Lets make a donation!

[2xtreme]

Michael, I have an email out to David Way of the DNR about Reiter Foothills (I should have posted that sooner). I also contacted Piston's Wild for the latest info on the Yacolt Burn. If you have a contact at RTW, then by all means try an get a little info out of them as well.

I figure once I hear back from everyone, I'll post the info and we can decide which cause we'd like to make a donation to.

Also, DNR does except donations. The issue with that is with donations under 5K they don't allow you to specify exactly where the finds go, just the region.

Donation form can be found here.

So if we decide Reiter is the right option for us this year, we'll need to find a club to donate the money to (I'm assuming that would be RTW or maybe WOW). That way we can be sure it will go to use for the right cause.

I talked to RTW president.
They are accepting donations and already have some from some other events. Currently they are holding these donations untill the DNR is ready for the work to be performed. They do not currently have any specific projects that these will be for but believe that there will be several projects that the funding would be valuable for in the near future.

I also sent a message to David and don't have an answer back yet from him (I assume we will both get the same basic information). One of the ways we might be able to get around the $5K rule is to purchase materials for a specific project with the money and donate the materials and time to that specific project (kind of like the idea behind the Kaner bridge project).

Let us know what you hear from Yacult. I am all for donating to RTW (They are VERY good people from my little involvement both on and off the trail with many of them, however I believe our money would be best served at specific projects that we know exactly what our money is going towards and maybe we can be apart of it. This would probably be more likely in the next 6-12 months at RTW.

Just my .02
Michael

 

[TORX]

Good info, thank Michael.

I'd also like to look into the Kaner Flats bridge repair as well. After some thought, I think that project would fit this donation nicely.

Anyone know which club or agency maintains the Naches trails? There was a group up there last year, just starting work on the latest Kaner bridge, but I don't remember getting a name. Hopefully Doug will chime in with it.

 

[hards91xj]

That would probably be a club from PNW4WDA region 4 . Try contacting Earl Nettnin , [email protected]

 

[FiveNdime]

this comment is truely why naxja has issues. you guys down south are up to date with whats going on with Yacolt and TSF but nothing else.

Taken out of context....not in my opinion but we can agree to disagree at this point.

I would love to see this money go somewhere where its can be used/needed the most at this current time where ever that may be. Dustin have you heard back from Pistons Wild yet about the Yacolt Burn?

 

[TORX]

I would love to see this money go somewhere where its can be used/needed the most at this current time where ever that may be. Dustin have you heard back from Pistons Wild yet about the Yacolt Burn?

Crystal is going to get back to me this week, when she hears the latest status report from DNR.

 

[2xtreme]

That would probably be a club from PNW4WDA region 4 . Try contacting Earl Nettnin , [email protected]

I agree,
I would also talk to the Naches Ranger District (509) 653-1401. Anything we would do would have to be coordinated through them I believe.

Michael

 

[2xtreme]

Dustin, This is the letter I got back from David Way (DNR).


Hi Michael,



Yes, there is a way to donate to the DNR. It is my understanding that a donation must be a premium donation of at least $5000 to ensure that it goes to a specific project (such as the Reiter Foothills Project). Otherwise, money could be donated to another club active in the area. We really aren’t buying materials at this time, therefore I don’t think that would really work.



Reiter Trail Watch (RTW) is still actively involved in this area. Feel free to contact Charlie Preston at [email protected]. He is very aware of where we are at in the process and how 4x4 funds would be spent best in the future.



Here is an update of where we are at currently with this project:

· We are currently working on the motorized trail layout. All the preliminary trail locations have been identified, and we are now having our design teams and specialists (biologist/geologist/engineer) review them.

· We anticipate having all the plans and documents ready for SEPA review this fall. It is uncertain how long this SEPA will take, based on the political complexities of this project. The last SEPA review took 4-5 months for the Reiter Foothills Recreation Plan.

· After SEPA, we will be working to acquire building permits through Snohomish County. This is typically a 4-6 month process.

· With all that said, we really aren’t sure how soon this will all come together. I hope we are able to begin construction of the motorized trail next spring or early summer, but who knows.



I received an email from Dustin Braaten with many of the same questions. I figured I would let you know in case he is asking on behalf of your organization as well. If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. I would love to see something work out, whether it is now or next year in the construction phase.



