Post by bchutchens on May 25, 2009 16:46:43 GMT -8
Hi folks:
Here are some of the things going on this week with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Recreation Program.
· Budget update
· Merrill Lake open for camping, fishing
· Sections of Sadie Creek ORV Trail System temporarily closed
· Improved recreation Web pages help you find what areas are open or closed
· No ORV Safety Summit for the eastside this year
Budget Update
In last week’s e-mail update, I informed you that we lost a critical source of funding for DNR’s Recreation Program—the Nonhighway and Off-road Vehicle Activities (NOVA) grant program. In the past, NOVA grants provided our program with $1.5 million dollars each year to fund maintenance and education and enforcement staff. To begin filling the funding gap, I initiated the following discussions:
Last week, I meet with staff from Washington’s Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), the agency that manages the NOVA program. I requested an extension to the ending date of our existing grants. This would give us the flexibility to shorten the hours worked this summer so we can have some crew time available for the following summer. RCO was receptive and asked me to develop a proposal on how we want to modify our existing grants to gain more coverage.
I also meet last week with leaders from Washington Off Highway Vehicle Alliance, Backcountry Horsemen of Washington, Washington Trails Association, Pacific Northwest Four Wheel Drive Association, and Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance to start the discussion on how we—as a coalition of interests—can weather the budget shortfall. I walked away from the meeting with a number of great ideas, which we will discuss at our June meeting.
In addition to the loss of the NOVA funding, the recreation program lost 60 percent of our general fund monies. This leaves us with $200,000 each year to maintain 33 recreational facilities, 167 miles of trails and the winter recreation program. I am working with staff and the key stakeholders to help make some tough decisions on what we can support with the available resources.
I am also pursuing federal stimulus funding to augment existing maintenance crews and talking with other agencies about sharing maintenance crews to maintain multiagency recreational facilities in a similar geographical area. So far I am receiving positive response from the other agencies.
Times are tough, but I am confident that we will weather the storm and be stronger when we come out of it.
Merrill Lake open for camping, fishing
The snow has finally melted from the Merrill Lake Campground! Our staff in the Pacific Cascade Region opened up the area this week. Merrill Lake is popular with fly fishers. Combustible boat engines boats or reel rods are not allowed on this lake. A volcanically formed lake rimmed with old growth timber, Merrill Lake is also a DNR Natural Resources Conservation Area. The lake is about 5 miles northwest of the town of Cougar.
Also, DNR is looking for a volunteer camp host for Merrill Lake. If you’re interested, contact Jessica Kimmick at 360-852-3390 or jessica.kimmick@dnr.wa.gov
Speaking of camp hosting, DNR has opportunities for volunteer camp hosts throughout the state at many of its recreation areas. Contact Christine Redmond for more information at 360-902-1632 or christine.redmond@dnr.wa.gov.
Section of Sadie Creek ORV Trail System temporarily closed
A section of the Sadie Creek trail system in Clallam County is temporarily closed due to reconstruction of the PA-S-1000 roads. Sadie Creek is about 8 miles north of Joyce on the Olympic Peninsula.
Crews are removing bridges, installing culverts, hauling rock, and doing other heavy construction projects. The closures are necessary to protect the safety of the public recreating in this area.
Maps and information will be posted at the trailhead kiosks and at locations along the trail system. Download a map of the Sadie Creek area at www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/eng_rms_n_oly_pen_cent.pdf.
For more information, call Wayne Fitzwater at the DNR region office in Forks at 360-374-2800.
Learn more at: tinyurl.com/qshtnl
Improved recreation Web pages help you find what areas are open or closed
Want to know before you go what DNR recreation areas are open or closed? DNR recently made some improvements to the agency’s recreation pages so that you can more easily find that information. Start by going to: tinyurl.com/qtsz83. From there you can find a recreation area by region, county, or a list of DNR’s major recreation areas.
