I Was Recently Made Aware of the Proposed Crystal Springs Development Included in Your List of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities

I was recently made aware of the proposed Crystal Springs development included in your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities. This site, located off Stampede Pass Road east of Snoqualmie Pass, is immediately south of the Price/Noble Wildlife Overcrossing that is currently under construction by WSDOT contractors.

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Washington state has invested millions of public dollars in the new I-90 wildlife crossings, including the Price/Noble wildlife “bridge”. And countless stakeholders have provided thousands of hours of work to guide this monumental project and steward it towards completion. This wildlife crossing project has been celebrated by thousands of Washingtonians and by state and regional leaders, as well as media outlets across the country. The proposed Crystal Springs development would undermine the effectiveness of this effort and contradict the many years of public-private collaboration that helped make it a reality.

We support sustainable outdoor recreation and responsible public access to our region's cherished wildlands. However, close proximity to a celebrated I-90 wildlife crossing is the wrong place for a major new State Parks developed area that would be active year-round, 24 hours a day.

Please take the Crystal Springs development proposal off your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities due to the negative impacts it will have on wildlife and the I-90 wildlife crossings project and the inconsistency of the proposed development with the land management focus and conservation investments occurring on the landscape of which this park is a part.

Seattle, WA 98115

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

poitiers, ot 86000

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Edmonds, WA 98026

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

poitiers, ot 86000

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98104

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

I am one of the wildlife researchers that has been monitoring species for this project. The ability of wildlife species to cross through this area between the north Cascades and south Cascades is extremely important for their long-term viability as well as for maintaining healthy, functioning ecosystems. I have no doubt that the proposed Crystal Springs development would undermine the effectiveness of this effort and contradict the many years of public-private collaboration that helped make it a reality.

Sustainable outdoor recreation and responsible public access to our region's cherished wildlands is important. However, close proximity to a celebrated I-90 wildlife crossing is the wrong place for a major new State Parks developed area that would be active year-round, 24 hours a day.

Ellensburg, WA 98926

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98107

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Port Townsend, WA , 98368

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Lynwood, WA 98087

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98117

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Lynnwood, WA 98036

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Spokane, WA 99223

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98102

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

West Richland, WA 99353

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Graham, WA 98338

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Sammamish, WA 98075

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98112

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Lakebay, WA 98349

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Take action to protect habitat near I-90 wildlife crossings.

Washington State Parks has proposed a year-round development with a large lodge, conference room, RV facilities, retail shops and up to 100 cabins at Crystal Springs off Stampede Pass Road immediately south of the Price/Noble Wildlife Overcrossing. Currently, the site is an undeveloped parking area managed for low use winter recreation as part of Iron Horse State Park.

The bustling activity at Crystal Springs that would result from construction and use of this development would have significant negative impacts on wildlife compared to the site's current usage, and could deter animals from using the new crossing structures. Please take action by January 31st, 2016.

Washington state has invested millions of public dollars in the new I-90 wildlife crossings. And countless stakeholders have provided thousands of hours of work to guide this monumental project and steward it towards completion. The proposed Crystal Springs development would undermine the effectiveness of this effort and contradict the many years of public-private collaboration that helped make it a reality. Thank you for speaking out against this risky proposal!

WHEATON, IL 60189

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Bremen, AE 28239

We were recently made aware of the proposed Crystal Springs development included in your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities. This site, located off Stampede Pass Road east of Snoqualmie Pass, is immediately south of the Price/Noble Wildlife Overcrossing that is currently under construction by WSDOT contractors.

We are writing to express our strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

WHEATON, IL 60189

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

OCEAN PARK, WA 98640

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Renton, WA 98059

My wife and I were recently made aware of the proposed Crystal Springs development included in your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities. This site, located off Stampede Pass Road east of Snoqualmie Pass, is immediately south of the Price/Noble Wildlife Overcrossing that is currently under construction by WSDOT contractor.

We are writing to express our strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Snohomish, WA 98291

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98107

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

seattle, WA 98102

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98117

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98144

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Twisp, WA 98856

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Missoual, MT 59801

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98118

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98116

So, whose brilliant money-making idea is this one? This is a foolish location for a project of this magnitude. Anything that compromises the value of these hugely expensive wildlife crossings is clearly counter-productive. Please consider the wildlife before your wallet.

