Bells Mt. trail closed weekdays
BATTLE GROUND — Bells Mountain trail in the Yacolt Burn State Forest is closed on weekdays due to a logging operations.
The Washington Department of Natural Resources reported timber harvest will be occurring around mile No. 4. Another timber harvest is taking place near Cold Creek day-use area. It will not close the trail but may affect traffic.
Delays of up to 15 minutes are possible on the 1300 Road. Flaggers will manage the traffic.
Bells Mountain trail is open on weekends.
Cross-Columbia swim slated
HOOD RIVER — Registration is open through Sept. 1 for the 69th annual Roy Webster Columbia River Cross-Channel Swim on Labor Day morning.
Swimmers board a sternwheeler in Hood River, are ferried across to the Washington side of the Columbia, jump off the boat and swim back to the Oregon shore.
The cost is $60 per swimmer. Register at www.active.com.
The swim is 1.1 miles. Water temperature averages 69 degrees and the average depth is 60 feet.
The first boat loads from 6 to 7 a.m. and the swimmers jump at 7:45 a.m. The second boat, if enough are registered, loads from 9 to 9:30 a.m. and the swimmers jump into the river at 10:15 a.m.
The late Roy Webster was a local orchardist who swam the river each Labor Day.
Bass club meets Aug. 25
PORTLAND — The Oregon Bass and Panfish Club will meet at 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at the East Portland Community Center, 740 S.E. 106th Ave.
Club member Bob Judkins will discuss fishing for walleye, bass and panfish in the Multnomah Channel of the Willamette River.
License fees jump Sept. 1
OLYMPIA — Washington’s hunting and fishing license fees will increase on Sept. 1.
State lawmakers approved the new fees in the 2011 session. About $8 million will be generated in license and permit revenue. The money will replace a temporary 10 percent surcharge that expired in June.
Not all fees increase. Some will decline including those for youth, seniors and the disabled.
A resident freshwater fishing license will cost $27.80. A deer hunting license will be $42.90 and $48.40 for elk. A small-game license will cost $38.50.
There are additional dealer fees, which vary depending on the number of licenses purchased.
The new fee schedule is online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/license_fees.html.
