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
State DNR to hold public meeting on Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2009
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a public meeting to provide information and receive public comments on a draft recreation plan for the Reiter Foothills Forest.
Reiter Foothills Forest is a popular recreation area located in eastern Snohomish County near Gold Bar and Index.
When: Wednesday, November 18, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Where: The Commons, Monroe High School, 17001 Tester Rd., Monroe
In 2007, the Washington State Legislature recognized the challenges of managing recreational use at Reiter Foothills Forest and funded DNR’s development of a sustainable recreation plan. For the past two years, DNR has worked with a diverse group of stakeholders – including citizens, user groups, representatives from conservation groups, and local officials – to create a recreation plan that identifies long-term recreation uses and addresses problems in the area.
In addition to Reiter Foothills Forest, DNR is also doing sustainable recreation planning for two other forest areas in Washington State: Ahtanum State Forest near Yakima and the western portion of the Yacolt Burn State Forest, north of Washougal.
DNR will release the draft Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan on its web site on Tuesday, November 10. DNR is requesting feedback from the public about the findings and recommendations in this plan. In conjunction with the public review of the plan, DNR is also conducting an official State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process. The public comment period runs from November 10 through December 4.
For more information about the meeting, contact Candace Johnson, 360-854-2803 or candace.johnson@dnr.wa.gov .
The public can provide all written comments about the Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan or the SEPA environmental analysis to:
Washington State Department of Natural Resources
SEPA Center
PO Box 47105
Olympia, WA 98504
sepacenter@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 2.2 million acres of forests that DNR manages as state trust lands. By law, state trust lands are managed 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 1,100 miles of trails, 143 recreation sites, and 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, Recreation Program Communications Manager, 360-902-1523 or toni.droscher@dnr.wa.gov .
Categories: Press Releases Tags: ahtanum state forest, boating, camping, department of natural resources, dnr, fishing, gold bar, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, motorized vehicle riding, mountain biking, recreation, recreational, reiter foothills forest, snohomish county, washington, washington state, washington state department of natural resources, washougal, yacolt burn state forest, yakima
Snowmobilers Help Rescue Winter Recreation
Things were looking pretty bleak for snowmobilers who love to ride the dry winter powder on state trust lands near Yakima and Ellensburg.
Due to budget cuts earlier this year by the Legislature, DNR was planning to suspend its winter recreation program at five snow parks this season. Concerned about the possibility of not having access to their favorite winter recreation sites , the snowmobiling community decided to get proactive.
In a short few weeks, members of the Yakima Ski Benders collected the $25,000 necessary to keep the program alive.
Read more at Snowmobilers Help Rescue Winter Recreation
Categories: On The Web Tags: department of natural resources, dnr, recreation, snow park, snowmobilers, snowmobiling, washington, winter, yakima
BLM Yakima Canyon Recreation Sites Re-opened
For Release: February 27, 2009
Contact: Diane Priebe (509) 665-2100 Release No: OR130-FY2009-011
BLM Yakima Canyon Recreation Sites Re-opened
Yakima, WA – Effective immediately, BLM has re-opened four developed recreation sites it manages in the Yakima River Canyon. BLM?s Umtanum, Lmuma Creek, Big Pines and Roza recreation sites had all been temporarily closed, due to damage from the January, 2009 Yakima River flooding.
Although the recreation sites are currently open to the public, minor flood cleanup and repairs will continue. BLM cautions visitors that portions of the Roza boat launch were damaged and may remain closed until more extensive repairs can be made.
Categories: Access Tags: big pines, blm, bureau of land management, ellensburg, lmuma creek, recreation, roza, umtanum, washington, yakima, yakima river
OlympiaFJ60.net – Driving the Blue Highways – Yakima to Vantage to Ellensburg
Brandon over on OlympiaFJ60.net has a piece on driving what he calls “Blue Highways” (the secondary highways on the maps), and specifically a loop he recently completed beginning and ending in Yakima and taking him along the Columbia River to Vantage, Ellensburg, and through the Yakima River canyon.
Read the entire trip report at Driving the Blue Highways – Yakima to Vantage to Ellensburg.
Enjoy.
Categories: On The Web Tags: backroads, columbia river, ellensburg, highways, vantage, yakima, yakima river
Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area Overland Tour 07.21.07
After a night of camping along the Yakima River, we got up early, broke camp and headed to Ellensburg, Washington to meet up with the Northwest Backroad Drivers group to explore the Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area just east of Ellensburg.
Categories: Adventures Tags: army, backroads, campsite, cayuse, columbia, communications, ellensburg, expedition, forest, gps, jeep, northwest, overland, park, parke creek, quilomene, river, skookumchuck, tour, vantage, washington, whiskey bay, whiskey dick, wild horse, wildlife, yakima
Camping in the Yakima River Canyon – 07.20.07
After a late start getting out of town, we finally made Ellensburg, Washington around 8:00 PM on Friday night. Not a lot of time to find a camping site, especially on Friday night. I spotted some campgrounds on the Yakima River in the Washington Road & Recreation Atlas south of Ellensburg in the canyon, so we headed that direction.
Categories: Adventures Tags: backroads, blm, camp, campground, camping, ellensburg, lmuma creek, northwest, quilomene, river, squaw creek, untanum creek, washington, yakima