Indianola, WA 98342

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Victoria, BC V8V3A5

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Issaquah, WA 98027

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

bremerton, WA 98311

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Newman Lake, WA 99025

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Once property is developed it never goes back if it turns out to be a failure. And failed developments are epidemic. Only the initial developer makes money, then they sell the development, the new owners raise the rates they charge and the development dies and is abandoned. Once developed it will never go back if ti turns out to be a mistake. Your wildlife cannot adjust to new development.

Brattleboro, VT 05301

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98136

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

monroe, WA 98272

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Monroe, WA 98272

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Chelan, WA 98816

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98115

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Issaquah, WA 98027

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Port Orchard, WA 98366

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Olympia, WA 98506

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Spokane, WA 99204

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Everson, WA 98247

RBA at Crystal Springs in the Iron Horse State Park – REMOVE from consideration

Hello,

Please REMOVE the RBA at Crystal Springs from consideration. That location is too close to the funded wildlife crossing that will span I-90 to provide a north-south corridor for a broad range of native species, including species that are recovering from near extirpation.

I’m aware that you have heard from biologists regarding the negative impact this project would have on the wildlife crossing, as well as pushing animals to attempt crossings at areas with lower human density if Parks develops this project. Those ad hoc animal crossings will result in continuing car/animal collisions, one of the mitigations expected from the wildlife crossing.

Washington State Parks is absolutely correct to work toward improving the draw of outdoor recreation as it is a major contributor to the state’s economic well-being, as shown in the graphic directly below.

Source: https://outdoorindustry.org/images/ore_reports/WA-washington-outdoorrecreationeconomy-oia.pdf

We need to understand, however, the component of wildlife recreation that contributes to the state’s economy. As shown below, wildlife associated recreation contributes more than 1/3 of the outdoor industry’s impact. Maintaining habitat and connectivity is essential to protect the health of Washington’s wildlife that constitutes a major part of our economy.

Washington offers residents and visitors a wide range of types of, and sites for, outdoor recreation. But in our haste to make more recreational amenities, we need to maintain a long view. Crystal Springs, in the long view, should remain a low-usage daylight-only area to benefit our wildlife residents. Please REMOVE the RBA at Crystal Springs from consideration because of its potential deleterious impact.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Please make this comment part of the official record.

SAMMAMISH, WA 98075-9218 24

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Sedro Woolley, WA 98284

City Monroe

State WA

Zip 98272

Comment I drive to tha area to get away from the "city" life. It would be a shame to see the area developed for people who are too lazy to get go camping but will pay top dollar to stay in a cabin. Secondly, that area you want to develop is an elk and deer migration route. How will this effect the animals? I know when Suncadia went in by CleEllum it drastically changed the animals migration routes and was devistating to the herds but that subject has been swept under the rug. As a concerned hunter, outdoors man, and snowmobiler I would NOT like to see this happen.

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Bellingham, WA 98225

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

marysville, WA 98270

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Vancouver, WA 98686

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Woodinville, WA 98072

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Cle Elum, WA 98922

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Monroe, WA 98272

Although I appreciate the need for "economic" activity and growth. Surely it is clear now that this continual erosion of wild lands and pressure on habitats for wildlife has reached a saturation point. It is time that humans recognize that it isn't about us all the time and that our activities are disruptive to the point of non-viability of our species on a daily basis. Please consider maintaining low impact development along these crucial areas in lieu of intense development that brings in hordes of people. One of my scariest moments driving on Snoqualmie Pass was coming upon a small herd of Elk trying to figure out how to cross several lanes of highway with barriers. The implications were horrifying. Please Please consider that we have taken more than our share and anything we can do to mitigate human activity on wildlife is to our credit.

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

WA 98816

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Bothell, WA 98021

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Tucson, AZ 85742

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Indianola, WA 98342

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Everett, WA 98208

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

I support sustainable outdoor recreation and responsible public access to our region's cherished wildlands. However, close proximity to a celebrated I-90 wildlife crossing is the wrong place for a major new State Parks developed area that would be active year-round, 24 hours a day.

Marysville, WA 98271

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Bellingham, WA 98225

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA

WHAT THE HELL???? Washington State Parks IS NOT AND SHOULD NOT BEHAVE LIKE A DEVELOPER!!!

