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| JCTRA Club Meeting |
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Wednesday, 28th January 2009. @ 7:00 PM Pied Piper Pizza 12300 NE Fourth Plain Rd Orchards, WA |
| Our Next Work Party |
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Next Monthly Work Party
will be Sat. and Sun., December 27-28th, setup for the Hangover Scrambles. Meet 10 AM at Washougal MXP
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DNR Budget issues... |
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Posted by: mikeames on Sunday, January 04, 2009 - 08:31 PM |
Hi, Folks -
The following three items might be of interest to you:
Governor’s Budget – Yesterday, Gov. Gregoire announced her budget for the 2002-2011 budget cycle. As we mentioned in the most recent addition of the DNR Recreation News, the governor’s budget is another step in the process of developing the state’s biennial budget. The next step will be when the Legislature begins its budget deliberations after the March revenue forecast is released.
Overall, DNR’s recreation budget faired well. The funding for managing and maintaining recreation sites and trails was not reduced in the governor’s proposed budget, probably because our primary source of funding comes from a dedicated fund derived from the sale of gas, and that we receive very little general fund monies.
The governor’s office is actually projecting a slight increase in the revenue generated from the sale of gas, which could translate into an additional $100,000 that we can invest back into the department’s Recreation Program. The governor’s does reduce our capital budget by 20% ($816,000), which I hope we can make up for in grants.
For details about the Governor’s priorities and her proposed budget for 2009-2011, go to
http://www.governor.wa.gov/priorities/budget/default.asp
To view the actual budget documents, go to: http://ofm.wa.gov/budget09/
Federal Stimulus Bill – The incoming administration will be proposing a federal stimulus package, which may include funding to hire maintenance and construction crews. To better position the state to receive some of this funding, we are working with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and State Parks to identify where it makes sense to have joint maintenance crews across the state.
We have also initiated discussions with the US Forest Service (USFS) to see if they are also interested in sharing maintenance crews where it makes sense. So far, the agencies are all interested in exploring this possibility.
The three state agencies have been working collaboratively for the last 5 years to more efficiently manage the limited funding we receive for the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) Program. DNR has taken the lead administration role. Crew supervisors work with the field managers from DNR, WDFW and State Parks to schedule crew time based on allotted time for each agency and priority. Thanks to the efforts of Kirk Thomas (DNR’s WCC Program Director), this approach has been successful to date. The program has not only gained administration efficiencies but provided individual crew members with a variety of experiences. If we can involve the USFS, we can not only be more efficient but have a greater capacity to manage the trails and facilities in a wide geographical area.
Goals for 2009 – I will be meeting with my staff in mid-January to discuss what we intend to accomplish in 2009. I thought it would be valuable to add your thoughts to the discussion as well. For example, last year the recreation program goals included:
- Establishing a periodic recreation newsletter
- Developing a 10-year capital plan
- Developing a master volunteer project list
- Increasing grant funding and volunteer participation
One of our goals for 2009 is to improve our recreation Web pages on DNR’s Web site and make them a useful tool for you.
So please e-mail me your thoughts!
Also, I just wanted to let you know that you can now download current and past issues of the DNR Recreation News at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/RecreationEducation/Topics/OtherRecreationInformation/Pages/amp_rec_newsletter.aspx
Hope you have a great holiday season!
Mark Mauren
Assistant Division Manager
Recreation, Public Access and WCC
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Reiter Foothills volunteer work... |
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Posted by: mikeames on Sunday, January 04, 2009 - 08:28 PM |
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Reiter Foothills, located in eastern Snohomish County, has long been a popular recreation area. The 10,000-acre area attracts a diverse range of users including off-road enthusiasts, campers, hikers, mountain bikers, and hunters. The southern portion, in particular, has become increasingly popular over the years for motorized use.
Reiter is so popular that certain locations have become overused, and some streams and stream corridors have experienced environmental damage from off-trail riding and the large numbers of riders using the area.
The Washington Departments of Natural Resources (DNR), Ecology, and Fish and Wildlife, and the Tulalip Tribes are working on some interim projects to protect the area from further damage to its resources. These interim measures will help address water quality problems until the Reiter Foothills recreation advisory group completes its final recommendations and DNR determines the best course of action for the long term. (For more information about recreation planning for Reiter Foothills, visit: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/RecreationEducation/Topics/RecreationPlanning/Pages/amp_rec_reiter_foothills.aspx)
Volunteers have played an important role in restoring Reiter Foothills. In the past few months, DNR staff have worked with volunteers from groups such as the Northwest Quad Association, the Pacific Northwest Four Wheel Drive Association, and Reiter Trail Watch to complete on-the-ground projects that:
· Protect water quality by keeping sediment from flowing into streams.
