New Plan for Ahtanum State Forest Will Help Improve Recreation Safety and Sustainability
Today, DNR released the Ahtanum State Forest Recreation Plan. For the past two years, DNR staff worked with a citizen group to develop the plan. Members of the Ahtanum Recreation Plan Work Group included representatives from a broad range of motorized and non-motorized recreation interests, as well as a wildlife biologist, a conservationist, and a neighboring landowner to DNR-managed land.
Read more at New plan for Ahtanum State Forest will help improve recreation safety and sustainability
Categories: Access Tags: ahtanum state forest, dnr, washington, washington state, washington state department of natural resources
Washington State DNR Releases Final Recreation Plan For Ahtanum State Forest
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2010
DNR, Citizen Group Work To Improve Recreation Opportunities And Access
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today released a recreation plan for the Ahtanum State Forest, a 76,000-acre block of forested state trust land about 20 miles west of Yakima.
The Ahtanum State Forest is a popular year-round recreation area for visitors from both sides of the Cascade Mountains. Over the years, the area has experienced increased use from a variety of recreation activities including off-road vehicle riding, hiking, hunting, and horseback riding.
“This plan provides the foundation for creating safe, sustainable, and enjoyable recreation opportunities in the Ahtanum State Forest,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. “The strength of the plan lies in the collaborative efforts of citizens representing diverse recreation interests who helped develop a vision for the forest.”
Categories: Access Tags: ahtanum state forest, biking, cascade mountains, cross-country skiing, dnr, four wheel drive, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, motorized recreation, non-motorized recreation, off road, public lands, recreation, sno-park, snowmobiling, state forest, washington, washington state, washington state department of natural resources, winter recreation, yakima
DNR Invites The Public To Help Plan Trails And Restoration Projects In Reiter Foothills Forest (Washington)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 23, 2009
OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a workshop in January to collect public input on restoration work and trail opportunities in Reiter Foothills Forest. The popular area is located in eastern Snohomish County near Gold Bar and Index.
When: 6 to 8 p.m., January 13
Where: The Commons, Monroe High School, 17001 Tester Rd., Monroe
The public workshop is in conjunction with the overall recreation planning process that DNR has been conducting over the past two years. As DNR prepares to implement the plan, the agency will be collecting information about site-specific restoration and trail projects. Public involvement will be critical to the success of the plan.
Categories: Access Tags: department of natural resources, dnr, gold bar, index, recreation, reiter, reiter foothills forest, reiter pit, snohomish county, washington, washington state department of natural resources
DNR Reopens More Trails on the Olympic Peninsula (Washington)
Portions of the popular Sadie Creek ORV trail system on state trust land in Clallam County are open again. DNR closed trails in area because of damage caused in last month’s wind storm. We’ve cleared the fallen trees and limbs blocking trail access but don’t forget that another portion of Sadie Creek that we closed before the storm due to timber sale activity remains off-limits….
Read more at DNR Reopens More Trails on the Olympic Peninsula
Categories: Access Tags: 4x4, clallam county, dnr, olympic, orv, sadie creek, trails, washington
Tahuya Clean Up a Success (Washington)
DNR called and you answered. Our Tahuya State Forest cleanup last weekend near Belfair was a success. Some 50 volunteers helped collect more than 50 cubic yards of garbage that had been dumped in the area (think of a sidewalk about 3-feet wide and one mile long). More than 50 tires, plus sofas, mattresses, bikes, propane tanks, even pianos. Coordinating the event was Jesse Sims, Recreation Manager for the DNR South Puget Sound Region. Following the cleanup, Sims said, “Any and everything you could imagine. I will not get into all the details!”
Read more at Tahuya clean up success. Thanks volunteers!
Categories: Press Releases Tags: 4x4, dnr, off-road vehicle, olympic peninsula, orv, tahuya, washington
Foothills Trail System in Olympic Peninsula Reopens; Sadie Creek Work Next (Washington)
DNR crews working in the northern Olympic Peninsula have reopened all but a small section of trail in the Foothills Off-road Vehicle (ORV) Trail System following last month’s windstorm.
Crews worked for nine days cutting and clearing blown-down trees and limbs that had fallen across the trails. DNR kept about a half mile of the trail closed because fallen trees pulled out big chunks of ground, and the freezing weather prevented crews from repairing the trail.
Read more at Foothills Trail System in Olympic Peninsula reopens
Categories: Access Tags: dnr, foothills off-road vehicle trail system, off-road vehicle, olympic peninsula, orv, sadie creek, washington
Volunteers Needed to Help Clean Up Tahuya State Forest (Washington)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 30, 2009
Event Takes Place This Weekend (December 5 And 6) Near Belfair
Olympia, WA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and partners are sponsoring a cleanup at Tahuya State Forest near Belfair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., December 5 and 6. Volunteers can participate on either or both days. A potluck will follow the clean-up activities on both days.
Volunteers should meet at the Oak Patch in the Tahuya State Forest (mile marker 4.5 on Elfendahl Pass Road). Bring gloves, a camp chair, and a potluck dish. The event will go on, rain or shine, with a covered area provided for the potlucks.
DNR’s partners in the cleanup include the Wheelers of Washington (donating a dumpster); Mudslingers 4×4 Association (donating port-a-potties); and the Tahuya/Green Mountain Focus Group.
Directions: Take Hwy. 3 to Hwy. 300 (North Shore Road), turn right on Belfair-Tahuya Rd., turn right on Elfendahl Pass Rd, follow the signs.
For more information, contact Jesse Sims at 360-801-5097 or jesse.sims@dnr.wa.gov .
Recreation On DNR-Managed Lands
DNR manages more than 5 million acres of state-owned forest, aquatic, agricultural, conservation and urban lands. Most recreation on these lands takes place in the 2.1 million acres of forests that DNR manages as state trust lands. By law, DNR manages state trust lands to produce income for schools, universities, prisons, state mental hospitals, community colleges, local services in many counties, and the state’s general fund. State trust lands are also managed to provide fish and wildlife habitat and educational and recreational opportunities.
DNR-managed lands provide a variety of landscapes throughout Washington State. Recreational opportunities include hiking, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, camping, motorized vehicle riding, mountain biking, and boating.
DNR’s main recreation focus is to provide trails, trailhead facilities, and a primitive experience in a natural setting.
Media Contact: Toni Droscher, Communications and Outreach Specialist, 360-902-1523 and toni.droscher@dnr.wa.gov
http://www.dnr.wa.gov/RecreationEducation/News/Pages/nr09_185.aspx