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98103

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

SEDRO WOOLLEY, WA 98284

I am writing to express my horror that you would even consider the Crystal Springs development proposal in light of the impacts it would have on the I-90 wildlife crossings project. I urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98115

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Chewelah, WA

99109

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Prosser, WA

99350

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Ros, WA 98941

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98108

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98115

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Duvall, WA 98019

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98115

Comment I have recently been made aware of the proposed development at the Crystal Springs parking area. Given the tremendous plan that is being constructed for wildlife crossings this seems to be a poor location for this project. There are other lands further east that can serve this purpose. Please list me a very much opposed.

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Freeland, WA 98249

I was recently made aware of the proposed Crystal Springs development included in your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities. This site, located off Stampede Pass Road east of Snoqualmie Pass, is immediately south of the Price/Noble Wildlife Over-crossing that is currently under construction by WSDOT contractors.

I am writing to express my VERY strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Chelan, WA 98816

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA

98112

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Bellevue, WA 98005

I was recently made aware of the proposed Crystal Springs development included in your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities. This site is immediately south of the Price/Noble Wildlife Overcrossing that is currently under construction by WSDOT contractors.

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Washington state has invested millions of public dollars, and much volunteer labor in the new I-90 wildlife crossings. The proposed Crystal Springs development would undermine the effectiveness of this effort and contradict the many years of public-private collaboration that helped make it a reality.

Seattle, WA

98126

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98125

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Ellensburg, WA 98926

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Roslyn, WA

98941

On a personal note:

With this facility State Parks will be poised to have a monopoly on outdoor recreation and access in the area. This will make it difficult to near impossible for local businesses who thrive on outdoor recreation to survive or compete against a state run organization that wants to increase revenue. As a small outdoor recreation business owner I feel it is my duty to voice my opinion against this project. The environmental impacts alone are enough to warrant its removal from the list.

Moreover, I have gone through the permitting process at both the state and federal levels in order to gain access for commercial use of our public lands and its expensive, I had to pay out of pocket for an EPA study to be done to discern the impact my guiding business would have, and I was not awarded access to state land in the end but was granted access to federal. How would local businesses compete with such a facility that has direct access to the land over private local businesses? State Parks is supposed manage usage of the area not shut everyone out and do it themselves.

With this facility, businesses like mine and others would be in competition with our own State Parks for access to land and business revenue. The parks has plenty of areas within the district that need improvement or could be expanded instead of this large and in my opinion negligent facility. The State Parks needs revenue and I support projects that they do, but not ones that are a completely ridiculous use of funds, land, and that will ultimately negatively impact local businesses. This project would be detrimental to the area as State Parks would offer services that local businesses could offer which would boost our local economy more than just this facility, and would give a state run organization all the opportunity to take revenue away from the local economy. That is wrong.

If State Parks needs more revenue they should be focusing on improving existing areas, opening areas for commercial use permits, which is how parks makes money through, the selling of passes and permits. Each year I would be happy to purchase a permit for land use for guiding hikes and fishing trips in the area, and each client would have to buy a pass to access the area. It would be my recommendation that the Parks department look at working with their local community instead of trying to steamroll us out of business.

I cannot support such a project that is larger than any other facility in the area including private lodges such as Red's Fly Shop in the lower county. State Parks has plenty of areas they could put funds into that would improve the overall experience of all user groups before they should be building a hotel, RV park, essentially a KOA, and business district for them to increase revenue. Moreover, I find that the impact to the natural and wild beauty of the area would be degraded by such a facility. This is a shortsighted plan that quite frankly I find offensive to local business owners, outdoor user groups, and should not be allowed to be considered. We barley have signs posted on state land and we have state run campgrounds falling apart that could be expanded and improved. This project just seems like a way for the State Parks Department to run a business instead of do their actual job.

I will defer the impacts on wildlife and the ecosystem to Conservation Northwest below.

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Cle Elum, WA 98922

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Kent, WA 98031

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Kent, WA 98031

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Monroe, WA 98272

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Issaquah, WA 98027

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Ellensburg, WA 98926

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

sultan, WA

98294

Seriously? When will we start showing an intellectual understanding of ecology? Climate change, if you choose to follow the science, is a real threat. We also have a immensely growing population of humans on both the west and east slopes of the cascades. The mountains are the only place we have, free of most development. WE need these wild places - and we are not the only organisms on this planet that matter. Parks are not meant to be developed as resorts - that is money hunger. Stop it.

