that will reconnect to the main trail. The detour will add approximately one mile to the walk making it about a 3-1/2 mile loop. Signs are posted to assist hikers with the detour.
For further information contact the Moran park office at (360) 376-2326.
Fishing season opens April 30 on Cascade Lake;
New dock for kids
This 1948 photo of the Day Use Area at Moran State Park shows the historic swimming and boat concession floats. A new fishing float for kids was installed this week in approximately the same area as the boat dock in this picture.
posted 04/26/05
PRESS RELEASE: Saturday's (April 30) fishing season opener on Cascade Lake at Moran State Park will be more fun than ever as kids will get their first chance to fish off the ADA-accessible, 12 foot by 32 foot float installed this week off the point in the Day Use area, just north of the swim beach. Adults will have a great time too, wetting a line to bring in the big one. Over 125,000 fish were planted in 2004 and the fishing should be fantastic, according to Park staff.
The fishing float is more accurately described as a long-absent replacement float, although the earlier float located on this spot was actually the original boat rental float and the current boat rental float location was actually a swimming float. The fishing float, boat rental concession float and boat house on Cascade Lake, and the boat rental concession float at Mountain Lake were all funded, among other projects, through money generated from the new parking fees.
Phillip Miller, president of the Friends of Moran State Park organization which co-sponsors the annual Bill Yarlott Opening Day Derby with Eastsound Sporting Goods says all the usual festivities will be in place. Bill will be there to serve his traditional chili and corn bread, there will be splendid prizes (donated by Eastsound Sporting Goods) for the kids' fishing contest, and great fun and camaraderie will be had by all anglers and their friends.
In 2004 there were 20,000 cutthroat, 25,000 rainbow and 80,000 Kokanee trout planted in the lake. "The Kokanee will be ready to catch in 2007," said Park Manager Dennis Flowers. "Last year's plants should be 10-11 inches. On opening day we expect last year's plans should be 10-11 inches and carry over fish (16 inch range) to be ready. Cutthroat in the 20 plus inch size could also show up in the angler's creel.
"We're very pleased about the kids fishing dock. There's a brand new dock house on the new boat rental float that has been carefully constructed to mimic the look and feel of the historic CCC buildings at Moran," he adds.
The boat rental concession will be open Friday from 12-6, Saturday from 10-6 and Sunday from 10-6. Anyone who wants a boat for earlier than 10 a.m. needs to make arrangements with the concession the day before. The boat rental will be available weekends only until Memorial Day weekend, May 27-30.
Fishing on Cascade Lake is open the last Saturday of April through October. Fishing licenses are required for those anglers 16 years and older and can be obtained at Eastsound Sporting Goods (376-5588).
All park campgrounds will be available for opening weekend. No reservations can be made at this time, all sites are on a first-come, first-served basis, so campers will need to occupy them as they arrive,. For questions about the park, please call 376-2326.
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