Lands of Opportunity:
Washington State Trails Conference
November 14-15, 2003
Report
By Arlene Brooks
The conference was scheduled for
November 14-15 and located at the Cornet Bay Environmental
Learning Center at Deception Pass State Park (Whidbey Island). It was
anticipated at least one hundred would be in attendance comprised of motorized
and non-motorized participants. They achieved their goal, there were one hundred
and ten registered.
Friday started off with a
working lunch, the keynote speaker was Lee Blackwell, Mayor of Moses Lake. Mr.
Blackwell brought to the conference his perception of public health, nutrition
and trails; including work with the state Department of Health’s landmark
Nutrition and Physical Activity Plan – a combination of recreation and community
health programs.
The Plenary Panel consisted of
Rex Derr, Director, Washington State Parks; Doug Sutherland,
Commissioner of Public Lands; Gail Throop, USDA, Forest Service Region 6; and
Jan Wolcott, Director, Pierce County Parks. They were given the assignment of
addressing, “The State of Trails on Public lands.” It was evident there is a
crisis in trail budgets – question is, can the trend be reversed? All gave an
overview on the public lands they manage – past history; concerns and hopes on
what the future holds.
The conference was designed with
three “breakouts” and within those breakouts there were three tracks segments -
within those tracks, Partnerships – Funding and Trail Trends - workshops were
being conducted, they consisted of and addressed the following topics: Multiple
Use Recreation: Does it Work?; Cost of Trails: Future Models; User Fees; NOVA
Program Update; Success with Volunteers; Funding Your Trail; Mining for Public
Dollars; and Private Investments in Public Trails.
The workshops addressed subjects
such as – motorized and non-motorized recreationlists that have been challenged
by using the same trails and discussing the successful trail systems that are
managed together. With the multiple checkerboard ownership we recreate on,
creates a special challenge, successes, pitfalls, budgets and regulatory
requirements were addressed for those who cross the various boundaries. The cost
of trail building, user fees and funding with public dollars found some
addressing the issue on how can we keep the cost down on building and
maintaining trails. The unpopular “user fees” have been initiated by many
agencies to try and help elevate the maintenance cost due to the increased use
of public lands. State Parks is the latest to join in the “pay-as-you-go”
recreation concept. Many users feel revenues collected should remain in the area
it was collected in. The session, “Mining for Public Dollars” discussed the
availability of funds from federal and state sources and addressed tips on how
to acquire grants. The segment “Private Investments” dealt with the state and
federal grant process where there isn’t always enough revenue support and where
private contributions play a key roll in the future of public trails.>
The segment regarding “The
Perfect Trail” addressed the possibility of traveling from one region in a state
to another via trails. It would consist of network of greenways and paths. The
non-motorized community addressed several efforts that are taking place to turn
this vision into a reality.
Scott Chapman, IAC, gave an
overview and update regarding the Non-Highway Off Road Vehicle Activities
Program (NOVA). It consisted of the progress the Advisory Committee is making
towards policy making for the 2004 Legislature – a directive that came from
HB1698 – Fuel Use Study of 2002.
I was part of this panel along
with Scott, Jonathan Guzzo, Washington State Trails; and Theressa Julius, Grays
Harbor Council of Governments. Ms. Julius represents, “other activities” and Mr.
Guzzo represents hiking and backpacking community on the newly appointed
Advisory Committee for NOVA. Statements, concerns and a Q&A segment prevailed.
The following is my panel
presentation:
“The ORV community will
experience a change, adjustments will need to be made due to the drop in funding
dollars; it will be challenging, but not impossible; the NOVA program will
continue and funding of projects will still be available.
Now with that said – the
priorities will not change, trail still need to be maintained to current status
with no-net-loss and continuing our support and funding areas that are critical
to the motorized community. However, with the increase in purchases of
recreation equipment and the continued impact on and demand for trails, we would
be remise not to encourage expansion of current
facilities and seek new opportunities.
