WA DNR meetings

[papa bear]

I like the Issaquah meeting. The Olympia (Evergreen State College) meeting would be a good one too...



From: JARRETT, SAM (DNR) [mailto:Sam.Jarrett@dnr.wa.gov]

Subject: FW: Wanted: Your Vision for Recreation in Washington


Help DNR chart a course for recreation in Washington

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be looking to user groups and individuals to help create a new vision for recreation on DNR-managed forestlands, aquatic lands and natural areas. Throughout the month of September, DNR will host nine workshops across the state to gather input from interested citizens.



We invite you to come share your thoughts on the direction of recreation in Washington. Where do you recreate? What kinds of recreation activities do you enjoy? How easily can you access recreation on state-managed lands? Drop by various topic stations at one of the workshops, talk to staff and provide your thoughts on these and other questions.



DNR will bring your answers to these and other questions 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 to 9 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



Why this new focus on recreation?

The last time the state officially addressed recreation issues on DNR-managed lands was 37 years ago with the passage of the Multiple Use Act in 1971. This act is based on the concept of state lands being available for multiple uses where appropriate, including various types of recreation. Since then, the face of recreation has changed significantly beyond what anyone envisioned. New forms of recreation have come on the scene including paragliding, mountain biking and paintball. Motorized off-road vehicle use has more than doubled in the state in the last 10 years. And, the overall volume of visitors to state lands has grown dramatically.



The Multiple Use Act still provides a solid foundation for recreation in Washington. Your input will help identify ways to better take into account the changing nature of recreation, pressures from a growing population, and the need to ensure the environmental health of DNR-managed lands.



Look for future e-mail messages with more information about the Sustainable Recreation Work Group, including a Web page address. In the meantime, if you’d like directions to any of the workshops call Jana Greer at 360-902-1730 or send an e-mail to jana.greer@dnr.wa.gov.

 

[ruffryder]

Sweet! I will be at the Issaquah one too...

 

[eddy]

Wa dnr

I will go the the Issaquah meeting as well!

 

[ericbigbore]

see in the Quah on the 9th.

 

[ericbigbore]

A show of force would be nice??

 

[ruffryder]

I hope 4 people is enough of a force for you.... looks like that is all that will show up...


Come on people, I mean, it's Issaquah.... it not like you have to cross a pass, or take a bridge.

Ohh, and there is the Issaquah brewery for refreshments

DNR site info / directions

Just to clarify... Is the DNR in control of all of our riding areas??? I would think this would have a large impact on us....

 

[justadude]

I'll try to be there as well.

 

[CleElum Sledhead]

Just to clarify... Is the DNR in control of all of our riding areas??? I would think this would have a large impact on us....

The short answer is NO, at least for snowmobile use areas. Colockum and LT Murray have numerous DNR sections, and are the main DNR areas that see snowmobile use I believe, at least as far as central WA. There are a few other DNR locations we ride too, but I don't recall them off the top of my head.

You can go to the DNR website and review maps of ALL of the DNR managed lands.

Forest service managed lands are the number one used lands by snowmobilers in WA state.

 

[justadude]

I'll be there. I know Papa bear he might remember what I look like.

 

[ruffryder]

The short answer is NO, at least for snowmobile use areas. Colockum and LT Murray have numerous DNR sections, and are the main DNR areas that see snowmobile use I believe, at least as far as central WA. There are a few other DNR locations we ride too, but I don't recall them off the top of my head.

You can go to the DNR website and review maps of ALL of the DNR managed lands.

Forest service managed lands are the number one used lands by snowmobilers in WA state.

Good info

map of public lands

Kind of interesting that in the UP, it was all DNR land or private.... not much if any riding in the NF lands. Here seems to be just the opposite..

Is the same to be said about all ORV use? I don't know much about quads and other ORV's.....

 

[msled162]

I know three us will be attending the Deer Park meeting.

 

[modsledr]

The short answer is NO, at least for snowmobile use areas. Colockum and LT Murray have numerous DNR sections, and are the main DNR areas that see snowmobile use I believe, at least as far as central WA. There are a few other DNR locations we ride too, but I don't recall them off the top of my head.

