R E S O U C Snoqualmie Corridor Recreation Plan .............................................. March 2015 N A T U R A L N A This publication is available from: Washington State Department of Natural Resources Recreation Program PO Box 47014 1111 Washington St. SE Olympia, WA 98504-7000 360-902-1600 [email protected] www.dnr.wa.gov Persons needing this information in an alternative format may contact DNR at the listing above. Acknowledgments The Snoqualmie Corridor Recreation Plan was created through a public planning process that brought together users, neighbors, interest groups, citizens, and staff from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to develop a comprehensive plan to direct future recreation use and public access within the area. The following individuals and organizations contributed to the development of this document. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Peter Goldmark, Commissioner of Public Lands PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SNOQUALMIE CORRIDOR PROJECT TEAM The committee provided valuable and diverse input throughout the planning process. The final concept map being recommended Doug McClelland, South Puget Sound by DNR is based on considerable input from the committee, the Assistant Region Manager public, and information learned during the planning process. Lisa Anderson, Statewide Recreation Committee members include: Planning and Policy Manager Brock Milliern, Assistant Division Manager- Jim Berry Statewide Recreation Program Manager Mark Boyar Kelly Heintz, South Puget Sound Region, Amy Brockhaus Natural Areas Manager Jenni Creveling Sam Jarrett, South Puget Sound Region, Harold Erland Snoqualmie Unit, Recreation Manager Robert Eversole Pene Speaks, Assistant Division Manager- Glenn Glover Natural Heritage Conservation Section Ted Jackson Curt Pavola, Natural Areas Program Manager David Kappler Cynthia Comfort, Environmental Planner- Conservation, Recreation & Transactions Sarah Krueger Tyler Traweek, South Puget Sound Region, Mire Levy Snoqualmie Forest Manager Rick McGuire Rebecca Needham Thomas O’Keefe UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON - PROJECT TEAM Robert Pattie Gordon Bradley, Professor, School of Ann Shilling Environmental and Forest Sciences Mike Town Laura Cooper, Research Assistant, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences and DNR DNR COMMUNICATIONS AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Recreation Planner Jason Goldstein, Geographic Information Systems Analyst DNR STATE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (SEPA) CENTER Jessica Payne, Recreation Communications & Karen Arnold, SEPA Environmental Review Outreach Coordinator Program Lead Cover photo credits to Washington State DNR Fred Greef, SEPA Consultant Snoqualmie Corridor Recreation Plan .............................................. March 2015 Table of Contents Letter from Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark 15 Introduction 17 The Washington State Department of Natural Resources 18 Agency Mission 18 Agency Vision 18 Our Guiding Principles 19 State Trust Lands 19 DNR Natural Areas Program 20 DNR Statewide Recreation Program PART I 21 Project Overview 23 Recreation Planning Area Description 26 Recreation Planning Area Context 29 Current Recreation Opportunities in the Recreation Planning Area 29 Summary of Current Recreation Opportunities PART II 33 The Plan 35 Recreation Plan Purpose and Use 35 Other Planning Efforts 36 Concept Maps 39 Objectives and Strategies 39 Recreation Planning Units 40 Recreational Facilities 43 Recreational Trails 46 Dispersed Recreation Management 47 Managed Access & Group Events 47 Restoration 49 Partnerships and Volunteer Coordination 50 Education and Enforcement 52 Adaptive Management 52 Sustainable Funding 53 Implementation PART III 55 Planning Area Background 57 South Puget Sound Region and Recreation 59 Ecological Description of the Snoqualmie Corridor Recreation Planning Area 62 The Mountains to Sound Greenway 62 Snoqualmie Unit Advisory Committee PART IV 63 The Planning Process 65 Developing the Snoqualmie Corridor Recreation Plan 67 Recreation Land Suitability 71 Public Involvement 71 The Project “Kick-Off” Public Meeting 72 User Survey 72 Recreation Planning Committee 73 Field Data Collection and Mapping 74 In Closing PART V 75 Regulations and Policy Information REFERENCES 79 References APPENDICES 83 Appendices 85p A pendix A: Glossary of Terms 90 Appendix B: Recreation Planning Committee Meetings 91 Appendix C: Recreation Planning Committee Field Trips 92 Appendix D: Public Kick-off Meeting Summary of Comments 98 Appendix E: State Route 18 – Issaquah Hobart Road to I-90 Improvement Project 99 Appendix F: Existing Recreation Trails in the Recreation Planning Area 100 Appendix G: Certificate of Adoption LIST OF FIGURES Figures AND TABLES 17 