A $4 million, 10-year recreation plan calling for 78 miles of additional trails in the western Yacolt Burn State Forest was adopted Monday by Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark.
More than three years in preparation, the 70-page plan is a joint effort of the state Department of Natural Resources and an 11-member citizen advisory group. It covers roughly 40,000 acres of DNR-managed state forest in eastern Clark County south of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
The department unveiled a draft of the plan in May.
It calls for 58.5 miles of new motorized trails, three miles of new mountain bike-only trail and 17 miles of new non-motorized trail. Rock Creek and Cold Creek campgrounds will be expanded. Eventually, a new off-road-vehicle campground will built near Four Corners, the junction of DNR roads 1000 and 1500.
“The plan will enhance existing recreation and create new recreational opportunities while ensuring the health of the forest’s resources and habitat,’’ Goldmark said last week.
MOTORIZED TRAILS -- Specific trail mileage by motorized vehicle includes 30.5 miles of new trail for motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and four-wheel-drives; 18 new miles of double-track trails for all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles, and 10 miles of new single-track trails for motorcycles only. The highest priority for motorized trails is in the area east of Jones Creek trailhead and south of Grouse Creek Vista.
NON-MOTORIZED TRAILS — Most of the new non-motorized trails would be east of Rock Creek campground, creating loop opportunities by connecting with the Tarbell trail south of Squaw Butte and near Coyote Creek.
CAMPGROUNDS -- Rock Creek campground will cater to equestrian use. It will get four additional camping sites, bringing the total to 21. The existing sites will be improved to provide larger parking spots. An adjacent trailhead will have 32 parking spots, with room to add another 32 in a later phase.
Cold Creek campground will cater to quiet family and tent camping. Ten new sites are proposed to bring the total to 18.
The planned Four Corners campground envisions 25 sites. Adjacent to the new campground will be day-use parking for 60 vehicles. Four Corners campground will be expensive and its development is the lowest priority for funding.
Opportunities for motorized activities are dwindling, especially on nearby private land, shifting more effort to the western portion of the Yacolt forest.
Money to implement the proposals will come from grants available through the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office and from capital projects funded by the state Legislature.
Brian Poehlein, recreation and natural areas district manager for DNR’s Pacific Cascade region, said volunteer labor also will be instrumental in getting trails built.
MOTORIZED TRAILS — Specific trail mileage by motorized vehicle includes 30.5 miles of new trail for motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and four-wheel-drives; 18 new miles of double-track trails for all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles, and 10 miles of new single-track trails for motorcycles only. The highest priority for motorized trails is in the area east of Jones Creek trailhead and south of Grouse Creek Vista.
NON-MOTORIZED TRAILS — Most of the new non-motorized trails would be east of Rock Creek campground, creating loop opportunities by connecting with the Tarbell trail south of Squaw Butte and near Coyote Creek.
CAMPGROUNDS — Rock Creek campground will cater to equestrian use. It will get four additional camping sites, bringing the total to 21. The existing sites will be improved to provide larger parking spots. An adjacent trailhead will have 32 parking spots, with room to add another 32 in a later phase.
Cold Creek campground will cater to quiet family and tent camping. Ten new sites are proposed to bring the total to 18.
The planned Four Corners campground envisions 25 sites. Adjacent to the new campground will be day-use parking for 60 vehicles. Four Corners campground will be expensive and its development is the lowest priority for funding.
The mountain bike trail likely will be the first built, since it has no stream crossing and does not need bridges.
Poehlein estimated work on that trail would begin in mid-September.
Work on motorized trails probably will get under way in mid- to late October. Those require more project-specific environmental review.
The plan concentrates motorized use in the southern end of the forest and non-motorized use in the north.
An estimated 50,000 visitors use the trails and camps in the western Yacolt Burn for off-road-vehicle riding, horse riding, hiking, mountain-bike riding, hunting, and other recreation.
DNR officials estimate there are 170 miles of undesignated trails in the area. Many of those trails are in poor locations, causing erosion and posing safety concerns.
The key to the plan is finding funding.
Washington’s NOVA (Nonhighway and Off-Road Vehicles Activities) program has been a good source of money for off-road vehicle trails in the past, Poehlein said.
But the budget passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor in 2009 redirected the 2009-2011 NOVA grant funds to keep the state parks open.
“NOVA is a viable source if it comes back,’’ Poehlein said. “We’ve have good success with NOVA acquisitions.’’
Gary Collins, who represented equestrians on the advisory committee, said having a plan is a first step toward getting money.
“With no plan, we have no chance for funding,’’ Collins said.
