Our State's Greatest Gift to the Nation Just Got Canceled The Seattle Times Saturday, October 3, 2015 Actually what Congress did, setting a new standard for dysfunction, is allow the wildly successfully, 50-year-old Land and Water Conservation Fund to expire. They killed it quietly, without a vote. It leaves hundreds of millions of dollars of park and trail acquisitions in limbo around the U.S. Read more
Study Confirms State Parks Provide Significant Economic and Ecosystem Benefits Study Confirms State Parks Provide Significant Economic and Ecosystem Benefits Washington State Parks Sunday, September 27, 2015 A study initiated by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has confirmed that state parks remain a significant economic driver in Washington, with a total estimated contribution of $1.4 billion a year. According to the study, “Economic Analysis of Outdoor Recreation at Washington State Parks,” by Earth Economics of Tacoma, travel and consumer spending associated with state park visits generated an estimated $64 million in tax receipts to the state’s General Fund during the 2013-15 study period. During the study period, the park system generated six times the tax receipts State Parks was allocated in its budget to operate the system. Read more
The 7 Wonders of Oregon The 7 Wonders of Oregon Traveloregon.com Sunday, September 27, 2015 There are 7 Wonders of the World, and not a single one of them is here in Oregon. All we can figure is whoever came up with the list must have never set foot here. They must have never seen Mt. Hood or the grandeur of the Columbia River Gorge. They certainly didn’t explore the Oregon Coast. The exposed earth of the Painted Hills, Smith Rock’s towers of volcanic ash and the alpine peaks of the Wallowas were overlooked as well. Even Crater Lake, the deepest lake in America, was left off their list.So we see your Wonders, world. And raise you 7 of our own. And we invite you to not just see them, but experience them. Because our Wonders aren’t just for taking pictures of – to truly say you’ve seen our Wonders, you have to get out of the car, hike down from the scenic vista and feel them beneath your feet. Just remember: This is Oregon. So how you go about doing that is entirely up to you. Read more
Time for Your Thoughts Recreation & Conservation Office Monday, September 21, 2015 Please take a short survey by Oct. 2 to share your insights about the WWRP. Survey Link State officials and legislators are looking for your thoughts about if and how to revise the 25-year-old Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP), which is the state’s grant program for wildlife conservation lands, state and local parks, trails, natural areas, and working farms and ranches. The Legislature created the WWRP in 1990 to give the state a way to invest in valuable outdoor recreation areas and wildlife habitat conservation lands. They wanted to protect critical habitat and make sure our kids, grandkids, and future generations had places to recreate, and they wanted to do it before the land was developed. In its 25-year history, the grant program has funded projects in nearly every county of the state. As state officials review the program, they are looking to see if the program is accomplishing what it set out to and what might need to change going forward. So now’s the time to give them your thoughts. Read more
Washington Coastal Recreation Report Released May 14th, 2015 Washington Coastal Recreation Report Released May 14th, 2015 Surfrider Foundation Wednesday, September 16, 2015 As expected, coastal recreation provides significant economic and social benefits to coastal communities and the state—these include direct expenditures, as well as social benefits such as citizen enjoyment. In 2014, Washington residents took an estimated 4.1 million trips to the coast, with nearly 60 percent indicating their primary purpose was recreation. That recreation included a variety of activities including beach going (67%), sightseeing (62%), photography (36%) hiking and biking (33%), surfing/kayaking/boating (7%) and wildlife viewing (40%). When at the coast, the average respondent spent $117.14 per trip, translating to an estimated $481 million dollars in total direct expenditures for coastal communities and the state, through hotel visits, shopping, dining and other trip-related expenditures. Read more