(The rest of this letter was prewritten - but I approve its content fully.)

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Ellensburg, WA 98926

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

sammamish, WA 98075

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98115

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98105

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98117

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Ely, NV 89315

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Lake Stevens, WA 98258

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Canton, NY

13617

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Issaquah, WA 98027

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Monroe, WA 98272

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98144

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98116

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

We paid so much money to put in wildlife crossings, now you want to build a big development right in front of one? Sort of defeats the purpose, huh?

Ellensburg, WA 98926

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98117

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA

98115

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98125

I am writing to express my strong concerns about the Crystal Springs development proposal and to urge you to remove it from your list of Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities.

Seattle, WA 98117

City Cle Elum

State WA

Zip 98922

Comment Dear Commissioners, I am writing to comment on your proposed Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities (RBA), and specifically Crystal Springs, part of the Iron Horse State Park in Kittitas County. . This proposal should be removed from the list due to its impacts on wildlife and the inconsistency of the proposed actions with the land management focus and conservation investments of the landscape of which this park is a part. The proposed location of the RBA is in direct conflict with the I-90 wildlife bridges (existing and under construction) and associated wildlife corridors that those bridges promote and enhance. There are many other locations in the area that are appropriate for development, both at Snoqualmie Pass and further east in Kittitas county. This Crystal Springs area is critical wildlife habitat and should be protected by prohibiting additional development.

Ms. Fields,

Attached please find WDFW comments on the proposal to include Crystal Springs as an RBA site. Also attached is an annotated slideshow showing some of the details of wildlife habitat connectivity efforts in the area that this project would undermine.

If you have any questions or comments on the letter, please feel free to contact me for clarification either by phone or email at details listed below.

Thank you,

Scott

Scott Downes Fish & Wildlife Habitat Biologist Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Region 3 Habitat Program 1701 South 24th Ave Yakima, WA 98902-5720 [email protected] Office-509-457-9307 Cell-509-607-3578

State of Washington DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE South Central Region • Region 3 • 1701 South 24th Avenue, Yakima, WA 98902-5720 Telephone: (509) 575-2740 • Fax: (509) 575-2474

January 22, 2016

Nikki Fields, Parks Planner Washington State Parks P.O. Box 42650 Olympia, WA 98504-2650

RE: RBA at Crystal Springs in the Iron Horse State Park

Dear Ms. Fields,

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposal to include Crystal Springs as a site candidate for Recreation Business Activity (RBA) as part of Washington State Parks plan for generating revenues to support the park system. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) have reviewed the proposal and we have concerns that the potential development at Crystal Springs will negatively impact wildlife movement and habitat connectivity in the area. WDFW is submitting the following comments for consideration when evaluating options for the Crystal Springs site.

Background

Crystal Springs is currently an undeveloped parking area located on Stampede Pass Road, south of I-90 and southeast of Lake Keechelus and Snoqualmie Pass. The site is part of Iron Horse State Park Trail. The site is currently used for winter recreation day use activities, but the area receives relatively low use the rest of the year, the site itself is closed during non-winter periods. No overnight use is currently allowed.

The proposal for the site may include a small central lodge, heated cabins and an option to develop the site as an RV facility. Further, potential retail shops for winter recreation are listed as possible additions. It’s also suggested that the site may be developed into an overnight facility and opened year around, where currently only winter day-use options exist for recreation.

Crystal Springs is located on the upper east slopes of Cascades in Kittitas County lying between Lake Keechelus to the northwest and Lake Kachess to the east. The area between Lake Keechelus and Lake Kachess is an important wildlife movement corridor, in part due to the topography of the two lakes that funnel wildlife movement through this area in addition to the unique ecological zones of the upper slopes of the Cascades near Snoqualmie Pass. Currently wildlife is limited in their crossing zones by the natural topography of the lakes and the barrier that I-90 poses for wildlife movement.

The area surrounding Crystal Springs has been identified as a wildlife connectivity corridor through various analyses conducted as part of state and federal projects. The Northwest Forest Plan highlighted the importance of the Snoqualmie Pass area for maintaining ecological connectivity throughout the Cascades. The Washington Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Working Group, a collaborative involving many partners, both state, federal and private conservation groups identified the specific area between Lakes Keechelus and Kachess as an important pathway for long and short range migration of wildlife.

