MEDIA ADVISORY
September 14, 2011
Celebrate National Public Lands Day by volunteering on state trust lands Sept. 24
State DNR and partners to host events in Western Washington
OLYMPIA – Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invite the public to join volunteers and partner organizations to celebrate National Public Lands Day (NPLD) on Saturday, September 24, on DNR-managed state trust lands in Western Washington.
NPLD events include the dedication of a new fish-viewing platform, picking up litter, restoring a shoreline, and clearing, rebuilding, and improving drainage on trails. Each of the DNR-sponsored events is eligible for a voucher toward a complimentary Discover Pass (www.discoverpass.wa.gov). Volunteers attending these NPLD events will also be issued a one-day Discover Pass.
National Public Lands Day event schedule
All events take place on September 24, except for the McLane Creek dedication ceremony and volunteer work party, which takes place Friday, September 23.
| McLane Creek Nature Trail Shelter and Viewing Platform Dedication / Volunteer Work Party |
| Where: | McLane Creek Nature Trail parking area |
| When: | 1:30 to 4 p.m., Friday, September 23 |
| What: | Join DNR staff and volunteers to celebrate the completion of a new shelter to be used for educational and public gatherings and the new stream-viewing platform. Following the dedication, volunteers will haul woodchips to help improve the trail. |
| Directions: | 5300 Delphi Rd. SW, Olympia |
| Contact: | Phil Wolff, 360-902-1435, or philip.wolff@dnr.wa.gov |
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| | Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA) Work Party and Guided Trail Walk |
| Where: | Woodard Bay Road to Chapman Bay, Olympia |
| When: | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., September 24 |
| What: | Help restore the shoreline at Woodard Bay NRCA. Take a hiking tour after the work party to learn more about the area.
Co-sponsor: People for Puget Sound |
| Directions: | Map: http://maps.google.com/?q=Woodard+Bay+Road+Olympia,+WA+98506
Park near the bridge over Woodard Bay. Someone will be directing traffic. |
| Contact: | Birdie Davenport, 360-902-1434, or roberta.davenport@dnr.wa.gov |
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| | Pick Up the Burn |
| Where: | Jones Creek Trailhead, Yacolt Burn State Forest |
| When: | 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., September 24 |
| What: | Help clean up illegal dumpsites. |
| Co-sponsors: | Piston’s Wild Motorsports and Jones Creek Trail Riders Association |
| Directions: | http://jctra.org/index.php?module=News&func=display&sid=22 |
| Contact: | Nick Cronquist, 360-480-2700, or nick.cronquist@dnr.wa.gov |
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| | East Tiger Mountain Bike Trails Work Party |
| Where: | Tiger Summit Trailhead, southeast of Issaquah |
| When: | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., September 24 |
| What: | Help with trail construction projects on the East Tiger Summit Trail, including digging, clearing debris, and benching in a trail with hand tools. Note: A BBQ lunch follows the work party. |
| Co-sponsor: | Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance |
| Directions: | From I-90 east of Issaquah, take Highway 18 south for 4.4 miles. Tiger Summit trailhead is on the west side of the highway. |
| Contact: | Sam Jarrett, 206-375-0448, or sam.jarrett@dnr.wa.gov |
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| | Les Hilde Trailhead Work Party |
| Where: | Harry Osborne State Forest, east of Sedro-Woolley |
| When: | 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., September 24 |
| What: | Brush trails, work on drainage, and other trail maintenance projects. |
| Co-sponsor: | Skagit Chapter of the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington |
| Directions: | http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wl |
| Contact: | David Way, 360-854-2830, or david.way@dnr.wa.gov |
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| | Little Si Trail Maintenance Work Party |
| Where: | Little Si area, near North Bend |
| When: | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., September 24 |
| What: | Help bring the Little Si trail up to more sustainable standards, including building rock turnpikes and steps, repairing drainage, and replacing signs. |
| Co-sponsor: | Mountains to Sound Greenway |
| Directions: | Please register with Mountains to Sound Greenway at: http://mtsgreenway.org/volunteer/sites-and-opportunities/little-si/celebrate-national-public-lands-day-on-little-si |
| Contact: | Margaret Ullman, Mountains to Sound Greenway, at margaret.ullman@greenway.org |
Volunteers should bring water, snacks, and lunch (except where provided), work gloves, work boots and, if possible, personal protection equipment such as a hardhat and tools for digging and brush clearing.
Volunteers and DNR: An enduring partnership
Volunteers play a key role in keeping DNR recreation areas open and safe for the public. Volunteers help maintain trails and facilities, pick up litter, participate in work parties, provide information to visitors, and alert law enforcement to any illegal activities. Each year, volunteers spend tens of thousands of hours working to improve recreation on DNR-managed state trust lands. Many of these hours can be used as in-kind match when DNR applies for grant funding.
Media Contact: Toni Droscher, Recreation Program Communications Manager, 360-902-1523, toni.droscher@dnr.wa.gov
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