Plan will guide Capitol Forest recreation use

Officials say they want public to help craft plan

N.S. NOKKENTVED, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Thursday, March 21, 2002

OLYMPIA -- State planners are looking for a dozen people to help create a plan for managing public recreation in the Capitol State Forest.

Department of Natural Resources officials explained the process to about 50 people at a public meeting Wednesday night. Officials want comments from users, neighbors, business owners, interest groups and residents.

With money from the general fund decreasing and public use increasing, "we have to work smarter," said Doug Sutherland, commissioner of public lands. And part of that is listening to what people who use the forest think is important, he said.

The forest has about 420 miles of roads, 87 miles of motorized trails, 80 miles of nonmotorized trails and seven campgrounds with a total of 90 campsites. It accommodates 200,000 visitors each year and staff members conduct about 40 organized events annually involving 20 to 500 participants each.

Uses include hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, motorcycling, fishing, hunting, birdwatching, picnicking, firewood gathering, target shooting and others.

In planning for those uses, the department has to consider neighbors outside the forest, forester Scott Robinson said.

The purpose of the "public stewardship plan" is to initiate a dialogue on how to best balance the many activities, he said. The plan will be developed with the help of a user survey, public comments and a public working group.

Concerns expressed Wednesday evening included:

- Shooting near homes outside the forest.

- A lack of overnight camping facilities at the Rock Candy trailhead.

- More consideration for fish and wildlife to be included in recreation plans.

- A clear definition of recreation and stewardship needed at the outset.

- More hiking-only trails or turn trails in sensitive areas into hiking only.

- A lack of winter camping opportunities.

The department wants 10 to 12 people for the public working group who are willing to meet for about two hours once a month through January -- with two months off in the summer.

Anyone interested in filling out a user survey or in serving on the working group may contact the department at CapitolForest RecPlan@wadnr.gov or call 800-527-3305, Ext. 111.

On the Web:

- Department of Natural Resources

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