As part of the I-90 East project, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) developed a series of Connectivity Emphasis Areas (CEAs) to facilitate wildlife movement across the movement barrier caused by I-90. These CEA structures will allow a multitude of both high and low mobility animals to safely cross through the I-90 corridor in a north-south route, accessing lands both south and north of I-90 for population interaction. These wildlife movements are critical in allowing wildlife to travel between genetic populations and potentially range

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migration in the future as species range shift due to climate change that is occurring. Particularly there are three CEAs that are directly adjacent to Crystal Springs; Price/Noble, Bonnie Creek and Swamp Creek, with several others east and west of the immediate area. Refer to the annotated slides attached to this letter for a list animals targeted for connectivity at these three CEAs, importance of this area as a movement corridor and maps showing location of these CEAs in relation to the Crystal Springs site.

Project Related Issues Involving Wildlife Habitat Connectivity

WDFW is very concerned that the proposed RBA would increase the recreational use of the site from a winter based day-use area to potentially a year-around overnight area. WSDOT along with its partners, of which WDFW is one, have invested millions of public dollars into improving wildlife connectivity through the CEAs as part of the I-90 East project that is currently being constructed. In addition to the money spent as part of WSDOT I-90 East project, conservation groups such as The Nature Conservancy and Forterra, with state and federal agency support have invested millions of dollars into this area through land purchases to ensure habitat connectivity is upheld throughout this north-south corridor in the Cascades in conjunction with State and Federal existing managed lands. This proposal would undermine both of those efforts.

Currently, human use of the area is centered on winter day-use at Crystal Springs and the surrounding trails. There are cabins to the west and east of the site along the shores of Lake Keechelus and Lake Kachess but little human use during overnight periods in the Crystal Springs area. The area immediately adjacent to Crystal Springs has relatively little human use during non-winter recreation periods of the year, particularly once I-90 East construction is completed. A majority of animal species present in the area use the early morning, late evening and nocturnal periods for movement which currently coincides well with the peak of human traffic which is more centered to the daylight hours. Further, as the site is most heavily used during the winter months, that also coincides well as many wildlife species either migrate out of the area for the winter or reduce their mobility during the winter. Current recreation levels in these areas likely affect some winter wildlife movement, but again the time of day for wildlife movement and peak human use of the area are likely to have fewer human-wildlife interactions.

The current proposal of opening the site to year around activity, building structures to facilitate overnight stays will lead to an increased human presence in the area, and year-around use, as opposed to the current winter day-use. Development at this site is likely to discourage wildlife use of the three CEAs in the immediate area. This is likely to reduce wildlife movement through the area, as many wildlife species avoid human-wildlife interactions and this project will undermine significant public investment to improve wildlife connectivity and migration in the area. Wildlife not using these CEAs may also result in continuing wildlife collisions in the area, which reducing those collisions was one of the goals behind the CEAs. WDFW requests that this site be removed from the list of RBA candidate sites. If removal is not an option, scale the options for development back to development that works with keeping the site as a limited day-use area as opposed to an overnight year-around recreation site.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this project. Please contact me at (509) 457-9307 or [email protected], if you have any questions or concerns regarding these comments.

Sincerely,

Scott Downes Area Habitat Biologist

Attachment: Crystal Springs Parks proposal.pdf

Cc: Brent Renfrow, WDFW Perry Harvester, WDFW WDFW SEPA Desk

New development at Crystal Springs would be within habitat linkage zones and undermine efforts underway to improve connectivity.

All exhibits shown are from I-90 Wildlife Monitoring Plan (WSDOT 2006)

Crystal Springs

Arrows showing expected wildlife movement through the Connectivity Emphasis Areas (CEAs)

Three Connectivity Emphasis Areas (Price/Noble, Bonnie Creek and Swamp Creek) are located near Crystal Springs, see the next slide for importance of those areas to wildlife movement (three CEAs outlined in red).

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First Name Scott

Last Name Downes

e-mail address [email protected]

Add to mailing list Yes

Organization Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Phone number 509-457-9307

Comment WDFW has submitted a formal comment letter to Washington State Parks Planning with our concerns that the site will undermine wildlife habitat connectivity efforts occurring in the area.