The motorized community has two
funding sources the state NOVA program, which has been addressed her today, and
the National Recreation Trails Program (NRTP). The projects submitted to NOVA
will be in a highly competitive arena, only the sound and those that have merit
will survive.
The NOVA funding formula is
still to be determined – however, we can see where consideration will need to be
given to motorized and non-motorized recreation when “overlapping” occurs in the
areas of “other back country activities.”
I was asked to participate on
the panel – “Success with Volunteers.” The conference committee’s purpose
regarding this workshop was to seek active volunteer organizations that support
trail systems through volunteering. The panel also included positions from the
US Forest Service and Dept. of Natural Resources and their involvement with
volunteers.
The following is my panel
presentation:
“I am the
Washington State Executive Director for the Pacific Northwest Four Wheel Drive
Association. My association was incorporated in 1960
and is a tri-state organization (Idaho – Oregon and Washington) a non-profit
organization comprised of member clubs and united in a common objective – the
betterment of vehicle oriented outdoor recreation, while promoting responsible
attitudes toward four wheel drive vehicle use of public lands and instating
programs of conservation, education and safety.
During these past forty-three
years, we all have seen the increase in population within our state – and with
this, came recreational pursuits. At this time – “like a rubber band” motorized
facilities are being stretched to the maximum, resources remain limited, yet
there is a constant demand for trail opportunities.
The dictionary defines
partnerships as: “One who shares; an association; union of two or more; a joint
interest.”
Our partnerships are
accomplished by entering into a volunteer agreement either through Adopt-A-Trail
program; grant funding match for the Non-Highway Off Road Vehicle Activities
(NOVA) and the National Recreation trails program (NRTP);or on a need to need
basis – a partnership between the agencies and the 4x4 trail users who use
public lands. Although not trail related – one of our largest and successful
programs is the annual September litter cleanup along the
Washington coastline, Moclips to the Columbia River – we have just celebrated
our 32nd year in cooperation with Washington State Parks and
Recreation and Department of Ecology.
Our organization has a volunteer
program in place that has worked for several years – it’s called the
“trickle-down-theory.” Under my position as State Director, there are five
regions, which on an annual basis elect Region Directors and Land
Matter Chairmen. At this same time, volunteer coordinators are appointed; they
carry out the work load on the current seventeen (17) specific sites we now
oversee across the state. Each coordinator has a specific site, usually a
favorite location; close to where they reside; their work load consists of
recruiting additional volunteers for work parties and work closely with the land
and resource mangers – seeing that trail access and annual maintenance is
carried out early in the season and see that some sites are “put-to-bed” when
winter seasonal closure is warranted. With this cooperation, the agencies and
4x4 trail users address problem areas and network to correct the issues.
Trail health and safety concerns
are always at the forefront, therefore, work parties and litter cleanups are
necessary throughout the four wheeling season. The volunteer program seems to be
working, there are volunteers who have been with the program for nearly ten
years now; and the way the program is designed, as a Director, I have the
ability to contact three levels of volunteers – coordinator/chairman or region
director for answers if questions or concerns should arise on any site we
oversee.
Two truly successful stories are
the multiple use areas known as – Tahuya State Forest, located in
Mason Co. (Silverdale/Bremerton area) and managed by the Dept. of Natural
resources; the other is Liberty ORV area, located in the Bluett Pass area and
managed by the Forest Service, Cle Elum District of the Wenatchee National
Forest.
Do not underestimate a volunteer
dedication and enthusiasm, they see their volunteer time well spent and as an
investment in the future of their recreational pursuits.
We feel a well designed trail
and effective management of that trail will reflect good stewardship AND we
believe networking and communication between the land owners and forest users –
are the best tools.”
There was a Q&A and comment
segment – I found it interesting to learn that other organizations – due to not
having a structured volunteer program are struggling with volunteer support.
Washington State Trails was impressed with the volunteer structure of the PNW
and the amount of areas we support at one time across the state.
Arlene Brooks, Washington State
Director
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