Sincerely,





David Way

Reiter Foothills Recreation Manager

Northwest Region

Washington State Department of Natural Resources

(360) 854-2830

[email protected]

 

[FiveNdime]

So by my understanding of that email there is little point at this time to put the money towards Reiter unless it can be banked in a clubs account to use at a later date. In my opinion the money should be used as soon as it can and not be hanging around. I know that the Yacolt Burn should be started in breaking ground by the end of September, meaning tractors will be coming in to start the process of making trails. Some trails will have already been established though. My thoughts are still donating to the Yacolt Burn trails in September at the Clean Up The Burn event since that is such a huge event. It would also be a good time for Naxja to get there name out there early in the game, and have a strong presence at a new trail system.

 

[RlCHARD CRANlUM]

^ I agree. It seems there may be enough money in the piggy bank to throw some at other projects later in the year. What is the deadline as far as National is concerned Dustin?

 

[RedJeep2.0]

^ X2

 

[XJ-00-1]

Torx:
I am trying to find out some information on the Kaner trail. I will let you know what I come up with.

 

[TORX]

Dustin, This is the letter I got back from David Way (DNR).

I received pretty much the same information as well. It sounds like Reiter is at least a year out from being able to break ground on the new trail system. They're definitely headed in the right direction though, but unfortunately it's a slow process to open/re-open up a ORV area. I think we would be better off with looking at a cause that could put the money to use now (Yacolt Burn or Kaner Flats). Reiter will definitely be a strong candidate for this program next year though.

^ I agree. It seems there may be enough money in the piggy bank to throw some at other projects later in the year. What is the deadline as far as National is concerned Dustin?

We certainly have enough money in the piggy bank for another considerably large donation this year. If we end up not using it on a "semi official" run, I'd like to see it go to a land use cause.

We've got until the end of the year to take advantage of National's "Matching Funds" prgram. So we're not in too big of a hurry, but I'd still like to get this wrapped up by the end of the month.

Torx:
I am trying to find out some information on the Kaner trail. I will let you know what I come up with.

Thank you!

I haven't had time in the past week to do some homework on this. Let us know what you find, or PM me if you need any help.

Also, I should have the latest info on the Yacolt Burn posted very soon (it's great news!).

 

[FiveNdime]

I'd also like to know more about Kaner Flats.

 

[TORX]

Here's the latest Yacolt Burn information I received from Crystal, Piston's Wild Club President last night.

Hey Dustin,

I just got off the phone with Brian Poehlein and he told me that while he was out on vacation, the Commisioner signed the Yacolt Burn Recreation plan and gave it his blessing. There should be an official press releases going out today or tomorrow with that information.

With that, in cooperation with DNR, we will be finalizing our p-lines (proposed lines) for the first sections of trails by the end of this month (maybe sooner). After we submit our proposed lines, we just need to wait for an internal DNR Project SEPA (water crossings) to approve our chosen path throught the forest and the Cultural Research (for the Tribes) - neither of which should be a problem. We will start clearing trails immediately (above ground work), but cannot turn dirt until the three items above are completed - I am hoping for mid - late September...

ALL monies from , donated to Piston's Wild will go DIRECTLY to the equipment and materials needed to build trails. Your dollars will NOT go toward closing old trails, repairing facilities or paying staff.

Piston's Wild Motorsports is an active, respected member of the Pacific Northwest 4-Wheel Drive Association as well as holding memberships with WOHVA, United 4-Wheel Drive Association and all of our members have also joined the Blue Ribbon Coalition.

Although Reiter is also a worthy cause - we feel that your donation would be more valuable in a project on DNR land that is whole-heartedly supported by the DNR. The Reiter planning process began over 6-months prior to the Yacolt plan with volatile resistance to the plan by other user groups in the forest and waning support from DNR staff. The Yacolt Burn project for motorized trails has always been fully supported by DNR staff as well as the other user groups in the forsest. We are actually closing the gap and catching up with Reiter - being only about 30 day behind them now...

Piston's Wild members have been FULLY engaged from the very beginning of this project almost 3 1/2 years ago and will stay fully engaged to it's completion. We are working on new fund raising ideas every day including the Yacolt Burn Trails Foundation which should be introduced and fully functional by October 2010. This foundation will provide the structure needed to draw in the community on a massive scale to support motorized recreation in the Yacolt Burn.