You can go to the DNR website and review maps of ALL of the DNR managed lands.

Forest service managed lands are the number one used lands by snowmobilers in WA state.

Hey Dave, we were planning on attending, but by your response it sounds like the DNR doesn't control much ORV land?

Do you consider these meeting worthwhile to attend?

Thanks,
Brent

 

[ericbigbore]

Hey Dave, we were planning on attending, but by your response it sounds like the DNR doesn't control much ORV land?

Do you consider these meeting worthwhile to attend?

Thanks,
Brent

Wondering the same thing? I think it's still good to go, they could take away what little they give us. The greenies would show in force if they thought they could get an acre.

 

[CleElum Sledhead]

Hey Dave, we were planning on attending, but by your response it sounds like the DNR doesn't control much ORV land?

Do you consider these meeting worthwhile to attend?

Thanks,
Brent

I think it is always a good idea to have snowmobilers attend meetings being held by any public land management department that is going to discuss motorized recreation, especially winter motorized recreation. I was mainly just answering ruffy's question as to whether or not the DNR controls most of the land where we ride, and the answer is no. As previously mentioned, they do manage some land important to snowmobilers.

If you recall, the WDFW, a division of DNR I believe, tried to restrict all forms of motorized recreation, even snowmobile use, to only roads on all WDFW managed lands. SAWS was able to help stop this through comments that came in from our SAWS alert last fall:

http://www.snowmobile-alliance.org/...tion_Alert_-_WDFW_proposed_chapter_232-13.htm

WDFW ended up deleting the entire paragraph 232-13-200 that would have restricted access. http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wac232/index.htm

Thanks to those SAWS members in WA that helped make this positive change. This can definitely go down as a win for snowmobilers, and we certainly do not get very many.

 

[ruffryder]

I was mainly just answering ruffy's question as to whether or not the DNR controls most of the land where we ride, and the answer is no. As previously mentioned, they do manage some land important to snowmobilers.

Yah, all I-90 areas are FS lands.... but the Clockem area is not, it is in DNR lands. I think Framus was telling me that the riding over there is pretty good.

I am local, so I will be there....

 

[papa bear]

See ya there this evening Ruffy. Will be bringing co-worker who is ATV-er. His adult son may show as well.

Ruffy, you're in charge of designating the post meeting bar there in Issaquah. Not interested in beer taverns, as you are aware, I prefer whiskey....

 

[ruffryder]

Ruffy, you're in charge of designating the post meeting bar there in Issaquah. Not interested in beer taverns, as you are aware, I prefer whiskey....

no prob.... we will get you the good stuff.

 

[ericbigbore]

I can't make it, sorry guys.

 

[Tumblina]

How about a report???

How did it go?????

 

[ruffryder]

The meeting was pretty interesting... There is quite a bit a enthusiasm with the DNR for trying to better manage the areas for the different recreational users and trying to minimize user conflicts.

The way this is going to work is that the meetings in September are for the public to come up with ideas for better management of the DNR lands. These ideas will then be brought up to a committee made up of recreational enthusiasts. The committee has about 28 members and 5 or 6 of those members are presidents of power sports user groups... ORV's, 4x4's, Boats, Snowmobiles, etc.

It sounds to me like the DNR is trying to get more funding, and the way they have been told that they are the most likely to get funding, is by coming up with a plan to manage the lands based on public input. This will allow them to have a lot of public support and get the funding passed by the legislature.

The DNR is not very important from a snowmobile perspective, but Colokem (sp?) is DNR land, along with sections of Teanaway / Cle Elum. I think there is some to the NE of Wenatchee but I am not sure...

I was really impressed with the enthusiasm of the DNR heads at the meeting. They were really happy that people actually showed up and expressed interest in their lands, and recreational opportunities that it provides. There were quite a few ORV guys, motorcycle guys, and quite a bit of mountain bikers. It was an interesting experience, and I am curious as to what the outcome will be.