Reiter Foothills Recreation Planning Meeting

[DCramer]

The DNR is creating a recreation plan for the Reiter Foothills Recreation Area. Climbers shouldn't leave themselves out of the process. Zeke's and Index are directly impacted by this process.

Reiter Foothills Recreation Planning Meeting
Monroe High School
17001 Tester Road
Monroe, Wa 98272
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
6:00 to 8:30pm

[DCramer]

Map of the recreation area.

[Porter Hammer]

See meeting info in the PDF in the following link:

Reiter Invitation 2-12-08.pdf

[DCramer]

I would guess several hundred people attended the meeting last Tuesday. I was a bit surprised at the large turnout. The DNR staff introduced themselves and gave a quick overview of the planning process. Unfortunately I could not find any "take away" or web based material showing the proposed timeline. The planning process officially began in January and the "plan" is scheduled to be official by mid year 2009.

At present he DNR is asking for user group input. Specifically they want to know who is using the land, how they are using the land and any concerns that users have. Concurrently the DNR is also developing an inventory of trails and recreational assets in the region.

After giving a general introduction attendees were asked to go to the foyer and visit the six tables that had been set up. Each table or station as they were called was dedicated to a different purpose. For example table #1 was set-up with maps and DNR staff were marking where certain activities took place. Another station gathered user concerns and yet others gathered questionnaires or volunteer information.

Here is a pdf file of DNR's basic handout. (Note that the link shown at the bottom is incorrect . It should be => http://www.dnr.wa.gov/base/recreation.html)


User Group Questionnaire

I was able to look over some fairly large scale maps and the only large crag under DNR control is the crag west of Zeke's, That said, there are many smaller cliffs under DNR control and DNR has significant control over access to all of the major crags in the region. I am going to send in an annotated map showing the crags I know of.

Another attachment below is a questionnaire the DNR asked each attendee to fill out. Please take the time to fill it out and send it in. The due date is 2/29/08. For those not wanting to use land mail there is an email address at the bottom of the attachment.

I noted that:

The Reiter Foothills area is unique in that it is located in the only region in the state that provides year round access to multi-pitch rock climbing and contains one of the most significant boulder fields in Washington.

I am very interested in maintaining access to the existing popular crags and boulder fields as well as the many undeveloped crags.

I was concerned with the impact of ORV access to the Upper Wall and the ongoing issues with vandalism and the danger of thrown objects.

Attachment to follow

Advisory Committee

An advisory group is being created and will work with the DNR during the process. While at the meeting Shawn Tobin of State Parks impressed upon me the importance of climber participation. Yet another attachment below is the application form to join the committee. If you are so inclined, please submit an application.

Attachment to follow

Trail & Recreational Asset Inventory

Volunteers are needed to help create a trail and recreational asset inventory. This will entail associating assets with GPS coordinates and creating a detailed trail map. Volunteers are needed. Contact the DNR for more details.

[DCramer]

Attachments-