[SEATTLE] Today, Governor Inslee released his budget, which includes $100 million in funding for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) and $400,000 to create a more equitable grant process at the Recreation and Conservation Office. The COVID19 crisis has affected our outdoor recreation needs in significant ways, bringing more people outside to recreate for their mental and physical health. Indeed, the demand for outdoor recreation has never been higher. Meanwhile, the economic crisis created by COVID19 has made the outdoor recreation economy even more important. It has also highlighted the inequities in our current system, as many communities were left without access to safe and healthy recreation opportunities close to home.

Working in close collaboration with elected officials, opinion leaders, and community leaders in Washington State, with local governments, and with the business community and the public, the Big Tent will focus on raising the profile of outdoor recreation and the substantial economic, social, and health benefits that come with doing so.

SEATTLE –To collectively fight against climate change and advance equity in the industry, REI Co-op is engaging its more than 1,000 brand partners to advance more sustainable and inclusive business practices. The REI Product Impact Standards include the co-op’s expectations for how brands are addressing carbon reduction, inclusive marketing practices and cultural designs in the products they make and sell to REI.

The numbers are in. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) came out with its annual report today dissecting the importance of the outdoor economy across the nation. Officially an analysis of the agency's Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, which measures "economic activity as well as the sales or receipts generated by outdoor recreational activities" across the country, the report laid out in clear terms just how crucial outdoor recreation remains to state economies from coast to coast. Across the board, the upshot was positive. The BEA's report found that outdoor recreation contributed to the economies of all 50 states and accounted for 2.1 percent ($459.8 billion) of current-dollar gross domestic product and $788 billion in gross output (consumer spending) in 2019.

The NPS has undertaken a campground modernization strategy to ensure our second century of NPS campgrounds supports both visitors and employees. As part of this effort, an internal NPS team has developed draft design guidelines to centralize campground design information. These include details on spatial requirements for expanding campsites to accommodate RV use and guidelines on how to meet accessibility codes while maintaining cultural resource integrity. The guide will be a clearinghouse of best practices and design resources for all National Park Service staff and private contractors including planners, designers, superintendents, maintenance staff, concessioners and partners. All public comment will need to be entered in PEPC by 12/4/20.  The National Park Service Campground Development Guide has been posted on the Planning, Environment Public Comment (PEPC) page for public external review. This time can also be used for additional internal review. All comments should be posted on PEPC.  We would appreciate your review and input on the guide.  Project Page

Washington's outdoor community thanks our WA congressional delegation for passing the Great American Outdoors Act! Thank you Senator Cantwell, Senator Patty Murray, Rep. Derek Kilmer, Rep. Suzan DelBene, Rep. Denny Heck, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Rick Larsen, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Rep. Kim Schrier, and Rep. Adam Smith. Thanks to your efforts, Washington communities, visitors, and businesses will benefit for years to come. You’ve made Washington proud! https://youtu.be/9Bp1xlIDkhw

So, you want to save Washington’s economy? Well then get out of town and go jump in a lake. A new report from Tacoma nonprofit Earth Economics shows that prior to the pandemic, people spent $26.5 billion on outdoor recreation in Washington; and with new research indicating that outdoor activities are much safer than indoor, investing in the state’s natural resources could help dig us out of the horrible economic catastrophe that’s looming over us all.

The Great American Outdoors Act ends a history of underfunding the Land and Water Conservation Fund and not addressing the maintenance backlog on federal public lands - efforts that have been attempted in the past and have been unable to move through the legislative process. It provides $9.5 billion to address that backlog, and $900 million annually for the LWCF.