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RECREATIONAL ASSETS of STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE in WASHINGTON STATE Study Report

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RECREATIONAL ASSETS of STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE in WASHINGTON STATE Study Report RECREATIONAL ASSETS OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE IN WASHINGTON STATE Study Report September 30, 2019 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office Kaleen Cottingham, director Wendy Brown, policy director Adam Cole, natural resource policy specialist Katie Pruit, planning and policy analyst Julia Marshburn, administrative assistant Red Barn Communications The Otos Group Brit Kramer, principal Larry Otos, project manager Shelley Dahle, member services Recreational Assets of Statewide Significance Study Advisory Committee The Honorable Nancy Lilquist, David Patton, Northwest director Councilwoman, Ellensburg City Council Trust for Public Land Jon Snyder, recreation policy advisor Owen Rowe, governmental and Governor’s Office legislative affairs director Washington State Parks and Recreation Dave Schaub, member Commission Spokane County Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Peter Schrappen, director of government affairs Mike Racine, director Northwest Maritime Trade Association Washington SCUBA Alliance Leah Dobey, Recreation Program manager Brian Adams, director Washington Department of Natural Skagit County Parks and Recreation Resources Department Cynthia Wilkerson, Lands Division manager Andrea Imler, advocacy director Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Washington Trails Association Chris Zipperer, physical activity coordinator Peter Mayer, deputy executive director Washington Department of Health Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma Cover photograph of Clear Lake near Doug Levy, principal Eatonville by Tony Sirgedas, courtesy of Outcomes by Levy the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ Back cover Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. 1 Map Analysis ......................................................................................................................................... 7 Findings ............................................................................................................................................... 10 Foundational Assets .......................................................................................................................... 14 Exceptional Assets ............................................................................................................................. 22 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................. 29 Appendix A: Asset Reports ............................................................................................................... 38 Air Activities .................................................................................................................................................................... 39 Archery .............................................................................................................................................................................. 42 Bicycling and Walking................................................................................................................................................. 46 Boating (Motorized and Sailing) ............................................................................................................................ 51 Camping ........................................................................................................................................................................... 56 Climbing, Bouldering, and Scrambling ................................................................................................................ 60 Equestrian in the Backcountry ................................................................................................................................. 64 Firearms ............................................................................................................................................................................ 68 Fishing and Shellfishing ............................................................................................................................................. 72 Hiking and Backpacking ............................................................................................................................................ 75 Hunting with Firearms and Bows ........................................................................................................................... 80 Leisure Activities in Parks .......................................................................................................................................... 84 Mountain Biking ............................................................................................................................................................ 87 Mountaineering ............................................................................................................................................................ 92 Nature Activities ............................................................................................................................................................ 95 Off-Road 4x4 Riding .................................................................................................................................................... 98 Off-Road All-terrain Vehicle Riding ................................................................................................................... 102 Off-Road Motorcycling ........................................................................................................................................... 106 Paddling ........................................................................................................................................................................ 110 Paddling Whitewater ................................................................................................................................................ 114 Playing Sports ............................................................................................................................................................. 118 SCUBA ............................................................................................................................................................................ 122 Skiing .............................................................................................................................................................................. 125 Snowmobiling ............................................................................................................................................................. 127 Winter Trails ................................................................................................................................................................. 130 Appendix B: Outreach List .............................................................................................................. 134 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OVERVIEW Washington has an abundance of natural beauty and a rich tradition of providing outdoor recreation. The state is home to diverse landscapes that provide nearly unparalleled opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. This makes Washington a great place to live, play, and do business. In addition, outdoor recreation contributes significantly to state and regional economies, public health, and environmental resiliency. With so much to gain by investing in outdoor recreation, the Washington State Legislature funded a study in 2018 to identify future recreational needs. It tasked the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) with identifying recreational assets of statewide significance, where gaps in recreational assets exist, and investment strategies and options for addressing those gaps. The Legislature also directed that the study must address existing and projected future needs of the people of Washington State. Over the course of the study, RCO consulted more than 80 interest groups, land managers, organizations, and individuals. An advisory committee consisting of local agency directors, state policy leads, and user groups provided guidance throughout the project. In addition, RCO looked at 146 recreational activities and more than 16,000 records of assets that support them. DEFINING RECREATIONAL ASSETS OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE The advisory committee recommended RCO study two types of recreational assets: foundational and exceptional. Foundational Assets are facilities that support the most popular recreational activities in the state (exceeding 30 percent participation)1. These facilities were deemed “foundational” to the recreational satisfaction and well-being of Washington’s residents. Walking trails, community parks, and swimming, are examples of activities provided by foundational assets. RCO mapped these assets by activity and then identified spatial gaps and levels of service by community. 1As identified in the State of Washington Assessment of Outdoor Recreation Demand Report, Prepared for RCO by Eastern Washington University, 2017 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Exceptional Assets represent the most popular, destination-oriented, and iconic places in the state to recreate. These assets are places of greatest importance to a recreational
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