Closing Mount Si?
- The view from the top of Mount Si is one of many great sights that will be out-of-bounds for hikers if DNR sustains an additional $278,000 in cuts this year. Photo by Glen Rolfe.
The $278,000 general fund cut to DNR's recreation program could have dire consequences, according to recreation managers at the agency.
Hard on the heels of a 60% cut to DNR's recreation budget imposed during the 2009-2011 biennial budget process last year, this most recent hit to DNR's coffers could force them to close some of the state's most popular recreation opportunities by March of this year.
Specifically, DNR has said that they will have to close the Mount Si, Little Si and Rattlesnake trails, which serve well over a half million hikers each year. In Eastern Washington, the agency will have to close the Lake Spokane Campground, which serves 30,000 family campers and boaters annually. These are just a few of the critical landscapes that DNR will be forced to abandon if these cuts remain in place when the legislature finishes its final budget deliberations in March.
We're keenly aware of the very difficult decisions that budget writers in both the executive and legislative branches have to make this year, and we don't envy them their position. But close-in recreation opportunities are an important outlet for families, particularly in lean economic times. It's far more difficult these days for people to travel out of state for recreation, so we rely on our public lands now more than ever. Forcing DNR to turn back hundreds of thousands of hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers and their families for a miniscule slice of this year's $2.6 billion budget gap is short-sighted and will likely backfire.
Finally, when agencies have to turn their backs on popular areas due to budget woes, unsavory activities take root--illegal shooting, dumping and meth production among them - and trails deteriorate due to heavy weather and an absence of routine maintenance. When the state returns to stable budget footing, those landscapes will likely be law enforcement and capital nightmares.
Sign up for Hiker Lobby Day
Please take a moment and contact your state senator and representatives. Let them know that you want to them to fight for places like Mount Si, Lake Spokane and Rattlesnake Lake by restoring the $278,000 cut from DNR's recreation allotment. Also, please sign up for Hiker Lobby Day on February 3, where you'll have the opportunity to send that message in a face-to-face conversation with your elected officials.
Document Actions
- Email this page
- Print this
- Share
Forgot your
New user?
DNR closing trails
I asked Mark Mauren (DNR) this question and the answer I received was:
"The worst case scenario would be that all the amenities would be pulled,gates locked but the area would still be open to the public for dispersed recreation unless public health and safety became an issue"
They obviously have some difficult budget decisions to make but the statement of closing trails seems an exaggerated reaction to get the public to fight internal DNR issues for them.