Figure 1. DNR Regions and Project Location 24 Figure 2. Snoqualmie Corridor Recreation Planning Units 25 Figure 3. Recreation Planning Unit Landtype Designations 27 Figure 4. Recreation Planning Area Context 31 Figure 5. Current Recreation Opportunities: Recreation Planning Area – West 32 Figure 6. Current Recreation Opportunities: Recreation Planning Area – East 37 Figure 7. Concept Map of Snoqualmie Corridor Recreation Planning Area - West 38 Figure 8. Concept Map of Snoqualmie Corridor Recreation Planning Area - East 58 Figure 9. Service Area and Proximity to Urban Growth Areas 60 Figure 10. Recreation Planning Area Elevation Bands 68 Figure 11. Recreation Land Suitability: Hiking Trails 69 Figure 12. Recreation Land Suitability: Non-Motorized Trails 70 Figure 13. Recreation Land Suitability: Recreation Facilities Tables 28 Table 1. Nearby and Adjacent Public Lands 30 Table 2. Existing DNR-managed Facilities in the Recreation Planning Area 39 Table 3. Recreation Planning Unit Management Objectives 53 Table 4. Implementation Priorities and Phases 54 Table 5. Implementation Priorities and Phases Continued 67 Table 6. Suitability Criteria 90 Table 7. Recreation Planning Committee Meetings and Main Agenda Items 91 Table 8. Recreation Planning Committee Field Trips 99 Table 9. Existing Designated Trails in Recreation Planning Area Introduction 15 Snoqualmie Corridor Recreation Plan | March 2015 16 Snoqualmie Corridor Recreation Plan | March 2015 Introduction The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) uses a recreation planning process that actively engages the public in developing recreation plans for DNR-managed landscapes. The Snoqualmie Corridor Recreation Plan provides guidance for recreation development and management on DNR- managed lands in the Snoqualmie Corridor for the next 10-15 years. It builds on previous planning efforts for the area, provides goals and objectives for recreational opportunities, and identifies strategies for achieving the objectives and implementing projects. Washington State Department of Natural Resources The Snoqualmie Corridor Recreation Planning Area is part of Washington’s heritage of public lands. DNR manages 5.6 million acres of forest, range, aquatic, agricultural, conservation, and commercial lands for the people of Washington State. Approximately 3 million acres are state trust lands that generate more than $200 million each year in non-tax revenue; much of which supports public schools, state institutions, and county services. The lands are also managed to provide fish and wildlife habitat, clean and abundant water, and public access to outdoor recreational opportunities. FIGURE 1. DNR Regions and Project Location 17 Snoqualmie Corridor Recreation Plan | March 2015 DNR also fights wildfires on public and private lands, helps communities with fire prevention and urban forestry resources, manages a Natural Areas program that protects native species and ecosystems, administers state forest practices rules, provides geological services, regulates surface mine reclamation, and supplies knowledge about forestry, mining, rare native plant species, ecosystems, and geologic hazards. DNR-managed lands are organized into six geographic regions. Each region manages the day-to-day operations involved in protecting and managing the public lands. The Snoqualmie Corridor Recreation Planning Area is located in the South Puget Sound Region (see Figure 1). Agency Mission In partnership with citizens and governments, DNR provides innovative leadership and expertise to ensure environmental protection, public safety, perpetual funding for schools and communities, and a rich quality of life. Agency Vision Our decisions and hard work on the ground leave a legacy of healthy forests, clean water, thriving ecosystems, and a vibrant natural resource-based economy. Our Guiding Principles MANAGE THE STATE’S RESOURCES SUSTAINABLY Through our sustainable management of resources entrusted to our care, future generations will have ample opportunities to enjoy and benefit from Washington’s rich natural heritage. We will also ensure that revenues for our trusts will be stable or growing and that associated industries will thrive for generations to come. MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON SOUND SCIENCE Using sound science, data, and information to guide our decisions will result in the best possible outcomes for the State of Washington. MAKE DECISIONS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND WITH THE PUBLIC’S KNOWLEDGE Transparency and accountability are vital to earn the public’s trust and appropriately manage shared resources. Decisions should be made for the benefit of current and future generations. 18 Snoqualmie Corridor Recreation Plan | March 2015 State Trust Lands By law, state trust lands are to be held in trust and managed to sustainably