Thank you Dustin, and , for considering the Yacolt Burn and Piston's Wild for your annual contribution - your dollars will be well spent on a "World-Class" recreation area that will be open for your children and grandchildren to enjoy for many years to come...

Kind regards,

Crystal Crowder
Club President
Piston's Wild Motorsports
www.pistonswild.com
(360) 606-1648

 

[XJOFFROAD]

so they are stilling waiting on SEPA to ok the trails? if thats the case that will take months. maybe I'm reading that wrong though?

 

[TORX]

so they are stilling waiting on SEPA to ok the trails? if thats the case that will take months. maybe I'm reading that wrong though?

If you're talking about Reiter, yes. They still need to go through the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review this fall, which will take several months to complete. Then more permits, reviews, and signatures will need to be completed. Reiter will be back on the OHV map, but it's going to take some time.

 

[XJ-00-1]

so they are stilling waiting on SEPA to ok the trails? if thats the case that will take months. maybe I'm reading that wrong though?

I don't know for sure, but its noted as an "internal SEPA review" which sounds more like a compliance check to the plan that went through the SEPA.

 

[PistonsChick]

Hello members,

I know the SEPA process can be very confusing - even being fully engaged with DNR, it took me a while to completely understand the process myself.

In a nutshell - there are actually TWO SEPA processes that every proposed project needs to go through before any actual trail building or trail improving can begin.

The first is the "official" State Environmental Protection Agency" review of the proposed plan which will determine if the landscape can "environmentally handle" the proposed mileage of trails and facilities that are being desired. For instance; 75 miles of motorized trails, two OHV trailheads and one OHV campground in a 40,000 acre landscape was acceptable - but 200 miles of recreational trails and 3 OHV campgrounds in a 40,000 acre landscape might not have been approved.

The Yacolt Burn plan proposed 75 miles of motorized trails in a 40,000 acre landscape and was approved (30 miles for 4x4 use, 35 for ATV and 10 for MC). Although the Reiter plan has also completed the first SEPA review - there is no clear indication in the plan of how many motorized trails will be allowed in the 10,000 acre landscape and they have already included a notation of width limitations for 4x4's).

Throughout the entire Reiter plan, restoration is the PRIMARY objective of the plan with creation and re-opening of OHV trails secondary or lower objectives. You can read the entire Reiter plan here:

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/amp_rec_reiter_rec_plan_final.pdf

Throughout the entire Yacolt Burn plan, opening sanctioned motorized trails is the PRIMARY objective with restoration being the secondary objective of the plan. You can read the entire Yacolt Burn plan here:

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/amp_rec_western_yacolt_burn_forest_recreation_plan2010.pdf


The second process is the "internal DNR SEPA" review which is a 30 day process to ensure that the actual proposed trails (as GPS'd on the ground - or physically marked with ribbon) are measured against the DNR's guide to forest practices to make certain that there are no environmental, fish, wildlife, historical or cultural trespasses on the landscape. For instance; you cannot insert a culvert to cross a fish-bearing stream, but you can build a engineer designed bridge. Or, you cannot build a trail through a particular area because it might be sacred tribal grounds, but you can move the trail 200 yards to the East with no problems. (these, of course, are hypothetical examples). Working closely with your DNR reps are key to finding solutions through this maze of obstacles - they are the ones who have the training and know what will be approved and what will not...

As per today's press release, the Commissioner of Public Lands has approved the Yacolt Burn Recreation Plan and DNR has officially ADOPTED the plan - which means they are now required to implement the plan and it will become the responsibility of the region staff to get it done - this actually becomes part of their job description.

It is my understanding that Reiter's plan has not yet been approved by the Commissioner or adopted by DNR. Public comments likely had a tremendous impact on holding up the Reiter plan. I am guessing (this is my opinion here) that the plan will not be considered for approval until the restoration work is complete or at least well underway enough to appease the environmentally concerned public. You can click on the link below for more information.

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/em_fs10_002.pdf

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/em_fs10_006.pdf


Obviously, being the President of Piston's Wild Motorsports I do hope that you consider the Yacolt Burn for your donation, but being an active 4-wheeler (although in a CJ), throughout the state of Washington I also feel that the Kaner bridge project is a worthy candidate. I would recommend that you contact Arlene Brooks at 253-833-8747 or [email protected] to determine which PNW4WDA club has officially adopted that area and if they have any current plans to repair that structure...

