Maritime heritage area urged for state

Congressmen Derek Kilmer and Denny Heck continued their pursuit of a National Maritime Heritage Area on the Pacific Coast of Washington recently by asking leaders of the House Committee on Natural Resources to consider their legislation.

In a letter to Chairman Doc Hastings and Ranking Member Peter DeFazio, Kilmer, a Gig Harbor Democrat, and Heck, a Democrat from Olympia, requested a hearing on the resolution, H.R. 5038, the Maritime Heritage Act.

“This proposal is based on broad support from the state and local communities, and would mark the first national heritage site on the West Coast and the only one in the country focused on maritime history,” the members wrote in the letter sent Tuesday.

The Maritime Heritage Act would cover most of Western Washington’s saltwater shoreline and would be the first National Heritage Area established in the Pacific Northwest. It would help promote maritime-related tourism, economic development and maritime history as told through state’s museums, historic ships, fishing culture and other activities.

This Congress has designated 49 National Heritage Areas nationwide.

Heritage areas are eligible for federal grants, and can help draw contributions from state, local and private sources. They help coordinate marketing and tourism promotion, such as developing websites, putting up highway signs to advertise sites, sponsoring festivals, and publishing brochures and tour maps. Heritage Areas also can help with assisting in the operation of museums and visitor centers.

A recent economic impact study indicates National Heritage Areas contribute $12.9 billion annually to the national economy and support 148,000 jobs, according to the National Park Service. The legislation would create a heritage area that consists of lighthouses, historic vessels, parks, and other landmarks located within one-quarter mile of the shoreline in 13 counties, including Grays Harbor, Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, San Juan, Island, King, Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Kitsap, Jefferson and Clallam counties. It also would include 19 Native American tribes, 32 cities and 30 port districts.

National Heritage Areas are partnerships between the National Park Service, states, and local communities through which the Park Service supports local and state efforts to preserve natural resources and promote tourism. They are operated by local boards that are established by legislation.

National Heritage areas are not part of the National Park System, which are lands that are federally owned and managed.