Sadie Creek

NEWS RELEASE No. 04-118

December 29, 2004

Contact: Wayne Fitzwater, Olympic Region, 360-374-6131

Neil Morgan, Pacific Northwest Four Wheel Drive Association , 800-537-7845

State DNR and Pacific Northwest 4-Wheel Drive Association Sign Adopt-a-Trail Agreement for Sadie Creek 4x4 trail

FORKS – Washington’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced today that the Pacific Northwest Four Wheel Drive Association (PNW4WDA) has signed an Adopt-a-Trail Agreement to maintain a 1.87-mile 4x4 trail in the Sadie Creek area, approximately eight miles west of Joyce on the north Olympic Peninsula. This new trail expands the opportunities associated with the existing Sadie Creek ORV Trail.

Jim Putman, PNW4DA President, and Charlie Cortelyou, DNR Olympic Region Manager, signed the agreement at the Sadie Creek 4x4 Trailhead on Wednesday, Dec. 29. Representatives from three other organizations also participated: Olympic Trail Blazers, a Clallam County four-wheel drive club; and Just Jeep Junkies and Mud Toys, two clubs from Jefferson County.

“This is the first time the PNW4WDA has signed such an agreement with the department,” said Jim Putman, association president. “This is a positive step that strengthens the long standing relationship between the PNW4WDA and DNR. This agreement will enable our association clubs to enjoy our sport while helping to manage and protect the resources for future generations to enjoy. We strive to have a safe and legal trail system and one where our members can participate in the four-wheel drive experience. It is only through successfully management and cooperation, of which this agreement is only a part, that such an area can be sustained.”

According to DNR Olympic Region Manager Charlie Cortelyou, “DNR is working to get unmanaged trails into a managed status where the use is compatible, or closed where it is not.” “This is a great opportunity to take a user-built trail and put it under a volunteer maintenance program that allows ORV use while also protecting water quality, hydrology, and the trust’s timber asset. We appreciate the statewide association’s willingness to back their local clubs.”

Cortelyou explained that state trust land will remain commercial timberland; and when timber sales occur in the area, DNR and the volunteers will coordinate the trail’s use and location.

Partnerships leverage resources & maintain recreational opportunities

Adopt-a-Trail agreements have been signed in many parts of the state with local recreation groups to maintain trails they use on state trust lands. In this way, DNR ensures protection of the resources, while being able to provide multiple recreational use with a limited budget.

Local 4x4 clubs signing the Sadie Creek Adopt-a-Trail agreement will be the primary contact with DNR. These local partnerships are critical to a successful volunteer program.

The PNW4WDA will benefit the clubs and DNR through the additional resources for volunteer field projects and user education programs that a statewide association can offer. DNR also hopes to involve quad users who originally built the trail, as well as motorcycle clubs likely to use it.

Don’t build trails without talking to DNR first

The Olympic Region is working hard to identify existing user-built trails on state trust lands, and determine which trails are in acceptable locations with acceptable use. Region staff work with interested groups to get an adopt-a-trail agreement signed and volunteer work scheduled to bring the trail to appropriate trail standards – or to close the trail. DNR works with the volunteers to set up an appropriate monitoring and maintenance schedule.

State trust lands, managed with care

DNR manages about three million acres of state-owned trust land forest, agricultural lands and commercial properties for long-term benefits to current and future trust beneficiaries and other residents of the state. Since 1970, management of trust lands has produced more than $5.5 billion in revenue, reducing the need for taxes to pay for public projects and services.

State trust lands are to be managed to produce income to build schools, universities, prisons, state mental hospitals, community colleges, and help fund local services in many counties and the state general fund. Trust lands provide habitat for myriad native plants and animals, and provide recreational and educational opportunities to more than nine million people each year.