State Senate endorses funding
The Washington Senate recently proposed a state budget that would increase funding for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program from $50 million to $100 million.
The WWRP is a state grant program that distributes funds to local and state agencies for protection of wildlife habitat, creation of outdoor recreation areas such as parks and ball fields and preserving farms.
In 18 years, the WWRP has granted more than $450 million and leveraged an additional $315 million to fund nearly 800 projects on 250,000 acres of outdoor recreation and wildlife habitat in cities and rural areas across the state.
WWRP funding has helped numerous Spokane-area projects, such as adding matching money to the Conservation Futures Program and boosting development of Plantes Ferry Park.
Pending habitat and outdoor recreation proposals for WWRP funding include $1.4 million to buy land on Antoine Peak, $530,000 for a Spokane River whitewater park, $306,000 to buy parkland in Greenacres, $250,000 for a fishing dock at Newman Lake, and $250,000 for a birding trail at Reardan’s Audubon Lake.
If state lawmakers approve new funding at the $100 million level, the WWRP would fund 135 projects throughout the state that were selected through a competitive, “pork-free” process conducted by the Washington Inter-Agency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, said Maggie Coon, spokeswoman for The Nature Conservancy and chairwoman for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition.
Staff and wire reports
LAND ACCESS
Paper companies selling permits
In the second week of a new fee-access policy, Potlatch Corp. has sold more than 600 permits to hikers, campers, hunters and ATVers on the company’s North Idaho land.
“With the turkey season, spring bear season and the nice weather hitting all at once, it got fast and furious,” said Matt Van Vleet, Potlatch spokesman.
The Spokane-based company began requiring permits April 1 for recreational users for access to its 660,000 acres in Idaho. Potlatch is Idaho’s largest private landowner, and allows camping in certain areas.
Costs under the company’s program range from $100 per year for motor homes, $50 for a pickup, $25 for ATVs, motorcycles and horse riders, and $10 for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Inland Empire Paper Co. already has been charging fees for several years for access to more than 115,000 acres in North Idaho and Eastern Washington. IEP does not allow camping. Instead of charging per vehicle, the company requires each person to have a permit. Permits cost $65 a year for families, $40 a year for individuals. Single-day permits are $10.
Last year, IEP sold about 1,000 family, 1,100 individual and 3,200 daily permits, said Dennis Parent, company spokesman.
Potlatch permits and new maps detailing its lands can be purchased online at www.potlatchcorp.com (click on “hunting/recreation leases”). Permits also are being sold through a growing list of local vendors, including Archie’s IGA in St. Maries and Southside Mini-Mart in Moscow.
Problems: Call the help line, (866) 437-7730.
Inland Empire Paper permits are sold through vendors, including White’s Outdoor in Spokane, Hico convenience store in Rathdrum, Hauser Market and Smoke Shop in Hauser Lake and Levis Minit Market in Deer Park.
Rich Landers