Should any of the candidate sites be removed from consideration for RBA development? If so, why? Yes, all of them. As a cabin owner in the area any type of development is not something that any of us want to see. With this development we will see a major influx of traffic on forest service roads in turn endangering both humans and wildlife. The sno-park which I use almost every weekend in the winter will become more dangerous with inexperienced "tourists" and summer alone draws enough people with hiking and fishing. Due to the stocking of Lost Lake I have seen firsthand the damage humans who don't appreciate nature have done! (Check forest service records, they have had to clean up after these people!) In the last few years there have been hords of garbage and glass, people endangering the forest with illegal campfires and speeding 50mph down the forest service road putting everyone in danger! If you want this forest to survive and thrive then we cannot handle any more development! I can only see this a being a disaster and exposing this nice quiet mountain community to commercialization. People will not only be at the RV park or hotel or whatever, they will be out "exploring" putting people in danger and disrespecting the forest. We do not want to see this happen, we do not want to be the next suncadia or snoqualmie pass. Please reconsider.

What park-specific development restrictions should be adopted for each site? If this were to happen then there are going to need to be rules and boundaries. I'm talking outside of the development area.... There will need to be a reduced speed limit that is posted on the forest service roads for the safety of cabin owners, other vehicles, wildlife and maintenance of the road. The communities of Roaring Creek and Sawmill Flats will no longer pay to help maintain the roads since we will be the least of the people using them. There will need to be specific information letting these tourist know that roaring creek falls is on private property and that no one is allow to go past the gate or any community gate. There will need to be better resources such as garbage cans for Lost Lake and the mirror lake hiking trailhead. Also I believe that there should be a fee for camping at lost lake to keep the riff raff out, and people should have to display a discover pass if they want to use the hiking trail. You have to understand that this will not only affect just the sno-park and gravel pit areas this is something that will majorly impact the surrounding areas.

There will need to be improvements made to the outlying areas and rules that are posted and enforced. This is much bigger than a hotel or recreational rental facility, this will destroy the forest you bring these people to. Let them have snoqualmie pass and suncadia we don't want them!

I am writing to comment on your proposed Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities, and specifically Crystal Springs, part of the Iron Horse State Park in Kittitas County. I strongly oppose the proposed development at the Crystal Springs site (i.e., a lodge with up to 20 rooms, up to 100 cabins, an RV facility, retail shops, equipment rental and year-round recreation facilities). This type of extensive and commercial development is inconsistent with the Park’s mission to “care for Washington’s most treasured lands” and “commitment to stewardship that transmits high quality park assets to future generations”.

This particular site is located in an extremely critical forest habitat linkage between the north and south Cascades, and is in one of the few areas that is not already developed. Many wildlife species are already restricted in their north-south movement due to I-90, numerous roads, powerlines, and private development. The ongoing I-90 highway improvement project integrates over 20 wildlife crossings to improve connectivity. This proposed development is located very close to three crossing structures currently under construction and could jeopardize these expensive projects by greatly increasing human disturbance year-round, thus forcing wildlife to reduce or abandon their use of the area.

Because of the critical importance of this area to over 60 wildlife species (documented by the I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition project), the highest priority for this site should be to support wildlife habitat. There is extensive private land ownership throughout this area, where both private and commercial development is ongoing. Public land should be maintained as wildlife habitat where people can enjoy the natural environment, not converted to commercial development. A much better use of the funds allocated for this project would be to restore the area not used for parking to native habitat.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment Sincerely,

Sally Nickelson Wildlife Biologist and Senior Environmental Analyst with the City of Seattle.

City Seattle

Zip 98101-2794

Comment Please remove the Crystal Springs development proposal from your Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities; · The Crystal Springs property is located immediately south of wildlife crossing structures in the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project that are designed to facilitate and restore connectivity for fish and wildlife. Development in this location would negatively impact wildlife’s ability to use these structures. · Over the past 20 years, millions of dollars of public and private funds have gone towards conservation and restoration of habitat in the landscape surrounding this proposal. State Parks should be seeking to be a partner in creating more wildlife habitat in balance with recreation on this landscape rather than destroying it through development.

I heard of the ridiculous Crystal Springs Proposal and must object to it without all my head and heart. This is adjacent to wildlife crossings areas and will only work to the detriment of that effort.