· Protect wetlands and fish habitat.
· Clean up and prevent litter.
Volunteers and DNR staff have already completed the following projects:
· Hardening the Deer Creek crossing.
· Conducting weekend cleanups of the area.
· Repairing fencing and eliminating motorized access around Reiter Pond to protect the area.
The next planned work will involve placing ecology blocks to control access to sensitive areas along Reiter Road and near Reiter Pond where a significant amount of garbage dumping is occurring. We expect this work to be completed by mid-January. View a map of the barrier installation project at: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/em_reiter_foothills_barrier_installation.pdf
Please note that primary off-road vehicle routes currently being used will remain open.
The work going on at Reiter is a great example of how volunteers are helping to make a difference on DNR-managed lands. If you’d like to help by volunteering your time, equipment, or materials for upcoming work projects in the Reiter area, contact David Way at 360-854-2830 or david.way@dnr.wa.gov.
DNR recently put out a press release about the work going in Reiter at: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/RecreationEducation/News/Pages/nr08_217.aspx
For more information about Reiter Foothills, contact Candace Johnson at 360-854-2803 or reiterfoothills@dnr.wa.gov.
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ARRA News Letter December |
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Posted by: mikeames on Thursday, December 04, 2008 - 12:01 AM |
Obama Administration Takes Shape
It's a cold, rainy day in the Nation's Capital. The Redskins were trounced by the New York Giants, 23-7. On top of that, the state of the national economy continues to confuse practically every economist working for the Treasury Department or the Federal Reserve. Just thinking about the economy reminds one that nasty weather and the outcome of a football game are of little importance.
Much of Washington is gripped with gossip and speculation on who's who in the new Obama Administration. The President-elect has already announced his economic team. He intends to keep Secretary Gates at the Pentagon and will nominate his former political rival, Hillary Clinton, to the post of Secretary of State.
Names are floating about as potential picks for Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Agriculture, but nothing is certain at this point, though we should know more by the middle of December. Until then, I refuse to worry about it. I can't change the weather; I certainly can't help the Redskins; I don't understand what's happening to the economy except a whole lot of people are losing their homes and jobs; and I don't have a clue what the President-elect is up to in terms of pulling his cabinet together. In other words, I'll have to wait to find out like the rest of America and then I will figure out how to deal with the news.
110th Congress Lame Duck Session
The Lame Duck session met and after a few days, left town without much to brag about. When the Congress was in town, much attention was placed on the plight of the American auto industry and the millions of Americans whose livelihoods are dependent upon the financial health of these companies. The Detroit CEOs didn't do a very good job of explaining why they needed the bailout. For one thing, they didn't seem to have a coherent business plan on how they plan to turn their companies around. And then, the mode of transportation they used to get to Washington didn't help matters. Each CEO flew to town on his own corporate jet. Not an unusual circumstance, by any means, but maybe they should have considered "jet pooling" to Washington. I guess if you are a CEO you don't do that sort of thing. Congress returns again on December 8th and we will see the CEOs do a better job of justifying the need for the bailout. If they pass that road test, I expect Congress will approve the bailout before the Christmas holiday.
There is one positive note regarding the Lame Duck session. The Senate did not pass H.R. 5151, the massive public lands bill that many ARRA members oppose. Senator Harry Reid, the Majority Leader, announced that the Senate did not have sufficient time to break the likely filibuster of Senator Tom Coburn. Reid also announced, however, that he intended to make the measure a priority in the early days of the 111th Congress. With Senate Democrats enjoying a larger majority in the new Congress, Senator Coburn may have more difficulty stopping Senate passage. Also, it's likely that the new President will sign the legislation, so Senator Reid's decision to pull back and wait until next year probably makes sense from their perspective. ARRA, along with a large number of other organizations, will continue to oppose the passage of this legislation.
Fewer Visitors to our National Forests
A recent study by the U. S. Forest Service shows that fewer Americans are using their National Forests as a venue for recreation. Forest Service officials seem to be surprised by this news and uncertain as to why this is the case. The statistics are startling. In 2004, total forest visits were 204.8 million. In 2007, that number dropped to 178.6 million visits, a 13% decline.
Obviously, there are a number of factors contributing to the problem. Part of the decline may stem from our change of lifestyle including the amount of time we all spend in front of a computer or television screen. It's just a fact of life that people spend less time outside.
