Mount Spokane plan proposed

Plans for ski area expansion and trails for mountain biking, hiking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in Mount Spokane State Park will be discussed at a public meeting Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. at the Mount Spokane High School Commons Room.

The major proposal in the plans includes an 800-acre expansion of the downhill skiing operation on the northwest side of the mountain, said Steve Christensen, manager of the 13,000-acre state park.

“The area would be developed for skiing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer,” he said.

Howard Ferguson, wildlife biologist for the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department, said he’s concerned that the expansion would disturb “an extremely important core wildlife and recreational area for all of Spokane.”

Other proposals include a 2.3-mile addition to the cross-country trail system. The route would be almost flat, Christensen said, noting that nordic skiers have asked for years to have a gentle section of trail.

The meeting is an early step in master planning for the ski concessionaire and resource management.

“This is the time for the public to get involved,” Christensen said, noting that the proposals have been generated by a citizen advisory group over the past two years. “The group has ranged from 8 to 10 people representing various user and interest groups.”

Online: The proposed comprehensive trail plan is on the Net at www.mountspokane.org.

Comment on the proposals in the plan at (360) 902-8610 or mtspokane.planning@parks.wa.gov.