Seattle resident

City Seattle

Zip 98107

Comment Dear Commissioners, I am writing to comment on your proposed Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities, and specifically Crystal Springs, part of the Iron Horse State Park in Kittitas County. This proposal should be removed from the list due to its impacts on wildlife and the inconsistency of the proposed actions with the land management focus and conservation investments of the landscape of which this park is a part. I believe the arguments for removing the Crystal Springs project are well outlined in the comment letter from the I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition. My own wildlife connectivity research has also confirmed that this location is particularly important for providing a north-south link through the Cascades. Providing wildlife with corridors for movement is critical under any circumstances, but becomes even more important as the climate warms, forcing many species to shift their ranges to track changing climate conditions. High elevation mountain tops are both extremely vulnerable to warming and are likely to provide critical climate refuges for many species. I-90 is a significant ecological barrier, and the decision to build a wildlife crossing is an amazing testament to Washington State's commitment to protecting our biodiversity and ecological heritage. The significant investment to build a wildlife bridge is in my opinion warranted, and allowing a development such as Crystal Springs to be built so near the wildlife bridge will significantly reduce the quality of wildlife habitat in this critical area, reducing the value of this investment. Developments such as Crystal Springs impact habitat far beyond their building and even clearing footprint. Developments bring lighting, noise, and invasive plant and animal species that all reduce the habitat quality of adjacent forests. Please help keep this critical corridor functioning and do not allow or consider developments such as the Crystal Springs project to take place. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on your park planning.

City Seattle

Zip 98119

Comment I'm writing to oppose any major development on the Crystal Springs property. Wildlife should be given priority in this section of the I-90 Corridor.

City Clinton

State WA

Zip 98236

Comment I am writing to request that you remove Crystal Springs - Iron Horse State Park from your Candidate Sites for Recreation Business Activities. Considerable time, planning effort and funds have been dedicated to designing and constructing the I- 90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project, a 15- mile section of highway from Hyak to Easton. More than 20 wildlife crossing structures will improve ecological connectivity as well as safety for both people and wildlife. The Crystal Springs property is due south of three of the wildlife crossings, and its proposed 20-room lodge, 100 cabins, RV facility, and retail shops are not compatible with this particular location. The remaining wildlife habitat in this area is already fragmented and impacted by roads, power lines, and private structures. Adding more will just cause further degradation. Recreation is an important part of this region, and a service that I appreciate is made possible through Washington's State Parks. But this particular project doesn't make sense in its proposed location. I urge you to consider alternative locations 25

City Sequim

State WA

Zip 98382

Comment I wish to comment in support of the RBA candidates identified in round 1. Although my personal interests are primarily hiking in relatively undeveloped Parks, the candidate projects appear well chosen to complement and in no way interfere with my interests. (This I could have anticipated, as the sites are all in Parks in which RBAs have conditionally been approved in previous public planning processes.) Many of the candidate locations would enable more citizens to enjoy outdoor activities on State Park lands. The sites are well chosen. In particular, the Crystal Springs site is intriguing to me. It could enhance interest in and use of the Iron Horse Trail, a unique and significant recreational asset of our state. I suggest that opportunities be encouraged to better integrate site development with use of the Iron Horse Trail. Connector trails from the lodge and cabins to the Trail could be used in summer by hikers and equestrians and in winter by skiers and snowmobiles. Overnight stock facilities (simple corrals with water available nearby) also could be used for secure snowmobile parking in winter. Although there are many hiking and skiing destinations in the area, there are few developed equestrian destinations. Overnight stock facilities should be encouraged there. The Westhaven/Westport site is also intriguing. The potential of this site as a regional attraction is exemplified by Asilomar Conference Grounds and State Beach in Pacific Grove near Monterey, California. A central lodge and conference facility larger than that anticipated in the draft RBA would be needed to meet this potential.

City Seattle

State Wa

Zip 98125

Comment Please make a real winter cross country/ summer mtn biking hub Create more sledding holls You could create so much revenue Yoy need parking Bathrooms some warming huts Yoy can over time add some ski in or snowmobile in cabins to rent in the trail system Add sone concessions stands a that sell hit cocoa coffee soup a burrito Make more opportinitues Charge a day fee for sledding hills And in summer hike snd bike 1000s of people come in search of affirdable. Fun activities get the concessions in there it gives folks jobs and it earns $$ for parks