Some years ago, the National Park Service was alarmed by the drop-off in visitors to the National Parks under its jurisdiction. We wrote about this phenomenon back in May, 2006. During the course of a Congressional oversight hearing on the subject, one of the reasons cited for the decline was that the National Park Service had developed a reputation of being unfriendly towards park visitors. It's a simple thing, if the welcome sign isn't out, people won't come.
The Forest Service faces a similar dilemma. Policymakers are busy designating millions of acres of our National Forests as wilderness areas making access to those areas more difficult. Then, several years ago, the Forest Service decided to go to a designated trail system for OHV recreation when it promulgated the Travel Management Rule. We supported that rule because we felt that a designated trail system made sense. We also said at the time that the implementation process associated with the design of a trail system was critical in making the policy a success. Gaining public input on where those trails should be would ensure that people would want to continue to visit our National Forests for recreational activities.
We were concerned at the time that the local forest districts lacked adequate funding for the implementation phase of the rule. Forest supervisors were told to find the money by re-programming funds from other programs. Some found the money and others didn't, but all operated under the same strict timetable for completing the designation process - which is slated for December, 2009. Time will tell whether OHV enthusiasts are turned off or turned on by what they find as designated trail system for OHV recreation. If they are turned off, visitation to our National Forests will decline further. Let's hope this is not the case.
Looking to 2009
The best thing about the New Year is that it arbitrarily marks a time for new beginnings. The clock doesn't stop; it simply slips into another demarcation for the recording of the passage of time. 2008 has been a tough year for many Americans and here's wishing that the New Year brings better economic times for all.
With a change in Administration and Congress, OHV recreation will be met with new challenges. I think we have a very positive story to tell about responsible recreation and all the good things that OHV enthusiasts do in their communities and on public lands. Our detractors aren't going to tell the good stories, only the bad ones. It's up to us to keep the record straight. Join us in 2009 in meeting this challenge.
Until then, please enjoy the holidays with family and friends.
Sincerely,
Larry E. Smith
Executive Director
Americans for Responsible Recreational Access
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DNR Recreation Plans for Winter from Mark Mauren. |
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Posted by: mikeames on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 08:30 AM |
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Hi, Folks –
I wanted to fill you in on a few exciting projects that our recreation staff are working on this winter. We hope these projects will improve your outdoor recreational experience on lands managed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Let me know if any of the following projects pique your interest, and you want to be involved or kept in the loop.
Volunteer Calendar
In the last year, a variety of individuals and clubs have expressed to me that it would be helpful to their club or organization if DNR could put together a list of volunteer projects in the winter so they can plan ahead. This was a great suggestion, and Christine Redmond, our recreation Volunteer Coordinator, is working with region staff this month and next to develop a list of maintenance and construction or reconstruction projects that we need volunteer help to accomplish over the next year.
Region staff plan to meet with user groups in January and February and give them an opportunity to volunteer for projects. We recognize that a lot of routine maintenance projects are already established and those clubs’ work parties will continue. If your club is interested in taking on a volunteer project, please send me your contact information and we will add it to our database and pass it on to the right contact person in the region.
Volunteer Training
Along with the calendar comes training for volunteers. Christine, and Heidi Stevens, our operational coordinator, are working with the region staff to set up volunteer training sessions in each of our six regions this spring (March and April). We will be sending out a notice of time, place, and date in the next month so you will be able to put the training on your calendars.
As many of you requested, we will provide training in the use of power equipment. We are looking into the ability to accept the US Forest Service and National Park Service certification, as well as providing volunteers our own training course. Please let me know if you’re interested in attending.
Mentoring Program
Another theme I have heard from all organizations is a desire to reach out to the youth in the state, to engage them and mentor them in trail etiquette and ethics. To accommodate this desire we are developing a pilot project where we will connect youth with a volunteer project and have the club that signed up for that project act as a mentor. This will provide youth with an opportunity to:
· Experience mountain biking, ATV riding, equestrian activities, hiking, etc.,
· Accomplish their community service requirements for school or club,
· Receive some hands-on training from people passionate about their sport, and
· An opportunity to experience the great outdoors.
For the clubs, it will provide an opportunity to:
· Expose youth to their sport,
· Teach them ethics and etiquette of the trail, and
· Attract youth to their club.
For the department and society, it will provide:
· An avenue to connect youth to the outdoors in a meaningful manner, and
· Broaden the department’s volunteer base.
