C
CaseyK
Active member
By Pamela McConkey, State Parks Winter Recreation Program Manager
2012/13 Winter Sno-Parks:
We want to remind folks that if you are visiting the Ahtanum
Meadows, Ahtanum Guard Station, Manastash, Rattlesnake
and Lily Lake Sno-Parks during the 2012/13 winter
season, you will be required to have a Discover Pass. These
sites are now Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Winter
Recreation Trail Heads. To purchase a Discover Pass you can
go on line at www.discoverpass.wa.gov and click on “Buy
Now”, or visit in person a Washington State Park. (Editor’s
note: You can also buy one when you renew your vehicle registration.)
Closures continue in several areas due to washouts, and
other trail damage from the 2010/11 winter storms.
Landowners are continuing work to make as many repairs as
they can while facing the challenges of environmental reviews
and costs of repairs. We had been hopeful that these closures
would be temporary and that our snowmobile trails would be
restored for the 2012/13 season, however, that is not the
case and we are now optimistic that they will be back open
for the 2013/14 winter season. This winter remember to be
sure and check the website before you go for trail closure information
and grooming schedules.
Budget Woes Continue:
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission’s Winter Recreation
Program continues facing budget shortfalls for the 2012/13 winter
season. Due to a continued decline in the number of snowmobile registrations
(only 28,426 registered this past season), the program revenue was
down approximately 8%. (The Snowmobile Recreation Program is 100%
funded through snowmobile registration and gas tax. This shortfall resulted
in more budget reductions on top of the reductions taken last year in trail
grooming. Reductions were also applied to snow removal, administration,
and emergency reserve. Thanks to some last minute grant funding our projected
budget reductions to trail grooming went from an additional 17% reduction
to a 9% reduction. The Snowmobile Advisory Committee (SMAC)
took the weekend of July 27th and 28th to recommend a 2012/13 budget.
The SMAC worked through some very difficult deliberations and made
thoughtful recommendations to staff while considering comments and
concerns expressed by our many trail groomers and landowners that were in
attendance.
If you see a Trail Groomer on the trail this winter, make sure you thank
them for the work they do. They took an 18.9% budget cut for the
2011/2012 winter season and have now taken another 8.75% on top of
that for the 2012/2013 winter season… and don’t forget to register your
snowmobile!
2012/13 Winter Sno-Parks:
We want to remind folks that if you are visiting the Ahtanum
Meadows, Ahtanum Guard Station, Manastash, Rattlesnake
and Lily Lake Sno-Parks during the 2012/13 winter
season, you will be required to have a Discover Pass. These
sites are now Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Winter
Recreation Trail Heads. To purchase a Discover Pass you can
go on line at www.discoverpass.wa.gov and click on “Buy
Now”, or visit in person a Washington State Park. (Editor’s
note: You can also buy one when you renew your vehicle registration.)
Closures continue in several areas due to washouts, and
other trail damage from the 2010/11 winter storms.
Landowners are continuing work to make as many repairs as
they can while facing the challenges of environmental reviews
and costs of repairs. We had been hopeful that these closures
would be temporary and that our snowmobile trails would be
restored for the 2012/13 season, however, that is not the
case and we are now optimistic that they will be back open
for the 2013/14 winter season. This winter remember to be
sure and check the website before you go for trail closure information
and grooming schedules.
Budget Woes Continue:
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission’s Winter Recreation
Program continues facing budget shortfalls for the 2012/13 winter
season. Due to a continued decline in the number of snowmobile registrations
(only 28,426 registered this past season), the program revenue was
down approximately 8%. (The Snowmobile Recreation Program is 100%
funded through snowmobile registration and gas tax. This shortfall resulted
in more budget reductions on top of the reductions taken last year in trail
grooming. Reductions were also applied to snow removal, administration,
and emergency reserve. Thanks to some last minute grant funding our projected
budget reductions to trail grooming went from an additional 17% reduction
to a 9% reduction. The Snowmobile Advisory Committee (SMAC)
took the weekend of July 27th and 28th to recommend a 2012/13 budget.
The SMAC worked through some very difficult deliberations and made
thoughtful recommendations to staff while considering comments and
concerns expressed by our many trail groomers and landowners that were in
attendance.
If you see a Trail Groomer on the trail this winter, make sure you thank
them for the work they do. They took an 18.9% budget cut for the
2011/2012 winter season and have now taken another 8.75% on top of
that for the 2012/2013 winter season… and don’t forget to register your
snowmobile!
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