DNR Winter Recreation In Jeapordy

[Grumpy]

September 25, 2009


Hi, folks:

In this message:

Reduced services for winter recreation.
Reminder about upcoming public meetings to review draft recommendations from the Sustainable Recreation Work Group.
National Public Lands Day – Saturday


REDUCED SERVICES FOR WINTER RECREATION

As you know, DNR’s Recreation Program had to reduce services to many of its recreation areas last July due to budget cuts. We had to drastically reduce services for summer recreation, and, as anticipated, we now face making cuts to our winter motorized recreation program.

DNR’s winter motorized recreation program is primarily funded through the General Fund. As I mentioned in a previous budget-related message, our General Fund appropriation was cut by 60 percent in the 2009 legislative session—from $1.2 million to $440,000/biennium. Our winter motorized recreation budget represents a small portion of our program’s budget— about $50,000 each year.

Typically, the $50,000 is split evenly between our Northeast and Southeast regions and pays for staff time to manage the contracts for the trail groomers and snow plow operators, as well as maintain facilities and provide a presence to the public. (You can find more detail further down in this message.)

So what’s happening to DNR’s winter recreation program this year?

Our Southeast Region (Ahtanum State Forest and Ellensburg area) will be the most affected. Without additional funding, we can no longer support the staff time and resources to manage, groom trails, and plow roads in the region’s five snow parks: Manashtash, southwest of Ellensburg; Ahtanum Meadows, Ahtanum Guard Station, and Rattlesnake, near Yakima; and Lily Lake, near Yakima.


Low timber prices have further strained DNR’s budget, as has the closing of milling facilities in the Yakima and Ellensburg areas. As a result, DNR has had to temporarily suspend its timber sale program. This means fewer DNR staff and no timber sales to pay for the upkeep of the roads and repair the damage caused by recreational use. This is an issue for both summer and winter time use.

On the positive side, we have enough funding to support the groomed trails that intermingle with USFS trails, as well as dispersed snowmobile use, which accounts for roughly 50 percent of the winter recreation use in that area.

In our Northeast Region, we will be laying off the staff position for the winter program because the majority of the winter motorized use on that region’s DNR-managed lands is trail based, with no snow park facilities or plowed roads. Snow parks in that region are on State Parks and US Forest Service (USFS) lands. USFS personnel and users will monitor the area and work with DNR, State Parks and other users to correct any problems. This was a risk we thought we could take.

What’s DNR doing about the situation?

Our goal and hope is to work with the snowmobile community and tap into their creative minds to find a solution. I am working with leaders from the Washington State Snowmobile Association (WSSA) to kick start a campaign to raise the $25,000 to keep the Southeast Region snow parks open this year. I have personally made a donation of $250 towards raising the $25,000.

Our efforts are beginning to gain ground. I just learned that the Yakima Chapter of WSSA will be placing an ad in the Yakima Herald looking for people to save the winter recreation program in that area by donating funds.

For the short-term, we are looking for stop-gap measures to keep lands open for winter recreation until funding is restored. These measures include working with State Parks to streamline the licensing process. An agreement of this kind will provide users with some long-term assurance that if sites are closed one year, they will be available in the future.

Will DNR be supporting any winter recreation activities this year?

Yes. Even if we don’t find funding for plowing and grooming trails on lands we manage, DNR will still support:

-- Dispersed winter recreation (motorized and non-motorized).

-- Motorized trails that originate on other ownerships—(such as US Forest Service, State Parks and some private lands) and pass through DNR-managed lands.

-- Non-motorized trails and trailheads that fit within the NOVA funding criteria.


What we won’t support this year (without a new source of funding):

Snow parks on DNR-managed lands
Snow plowing that occurs just on DNR-managed roads.
Trail grooming, if the trail is solely on DNR-managed lands.


(For more background on the cuts to the Recreation Program’s budget last summer, see our news release from June 30: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/RecreationEducati ... 9_101.aspx)


What does the $25,000 pay for in each region?

DNR works with contract snow plow and trail grooming operators. Each contract agreement requires a certain level of staff oversight, depending on the operator, to ensure that roads and facilities are not damaged and to repair any damage that may occur. DNR staff perform the following duties:

-- Meet with contractors and write up individual license agreements. This includes processing, recording and maintaining the permits.

-- Ensure that snow plow and grooming operators comply with the plowing standards in the license agreement.

-- Communicate throughout the year to each snowmobile association chapter that uses DNR-managed lands. Involves; discussing existing trails and facilities, responding to requests for expansion and attending statewide committee meetings, etc.

-- Monitor the roads and trails to check for damage and to work with appropriate parties to address any problems.

-- Provide an on-the-ground presence to educate users about safe and sustainable winter recreation and check on license tabs.

-- Maintain facilities, including pumping outhouses (current State Park funds do not cover all the pumping costs) at the end of the season and repairing damage.

-- Respond to information requests and complaints from users.


SUSTAINABLE RECREATION WORK GROUP PUBLIC MEETINGS

The Sustainable Recreation Work Group will be rolling out preliminary recommendations for sustaining recreation on DNR-managed lands at a series of public meetings. All meetings are from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the following locations:

-- September 29 — Issaquah City Hall, Eagle Room, Issaquah

-- September 30 — Central Washington University, Student Union and Recreation Center, Room 137B, Ellensburg

-- October 1 — Deer Park Library, Deer Park

-- October 5 — DNR Pacific Cascade Region Office, Castle Rock

-- October 6 — Port Angeles Library, Port Angeles

-- October 7 — Burlington Public Library, Burlington


You’ve all got a stake in the future of recreation in this state. Attending one of these meetings will give you the chance to talk to a work group member or DNR staff and also make your voice heard. And if you can’t get to one of the meetings, you can let us know your thoughts through an online survey, which will be posted on our website sometime on Monday, September 28. You’ll have until October 12 to get your comments in to us.

To access the survey, download the preliminary recommendations, and learn more about the work group, go to www.dnr.wa.gov and follow the link on the lower left-hand side of the home page to “Sustainable Recreation Work Group.â€

[Grumpy]

[White trash]

So if I'm reading that properly the trails will be open but the grooming will not be taking place? If so I can't say I'm sad to see that happen. Whiny little wimmin sledders anyway...