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A Crossroads for State Parks
Stacy Czebotar, a Washington State Park ranger for more than six years, had to turn in her badge, say goodbye to her co-workers and let go of a park she loved. She was laid off in late December along with more than 80 others. Find out what you can do to help increase funding for our state parks.
WTA Debuts "TrailBlazer" App for Windows Phones
Got a Windows smartphone? You're in luck. Washington Trails Association has debuted WTA TrailBlazer, our first phone app. Search for hikes, check conditions on the trail and view photos all from your phone. What's more. It's free!
Discover Pass Bill Passes House
The next step for HB 2373? It'll now move on to the Senate, where it may be heard in policy and fiscal committees but more likely will form the vehicle for a House/Senate compromise. A similar, but less detailed bill, passed the state Senate on January 27.
Here's what's in the bill:
- Adds two-vehicle transferability.
- Creates an up to $50 Family Discover Pass that is transferable
among any vehicles registered in a householdbetween any vehicle. - Does not allow WDFW to charge vendor fees when people buy a Discover Pass from the WILD site.
- Exempts possessor of a daily Sno-Park permit from requiring a Discover Pass or Day-use permit at designated Sno-Parks.
- Allows Discover Pass purchaser to designate a start date, making the Pass giftable.
- Allows for Iron Rangers (unstaffed pay stations) on State Parks.
- Requires free access days at State Parks and suggests they be timed with National Park Service free days.
- Codifies that the DNR, the WDFW, and State Parks must designate free 15-minute short-term parking.
- Adds to the types of vehicles for which the owners are given the opportunity to donate to state parks upon vehicle registration (heavy trucks, single-axle trailers, RVs and ORVs).
- Creates a $10 state parks support fee on recreational vehicle registrations until July 1, 2015, to be used to pay for State Parks sites that serve ORV users.
- Allows tsunami cleanup to count as volunteer hours towards a free Discover Pass.
- Requires the agencies to develop proposals for finding consistent state recreational policies where inconsistencies exist and to report findings to the Legislature. Refers to inconsistent management of Discover Pass and Volunteer component.
These would:
Trails Activists Hike in Olympia Today
Hello from Hiker Lobby Day 2012!
About 50 intrepid hikers have assembled in the conference room of St. John's Church for our Hiker Lobby Day orientation and training. After this, we will hike to the State Capitol for our scheduled meetings with elected officials and get down to the heart of the day -- face to face lobbying!
This is my fifth Hiker Lobby Day, and as I sit here surrounded by WTA members, volunteers and others who have taken the day off work to come advocate on behalf of trails, I feel deeply appreciative of their efforts. One year ago, these hiker lobbyists were instrumental is securing passage of the Washington State Discover Pass, without which many of our DNR recreation lands and State Parks would have locked their gates. Although the Discover Pass is not performing as well as expected and State Parks regrettably just passed pink slips to dozens of park rangers, the passage of this sustainable funding source was critical. Without it, we might have NO rangers on the state parks payroll. We might not have access to Deception Pass State Park, or Mount Si.
This year, hikers are here to make the Discover Pass a better program. Two companion bills -- SB 5977 and HB 2153 -- will add space for an additional vehicle license plate number to the Discover Pass. It is widely hoped that this improvement will result in higher sales of the pass, and therefore more revenue for these cash-strapped agencies.
We'll keep you posted on our progress as the day progresses right here, and on twitter and facebook.
An Evening on the Elwha River
The National Parks Conservation Association and other community partners will be hosting an event on Wednesday evening at the Seattle REI flagship store called An Evening on the Elwha River - Dam Removal and Restoration.
Mt. Rainier National Park Ranger Shot and Killed
A federal law-enforcement park ranger was shot and killed at Mount Rainier National Park earlier today. The gunman remains at large. He is on foot and armed with a long rifle.
Legislation Would Make Discover Pass Transferable Between Vehicles
Senator Kevin Ranker has introduced a bill that would allow each purchaser of a Discover Pass to use it on two vehicles, effective immediately. The legislation applies to current pass holders as well as future ones.
