DNR to hold public meeting on Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan

Olympia, WA - The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a public meeting to provide information and receive public comments on a draft recreation plan for the Reiter Foothills Forest.

Reiter Foothills Forest is a popular recreation area located in eastern Snohomish County near Gold Bar and Index.

When:   Wednesday, November 18,  6:30 to 8 p.m.

Where:  The Commons, Monroe High School, 17001 Tester Rd., Monroe

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In 2007, the Washington State Legislature recognized the challenges of managing recreational use at Reiter Foothills Forest and funded DNR’s development of a sustainable recreation plan. For the past two years, DNR has worked with a diverse group of stakeholders—including citizens, user groups, representatives from conservation groups, and local officials—to create a recreation plan that identifies long-term recreation uses and addresses problems in the area.

In addition to Reiter Foothills Forest, DNR is also doing sustainable recreation planning for two other forest areas in Washington State: Ahtanum State Forest near Yakima and the western portion of the Yacolt Burn State Forest, north of Washougal.

DNR will release the draft Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan on its web site on Tuesday, November 10. DNR is requesting feedback from the public about the findings and recommendations in this plan. In conjunction with the public review of the plan, DNR is also conducting an official State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process. The public comment period runs from November 10 through December 4.

For more information about the meeting, contact Candace Johnson, 360-854-2803 or candace.johnson@dnr.wa.gov.

The public can provide all written comments about the Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan or the SEPA environmental analysis to:

Washington State Department of Natural Resources

SEPA Center

PO Box 47105

Olympia, WA  98504

sepacenter@dnr.wa.gov

Recreation on DNR-managed lands

DNR manages more than 5 million acres of state-owned forest, aquatic, agricultural, conservation and urban lands. Most recreation on these lands takes place in the 2.2 million acres of forests that DNR manages as state trust lands. By law, state trust lands are managed to produce income for schools, universities, prisons, state mental hospitals, community colleges, local services in many counties, and the state’s general fund. State trust lands are also managed to provide fish and wildlife habitat and educational and recreational opportunities.

DNR-managed lands provide 1,100 miles of trails, 143 recreation sites, and a variety of landscapes throughout Washington State. Recreational opportunities include hiking, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, camping, motorized vehicle riding, mountain biking, and boating.

DNR’s main recreation focus is to provide trails, trailhead facilities, and a primitive experience in a natural setting.