Community input sought for sustainable recreation strategy in the Entiat Valley

ENTIAT - Entiat Valley, Washington- From a picnic table at the Fox Creek Campground, Entiat Ranger District Recreation Program Manager, Jon Meier, looks over a handful of old photographs from the 1960s of folks camping, skiing, and fishing in the Entiat Valley. In the five decades since these photos were taken, much has changed including the birth of mountain biking or the impacts from high intensity wildfires. This summer, the USDA Forest Service will kick-off the development of a modern, sustainable recreation strategy for the area that looks at both current and future opportunities.   

“Together with the community and individuals who use these public lands, we want to develop a strategic plan for how to manage recreation in the Entiat Valley,” said Meier. “Looking 10 to 30 years into the future, we’re asking folks to think about what we should sustain, where the strategic and sustainable opportunities are.”

 Each year, recreation continues to be an important source of rural prosperity with outdoor recreation contributing more than $20 billion to Washington’s economy in 2015 and directly supported nearly 200,000 jobs. Managing that recreation interest locally in a sustainable way is equally important and a core part of the Forest’s goal to provide excellent customer service and enhance recreation opportunities. However, this strategy will also be grounded in ecological, fiscal, and capacity realities.

 “Like all good strategies, we want this one to be realistic and attainable,” added Meier. “By lending your voice to this project, you can help shape the future of recreation in this amazing place.”

 An interactive map showcasing current recreation opportunities in the Entiat Valley is available at arcg.is/1nzfy4. The USDA Forest Service is working directly with staff from Western Washington University to talk with community members and partners in the Entiat area and beyond during the summer of 2019. A formal survey and open house are planned for late summer/early fall 2019.