Keep in mind, these improvements are just the beginning. In the coming months, we will be exploring ways to make our recreation information more accessible, timely, and useful to you. Tell us what you think. Contact Toni Droscher at 360-902-1523 or toni.droscher@dnr.wa.gov.
No ORV Safety Summit for the eastside this year
And finally, many of you were eagerly anticipating this year’s off-road vehicle (ORV) safety summit scheduled to take place in eastern Washington. Unfortunately, DNR has had to cancel this year’s summit, mostly because of budget issues. We hope to reschedule this popular event for next year and open it up to a broader range of recreation interests. If you have any further questions, contact Brett Walker at 509-684-7474 or brett.walker@dnr.wa.gov.
As summer approaches and more people engage in outdoor recreation activities on DNR-managed land, we’ll likely have more information to send your way. Rather than bombard you with daily or frequent e-mails, we thought it might be a good idea to combine our news into weekly or semi-weekly messages.
Let me know what you think.
Mark Mauren
Recreation Program Manager
360-902-1047
mark.mauren@dnr.wa.gov
Hi All,
Ron Potter has asked our assistance in posting this position. Primary responsibility of this job is working directly with clubs and local government units to establish OHV trail opportunities. This position has regional responsibilities and in this case would cover the entire northeast corner of Minnesota. Posting has a web link to more details and how to apply.
Thanks!
Working Title: Acquisition & Dev. Specialist
Class/Option: NR SPECIALIST SR-TRAILS & WATERWAYS
Position: 01007561 Location: Grand Rapids
Bargaining Unit: MAPE
Employment Condition: Unlimited Full-time - 100%
FLSA Status: nonexempt Temporary Position End Date:
Days of Work: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday Hours of work: 08:00 AM-04:30 PM
Work Area: Previous Incumbent: Stephen Hennessy
View at: statejobs.doer.state.mn.us/JobPosting/View?_posting=09DNR000239
Ron Potter
Policy and Program Manager
DNR-Parks & Trails
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155-4052
651-259-5632
ron.potter@dnr.state.mn.us
Here are some of the things going on this week with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Recreation Program.
· Budget update
· Merrill Lake open for camping, fishing
· Sections of Sadie Creek ORV Trail System temporarily closed
· Improved recreation Web pages help you find what areas are open or closed
· No ORV Safety Summit for the eastside this year
Budget Update
In last week’s e-mail update, I informed you that we lost a critical source of funding for DNR’s Recreation Program—the Nonhighway and Off-road Vehicle Activities (NOVA) grant program. In the past, NOVA grants provided our program with $1.5 million dollars each year to fund maintenance and education and enforcement staff. To begin filling the funding gap, I initiated the following discussions:
Last week, I meet with staff from Washington’s Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), the agency that manages the NOVA program. I requested an extension to the ending date of our existing grants. This would give us the flexibility to shorten the hours worked this summer so we can have some crew time available for the following summer. RCO was receptive and asked me to develop a proposal on how we want to modify our existing grants to gain more coverage.
I also meet last week with leaders from Washington Off Highway Vehicle Alliance, Backcountry Horsemen of Washington, Washington Trails Association, Pacific Northwest Four Wheel Drive Association, and Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance to start the discussion on how we—as a coalition of interests—can weather the budget shortfall. I walked away from the meeting with a number of great ideas, which we will discuss at our June meeting.
In addition to the loss of the NOVA funding, the recreation program lost 60 percent of our general fund monies. This leaves us with $200,000 each year to maintain 33 recreational facilities, 167 miles of trails and the winter recreation program. I am working with staff and the key stakeholders to help make some tough decisions on what we can support with the available resources.
I am also pursuing federal stimulus funding to augment existing maintenance crews and talking with other agencies about sharing maintenance crews to maintain multiagency recreational facilities in a similar geographical area. So far I am receiving positive response from the other agencies.
Times are tough, but I am confident that we will weather the storm and be stronger when we come out of it.