Please contact Christine Redmond if you are interested in participating in this project
(360) 902-1632, or CHRISTINE.REDMOND@dnr.wa.gov.
ORV Safety Summit
Mark your calendars! Next year’s training will be May 9 at Straddleline ORV Park, between Olympia and McCleary and May 16 in Colville. Last year’s training was well attended. Classes we’re working to include are motorcycle safety, sound testing, trail etiquette and ethics, and trail maintenance. Also, you will be able to check out the latest from vendors in the business. If you are a vendor and want to participate, please let me know.
Help us address non-point sources of pollution
DNR has been addressing an increasing number of trail-related sediment issues. Often these issues are a result of well-intentioned users building trails in areas that are not appropriate. The sedimentation and damage to stream banks tends to be significant enough that the department can’t ignore the resource damage. The department’s preference is to address the issue prior to regulatory action being taken. In the past, we’ve tried to resolve the issues ourselves, which has sometimes raised concerns from users groups. By being pro-active in addressing resource damage, we will have more options available than if we wait for the regulatory agencies to take action.
Over the last year, we have tried to change our approach. We are trying to involve the user groups in being part of the solution. So far, this has turned out to be a real win-win situation. Right know we are working with the Pacific Northwest Four Wheel Drive Association (PNW4WDA) on two major projects to prevent sedimentation from entering into critical streams. With their help, we have been able to address the issues in a pro-active and positive manner without having to close down an area.
I hope in the future to involve more organizations in helping to resolve environmental and safety issues collaboratively.
Updates
You can find the latest updates on the Recreation WACs, Planning (Reiter, Ahtanum & Yacolt), and the Sustainable Recreation Work Group on the department’s web site:
http://www.dnr.wa.gov/RecreationEducation/Recreation/Pages/Home.aspx
Mark Mauren
Assistant Division Manager for
Recreation and WCC Programs
Asset Management and Protection Division
Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 47014
Olympia, WA 09504-7014
360-902-1047
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DNR Recreation Work Shops |
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Posted by: mikeames on Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - 01:09 AM |
NEWS RELEASE
No. 08-156
August 27, 2008
Contact: Patty Henson, 360-902-1023; cell, 360-870-3853
Washington DNR to Launch Statewide Recreation Workshop Series in Issaquah
Public input will help create new vision for recreation
OLYMPIA – The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host the first of a series of public meetings about recreation from 6 to 9 p.m. on September 9 at the Library Service Center in Issaquah. Throughout the month of September, DNR is holding nine workshops across the state to gather input from individuals and user groups to help create a new vision for recreation on DNR-managed forestlands, aquatic lands and natural areas.
“We’d like to hear about where people in this state like to recreate and what kinds of recreation activities they enjoy,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Sutherland. “We also want to know how easily they can access recreation on state-managed lands. The information people provide will help us continue improving opportunities for outdoor recreation.”
The informal workshops will include discussion topic areas where the public can converse with DNR staff, view maps of DNR-managed lands, and offer their vision for recreation in the state.
DNR staff will compile the information gathered at these meetings and present them to the newly formed Sustainable Recreation Work Group. This group was established by the 2008 Legislature to assist DNR in developing a long-term vision that ensures safe, sustainable and enjoyable outdoor recreation on DNR-managed land.
Meeting dates and locations (All meetings are from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.):
September 9 – King County Library Service Center, Issaquah (kick-off meeting)
September 10 – Omak Community Library, Omak
September 10 – Longhouse Educational and Cultural Center, The Evergreen State College, Olympia
September 11 – Deer Park Library, Deer Park
September 15 – Hoquiam Library, Hoquiam
September 15 – Vancouver Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver
September 16 – Port Angeles Library, Port Angeles
September 16 – Burlington Library, Burlington
September 17 – Grupe Conference Center, Central Washington University, Ellensburg
The Sustainable Recreation Work Group
The 2008 legislature unanimously adopted a DNR proposal to create the Sustainable Recreation Work Group. In the next 16 months, the Work Group will work collaboratively, with citizen input, to develop recommendations to present to the legislature by December 2009. Compatibility with DNR’s trust management responsibilities will be a major consideration in developing this vision.
The Sustainable Recreation Work Group includes members from a variety of areas including:
Recreation user groups
State land leaseholders and contractors
Environmental organizations
Corporate and community leaders
Major landowners
Local, state, federal, and Tribal governments
Representative of the Governor
Members of the legislature
For more information about the Sustainable Recreation Work Group, contact Jana Greer at 360-902-1730 or jana.greer@dnr.wa.gov.
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