The Dosewallips Road in Olympic National Park (WA) has been closed since it washed out in 2002. Thomas O'Keefe authored a background article on the issue [AW]. Since then, the Forest Service has refined the proposed route across the hillside above the washout to avoid a small stream and most of the larger trees [Federal Register].

In March, Olympic National Forest expects to release their Draft Environmental Impact Statement for reopening the Dosewallips Road. To receive a copy of the DEIS, contact Tim Davis ONF 360-956-2375 or email comments-pacificnorthwest-olympic@fs.fed.us with "Dosewallips DEIS" in the subject line, and request DEIS Summary (25 pages) or Full DEIS (320 pages).

Decommissioning is not a practical alternative, and is not considered in the DEIS. It would include demolition of the concrete bridge across the river, two steel bridges across streams, an Olympic National Park Ranger Station, campground, and related facilities, excavation of dozens of culverts, bulldozing the roadbed, and would cost more than reopening the road. However, Olympic Forest Coalition continues to advocate decommissioning the road by driving heavy equipment up the riverbed, and hauling all the demolition debris down the riverbed, to avoid reopening the road. An analysis of this curious proposal is available [WTA].