Washington State Parks - Legislative Update By Daniel Farber, Policy and Governmental Affairs Director Monday, January 26, 2015 The legislative session is of course off and running and a number of State Parks-related bills are already being considered. See the links below for a summary of the most significant bills and the basic analysis of each bill by State Parks staff. You can read any of the bills by going to http://app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/ and typing in the bill number in the block provided. If you have any questions or comments on the bills, feel free to contact me at any time and I’ll be happy to provide you whatever information I can and hear any thoughts you have about each bill. Read more
Outdoor Recreation in Washington Generates $21.6 Billion Each Year The Olympian Monday, January 26, 2015 Washingtonians love to play outdoors, especially in local parks and public waters. That is the basic conclusion of a report released earlier this month that studied the effect outdoor recreation has on the state’s economy. The study was done for the State Recreation and Conservation Office by Earth Economics in Tacoma. Requested by state Sen. Kevin Ranker (D-Orcas Island), this is the first comprehensive look at the state’s recreational economy. Read more
Veteran of Idaho Wildlife Agency Named to Lead Washington's Fish and Wildlife Department The Olympian Tuesday, January 13, 2015 Jim Unsworth, who has spent more than 30 years with Idaho’s wildife agency, was chosen Saturday to head Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. The 57-year-old Unsworth, who has been the deputy director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, was chosen from four finalists by the state Fish and Wildlife Commission. The commission had interviewed eight candidates to take over for Phil Anderson, who announced in August he was resigning. Read more
Expect Higher Fees, Limited Access to Popular Recreation Spots in 2015 The News Tribune Saturday, January 10, 2015 It’s the first weekend of the NFL playoffs, so the most pressing outdoor issue on your mind is probably, “Can I squeeze in a side trip to the Grand Canyon on the way to Glendale, Arizona, to watch the Seahawks play in the Super Bowl?” Well, if you don’t do it now, you’ll pay for it later. The cost to visit national parks will likely increase by 67 percent in 2015. Read more
Outdoor recreation in state yields $22 billion in spending The Associated Press Friday, January 9, 2015 SEATTLE — A new state study finds that people in Washington spend nearly $22 billion each year hiking, skiing, boating, golfing, and in other outdoor pursuits. The report released Thursday estimates that residents spend on average about 56 days a year on outdoor recreational activities. And they spend money while doing so — on hotels, recreational equipment, food and other items. Read more