Merrill Lake open for camping, fishing
The snow has finally melted from the Merrill Lake Campground! Our staff in the Pacific Cascade Region opened up the area this week. Merrill Lake is popular with fly fishers. Combustible boat engines boats or reel rods are not allowed on this lake. A volcanically formed lake rimmed with old growth timber, Merrill Lake is also a DNR Natural Resources Conservation Area. The lake is about 5 miles northwest of the town of Cougar.
Also, DNR is looking for a volunteer camp host for Merrill Lake. If you’re interested, contact Jessica Kimmick at 360-852-3390 or jessica.kimmick@dnr.wa.gov
Speaking of camp hosting, DNR has opportunities for volunteer camp hosts throughout the state at many of its recreation areas. Contact Christine Redmond for more information at 360-902-1632 or christine.redmond@dnr.wa.gov.
Section of Sadie Creek ORV Trail System temporarily closed
A section of the Sadie Creek trail system in Clallam County is temporarily closed due to reconstruction of the PA-S-1000 roads. Sadie Creek is about 8 miles north of Joyce on the Olympic Peninsula.
Crews are removing bridges, installing culverts, hauling rock, and doing other heavy construction projects. The closures are necessary to protect the safety of the public recreating in this area.
Maps and information will be posted at the trailhead kiosks and at locations along the trail system. Download a map of the Sadie Creek area at www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/eng_rms_n_oly_pen_cent.pdf.
For more information, call Wayne Fitzwater at the DNR region office in Forks at 360-374-2800.
Learn more at: tinyurl.com/qshtnl
Improved recreation Web pages help you find what areas are open or closed
Want to know before you go what DNR recreation areas are open or closed? DNR recently made some improvements to the agency’s recreation pages so that you can more easily find that information. Start by going to: tinyurl.com/qtsz83. From there you can find a recreation area by region, county, or a list of DNR’s major recreation areas.
Keep in mind, these improvements are just the beginning. In the coming months, we will be exploring ways to make our recreation information more accessible, timely, and useful to you. Tell us what you think. Contact Toni Droscher at 360-902-1523 or toni.droscher@dnr.wa.gov.
No ORV Safety Summit for the eastside this year
And finally, many of you were eagerly anticipating this year’s off-road vehicle (ORV) safety summit scheduled to take place in eastern Washington. Unfortunately, DNR has had to cancel this year’s summit, mostly because of budget issues. We hope to reschedule this popular event for next year and open it up to a broader range of recreation interests. If you have any further questions, contact Brett Walker at 509-684-7474 or brett.walker@dnr.wa.gov.
As summer approaches and more people engage in outdoor recreation activities on DNR-managed land, we’ll likely have more information to send your way. Rather than bombard you with daily or frequent e-mails, we thought it might be a good idea to combine our news into weekly or semi-weekly messages.
Let me know what you think.
Mark Mauren
Recreation Program Manager
360-902-1047
mark.mauren@dnr.wa.gov
Hi All,
Ron Potter has asked our assistance in posting this position. Primary responsibility of this job is working directly with clubs and local government units to establish OHV trail opportunities. This position has regional responsibilities and in this case would cover the entire northeast corner of Minnesota. Posting has a web link to more details and how to apply.
Thanks!
Working Title: Acquisition & Dev. Specialist
Class/Option: NR SPECIALIST SR-TRAILS & WATERWAYS
Position: 01007561 Location: Grand Rapids
Bargaining Unit: MAPE
Employment Condition: Unlimited Full-time - 100%
FLSA Status: nonexempt Temporary Position End Date:
Days of Work: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday Hours of work: 08:00 AM-04:30 PM
Work Area: Previous Incumbent: Stephen Hennessy
View at: statejobs.doer.state.mn.us/JobPosting/View?_posting=09DNR000239
Ron Potter
Policy and Program Manager
DNR-Parks & Trails
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155-4052
651-259-5632
ron.potter@dnr.state.mn.us