Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell kicked off National Parks Week on Tuesday with a major speech outlining a new vision for a second century of parks conservation. The speech highlighted the problems faced by national parks, including maintenance backlogs, lack of robust funding, climate change, and the rise of an extreme movement to sell off public lands. A major action item from Jewell’s speech was an announcement that the Department of Interior will work with the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to do a first-ever study to measure the impact outdoor recreation has on the economy. Despite the major economic powerhouse that outdoor recreation can be for towns, businesses, and communities near public lands, the BEA has not measured or tracked its outputs as it does the outputs of other major sectors of the economy.

SALT LAKE CITY -- A new ad campaign with Utah parks in the starring role has been unveiled. The $4.6 million campaign has the state hoping more adventurers will flock to Utah to check out more than just the Mighty Five. In the 30 seconds of video, it's clear to see Mother Nature plays favorites with the Beehive State.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has announced three public meeting workshops, including one in Grays Harbor, relating to the establishment of Recreation Business Activity (RBA) zones in state parks.

Recreation Business Activity zones are areas for potential development of park visitor amenities such as cabins or food service, by private business or other outside entities.

Washington State Parks says the purpose of the zones is not to privatize the park system, but rather to provide park visitor amenities that are beyond State Parks’ financial capacity, while generating lease revenue to help operate the park system.

The truth is we had decided to do a fish-in instead of a shootout this year. We thought it might be easier during the short 60 day session. The shootout was so popular among legislators and staff that we had to add it back in so now we are doing both! 

Today, Monday, is President Day and kids are out of school and many come to the Olympia campus. Have we got a treat for them! Troutlodge is bringing a portable pool and 400 fish. Plenty of rods and wonderful volunteers will be helping.
 

OLYMPIA – Governor Jay Inslee, mountaineering legend Jim Whittaker, former Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, and State Senators Andy Hill (R-Redmond) and Kevin Ranker (D-Orcas Island) along with State Representative Tana Senn (D-Mercer Island) will headline a rally of outdoor recreation businesses, vendors, non-profit groups, and local and state agencies on Wednesday, Feb. 3.  The rally will spotlight Washington’s outdoor recreation sector that generates $22 billion  in revenue and nearly 200,000 direct jobs throughout urban and rural Washington.