Final Chapter - Recreation in Our Back Yard
Posted by Gary O'Rielly
on Aug 25, 2015
In the 2nd and 3rd Quarter of 2012, a series of topics focused on "Recreation in Our Back Yard". Unfortunately due to time constraints and scheduling difficulties, the final chapter could not be scheduled until this past week. Jean Fikes, Region Manager, Northwest Region for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources was our final speaker. Fikes was there representing Peter Goldmark, the State Lands Commissioner.
The series began with Rod Mace who was the Interim Forest Service Supervisor of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, followed by Deputy Glen Bergstrom and his partner Shadow of the Search and Rescue Division of the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office and than we had Fred Black who at the time was Mayor of Skykomish. Each topic concentrated on issues around Recreation in Our Back Yard, so important to us in this area surrounded by magnificent outdoor resources from streams, lakes, rivers and mountains to vast beauties abounding in our own backyard.
The Department of Natural Resouces is responsible for the management of over 3 million acres of forest, range and agricultural lands and 2.6 million acres of aquatic areas in Washington State. Jean Fikes is responsible for a five county region which includes Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island and San Juan Counties. She oversees the management of the DNR trust lands as well as the regulations of the state forest practices act on public and private lands in the region.
In realty, at statehood, Congress passed a law granting several million acres to Washington for the new state to use as a revenue base to develop schools, prisons, hospitals and other infrastructures. DNR is required to manage millions of acres of Washington's public land to produce revenue to public trust beneficiaries. The largest beneficiaries in terms of acres and revenue is public school construction. DNR manages forest land of more than 600,000 acres in several counties that supports roads, libraries, schools, hospitals and fire districts. In 2014, DNR trust lands provided $9.2 million to Snohomish County mostly from the timber harvest sales. That money is non-tax revenue that supports construction of public schools, universities and colleges, prisons and other institutions. DNR staff enforce state forest practices rules on 12 million acres of private and public forest land. The goal is to protect water quality and fish habitat but also keep and maintain a viable timber industry. DNR leases land for grazing and farming. In the Southwest Region of the state for example, 550 agricultural leases on 148,000 acres of trust land are producing $6.8 million dollars a year for state trust beneficiaries. In Benton County, DNR leased 404 acres for vineyards and wineries that could produce $1.5 million dollars a year by 2015. DNR is the state's wild fire agency as well.
DNR is also responsible for providing recreational opportunities for Washingtonians. Walker Valley ORV Recreation area is one in the Mount Vernon area for recreationists to enjoy 4x4 wheelers, motorcycles, ATVers. UTVers and trailbikes. Another area within a couple of hours of 1/2 of the state's population is Reiter Foothills Service Area. The Reiter area is under development with extensive user input driving the project. Another area is the Samish Overlook and all of its trailheads. We have amazing scenery in Washington State and Blanchard area with trails located far into the forest are still in a natural setting. Background lakes and campgrounds are big part of this area. Outstanding vistas abound. Nothing like enjoying the beauty and surroundings in our own BACKYARD within easy driving distances.