Again, thank you for your consideration and I promise not to ask TORX to put the Piston's Wild banner on his XJ for any more events (unless he really, really wants to) LOL.

Kind regards,

Crystal Crowder
Club President
Piston's Wild Motorsports
www.pistonswild.com

 

[WaXJ_Skier]

Hello members,

I know the SEPA process can be very confusing - even being fully engaged with DNR, it took me a while to completely understand the process myself.

In a nutshell - there are actually TWO SEPA processes that every proposed project needs to go through before any actual trail building or trail improving can begin.

The first is the "official" State Environmental Protection Agency" review of the proposed plan which will determine if the landscape can "environmentally handle" the proposed mileage of trails and facilities that are being desired. For instance; 75 miles of motorized trails, two OHV trailheads and one OHV campground in a 40,000 acre landscape was acceptable - but 200 miles of recreational trails and 3 OHV campgrounds in a 40,000 acre landscape might not have been approved.

The Yacolt Burn plan proposed 75 miles of motorized trails in a 40,000 acre landscape and was approved (30 miles for 4x4 use, 35 for ATV and 10 for MC). Although the Reiter plan has also completed the first SEPA review - there is no clear indication in the plan of how many motorized trails will be allowed in the 10,000 acre landscape and they have already included a notation of width limitations for 4x4's).

Throughout the entire Reiter plan, restoration is the PRIMARY objective of the plan with creation and re-opening of OHV trails secondary or lower objectives. You can read the entire Reiter plan here:

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/amp_rec_reiter_rec_plan_final.pdf

Throughout the entire Yacolt Burn plan, opening sanctioned motorized trails is the PRIMARY objective with restoration being the secondary objective of the plan. You can read the entire Yacolt Burn plan here:

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/amp_rec_western_yacolt_burn_forest_recreation_plan2010.pdf


The second process is the "internal DNR SEPA" review which is a 30 day process to ensure that the actual proposed trails (as GPS'd on the ground - or physically marked with ribbon) are measured against the DNR's guide to forest practices to make certain that there are no environmental, fish, wildlife, historical or cultural trespasses on the landscape. For instance; you cannot insert a culvert to cross a fish-bearing stream, but you can build a engineer designed bridge. Or, you cannot build a trail through a particular area because it might be sacred tribal grounds, but you can move the trail 200 yards to the East with no problems. (these, of course, are hypothetical examples). Working closely with your DNR reps are key to finding solutions through this maze of obstacles - they are the ones who have the training and know what will be approved and what will not...

As per today's press release, the Commissioner of Public Lands has approved the Yacolt Burn Recreation Plan and DNR has officially ADOPTED the plan - which means they are now required to implement the plan and it will become the responsibility of the region staff to get it done - this actually becomes part of their job description.

It is my understanding that Reiter's plan has not yet been approved by the Commissioner or adopted by DNR. Public comments likely had a tremendous impact on holding up the Reiter plan. I am guessing (this is my opinion here) that the plan will not be considered for approval until the restoration work is complete or at least well underway enough to appease the environmentally concerned public. You can click on the link below for more information.

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/em_fs10_002.pdf

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/em_fs10_006.pdf


Obviously, being the President of Piston's Wild Motorsports I do hope that you consider the Yacolt Burn for your donation, but being an active 4-wheeler (although in a CJ), throughout the state of Washington I also feel that the Kaner bridge project is a worthy candidate. I would recommend that you contact Arlene Brooks at 253-833-8747 or [email protected] to determine which PNW4WDA club has officially adopted that area and if they have any current plans to repair that structure...

Again, thank you for your consideration and I promise not to ask TORX to put the Piston's Wild banner on his XJ for any more events (unless he really, really wants to) LOL.

Kind regards,

Crystal Crowder
Club President
Piston's Wild Motorsports
www.pistonswild.com

Thank you for the detailed explanation. I have to agree that yacolt seems to be a better plan, Reiter is a Charlie Foxtrot with too many groups fighting for a piece of the pie.

Let us know what we can do to help with the Yacolt project, I would love to head down there and offer some manual labor building a trail.

 

[jonesinxj]

This is a great thread with some spectacular information. As much as I love rieter, the reality is too far in the future.

The Yacolt burn progect seems like a great donation and like Waxj I would like to do what I can help with some manual labor who knows, maybe we can get a northend work party convoy when the opprotunity presents itself.:yelclap: