NW Parks and Public Lands Storm Recovery Coalition

We've Moved!

2008-09-03T13:44:00.000-07:00

The NW Storm Recovery Coalition is going through the some changes. First we've moved. You can find us now at www.parksandforests.blogspot.com.

Next, as can be seen we've changed our name. We are now the Washington Parks and Forests Coalition. The parks and forests coalition is made up of the Washington Trails Association, the Student Conservation Association and the National Parks Conservation Association. Our primary focus is to connect communities to public lands.

Check us out!

Please Join us for National Public Lands Day!

2008-08-13T14:09:00.000-07:00

The storm recovery coalition will once again head to Washington's Mount Rainier National Park for National Public Lands Day. (Saturday, September 27th) As in the past, there will be several tasks from which to choose--trail work, litter pick-up, native plant projects, etc. As the park heads into fall and winter, it is important to have lots of help to tie up loose ends and get trails ready for heavy rain and snowfall. Also, fall is a great time to get native plants in the ground.

For more information on how to get involved please contact, Shane Farnor, Senior Program Coordinator at either sfarnor@npca.org or (206) 903-1444 x24

Volunteer Opportunities at Mount Rainier

2008-08-12T16:15:00.001-07:00

The National Park Service recently announced several volunteer opportunities at Mount Rainier, including the reroute of the Stevens Canyon Wonderland trail. For more information on this an other volunteer opportunities, please click here.

Olympic Sees More Progress, Trail Repaired

2008-07-28T10:30:00.000-07:00

The National Park Service announced last week that progress is being made on repairs to Olympic National Park's Hurricane Ridge road. Culverts have been installed and new rock walls have been completed. Work on repaving sections of the road remain. As such, motorists should expect delays for the next several weeks. Work will also begin on the Switchback trail parking area, which was damaged during last winter's storms.

Meanwhile, a NPCA led trail crew brushed, graded and repaired several sections of the Peabody Creek trail. Volunteers from around the Puget Sound spent Saturday repairing and restoring 2.5 miles of this trail which had not seen maintenance this year. In several spots storm and water runoff had created deep trenches and gullies. These channels had to be dug, raked and regraded to allow safe passage.

Thanks to everyone who participated.

Anges Creek Bridge Repaired!

2008-07-18T10:37:00.000-07:00

According to the National Park Service, the footbridge is
now in place across Agnes Creek on the Agnes Creek Trail and is open to both hikers and stock. The bridge is located one-half mile from the Agnes Creek Trailhead in the Stehekin Valley of Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. The Agnes Creek Trail is part of the Pacific Crest Trail which spans from Mexico to Canada.

The Agnes Creek Trail footbridge was destroyed during the winter of 2006-7 by a large fallen tree. A temporary bridge was put in for the 2007 summer season, while a more permanent replacement was designed. The new
bridge was flown into place on the morning of July 2nd and trail crews have been working to secure the bridge and complete the footing and handrails.

Kudos to the Park Service for repairing this important bridge and restoring access to the PCT!

National Trails Day Storm Repair: A Great Success!

2008-06-20T10:13:00.000-07:00

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) led a group of 10 volunteers along with 2 national park rangers and a Student Conservation Association crew member on a trail restoration work day on Saturday, June 7, National Trails Day. The crew worked on the Diablo Lake Trail at the North Cascades National Park Complex.

Wind, snow and rain storms during the 2007-2008 winter caused damage to many of Washington’s national parks that had already experienced devastating destruction just a year earlier. North Cascades National Park, while not receiving as much damage as Mount Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park, also received less help in their recovery effort due in part to the other parks’ higher public profile. NPCA believed National Trails Day would be an excellent opportunity to help the North Cascades and connect people to a park with which they may be less familiar.

Working with North Cascades' Volunteer Coordinator Michael Brondi from North Cascades National Park, the crew cleared a path through an avalanche to reconnect the trail that had been destroyed by the snow, ice, trees, and boulders that had crashed down the mountain. This involved a huge group effort, removing large rocks and entire tree trunks off the trail.

For the rest of the day, the group removed rocks, limbs, and trees that had fallen on the remaining 3.5 miles of trail during last winter storms.

Thanks to all our volunteers and the Park Service for a wonderful event.

One step back, two steps forward

2008-05-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, efforts to restore access to northwest parks had some bad news and some good. The bad news is this past winter's storms damaged water tanks at the North Cascades' Colonial Creek campground leaving it indefinitely without drinkable water. The Park Service plans to close the campground on May 27th to begin repairs.

On a positive note, last Friday the Park Service at Mount Rainier National Park reopened the Paradise Inn. The Inn had been closed more than two years for renovation. Renovation was slightly slowed by the 2006 storms, but basically opened on schedule. The nearly $23 million renovation has restored, renovated and improved the facility. However, work was done so carefully that many visitors will not notice the changes. Representatives Norm Dicks and Dave Reichert, both big supporters of Mount Rainier, attended the reopening ceremony.

The Park Service took the opportunity to once again thank the storm recovery coalition and the public for all its support these past 18 months.

Olympic Access Being Restored

2008-03-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

The National Park Service at Olympic National Park is making progress and repairing some of the road damage caused by last Fall's storms. Most notably, access along the Quinault Valley road will be restored April 1, while partial access to the Hurricane Ridge road will continue through May 4th.

For information on the park's other roads and trails, please click here.

Storming the Parks: Catch it on TVW!

2008-03-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

Last night, the Northwest Storm Recovery Coalition held Storming the Parks a town hall forum bringing representatives from Mount Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades National Parks and Olympic and the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forests, together to describe the impact from storms over the last two winters, the current state of repairs, and how upcoming visits to public lands may be affected. Staff from Congressman Norm Dicks' and Dave Reichert's offices, as well as Senator Patty Murray's office also provided information on congressional efforts to raise funding to support the repairs.

The coalition, which was recently named by Outside Magazine as one of the 2007's 100 best ideas, also provided attendees an opportunity to ask questions, visit with the land managers to learn more about volunteer activities and how to get involved.

TVW, Washington State's public affairs network, recorded the event and will air it in its entirety over the upcoming days. However, if your cable provider doesn't carry TVW, the event can be seen here.

Images from the night's festivities can be found here.

The storm coalition thanks REI and Boeing for their generous support of our work.

Coalition Wins National Conservation Award!

2008-03-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

The NW Storm Recovery Coalition has won the 2008 Cooperative Conservation Award (CCA)
from the Department of the Interior. The CCA, the Interior Department's highest award, is presented to private citizens and organizational partners who support the agency's mission and demonstrate significant contributions to its programs. On April 21st, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne will officially present the award to the coalition partners in Washington D.C.

The coalition is honored to receive this recognition, yet the award truly belongs to everyone who volunteered in the recovery effort.

The coalition's work received additional coverage this past week, when NPCA's Sean Smith appeared on KTPK's community matter's program. A link to the March 9th interview can be found here. Look for it on the left side of the webpage.

Finally, be sure to join us March 17th at the Seattle REI to learn how to help in the recovery. Click here for more information.

You're Invited: Taking the Parks by Storm!

2008-02-25T13:03:00.000-08:00

Community Support for Restoring Washington's Treasures

A series of storms battered the Pacific Northwest during the fall and winter of 2006 and 2007, bringing major flooding, hurricane-force winds and heavy snows. Washington’s national parks - Mount Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades - were severely impacted.

The Northwest Storm Recovery Coalition is sponsoring “Taking the Parks by Storm: Community Support for Restoring Washington's Treasures” on Monday, March 17, 2008, to bring members of Congress and representatives from the three parks together to describe the storms' impacts, the current state of repairs at the parks, and how upcoming visits to the park may be affected. Also, this event will provide attendees an opportunity to ask questions, visit with representatives from each park to learn about volunteer activities, and to find out how they can be further involved.

When:
Monday, March 17th, 6:30PM-8:30 PM

Where:
Seattle REI Flagship
222 Yale Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109

The Northwest Storm Recovery Coalition, which includes the National Parks Conservation Association, the Student Conservation Association, Washington’s National Park Fund, and Washington Trails Association, works to help support, repair, and restore affected parks and other public lands.

For more information, contact: David Graves at dgraves@npca.org or (206) 903-1444, x25

Good News: Park Flood Recovery Moves Along

2008-02-15T11:42:00.000-08:00

There is good storm recovery news coming out of the parks lately. First, it was reported this week that the Boeing Company contributed nearly $100,000 to the Storm Recovery Coalition’s work. The Boeing grant will be used for trail crew training, park recovery and restoration and an access conference. The coalition wishes to thank Boeing for its generous gift.

Meanwhile, the National Park Service at Olympic recently annouced the reopening of the Hoh River road. The road had been closed since the December 3rd record-breaking floods. Visitors are asked to used caution when traveling the road, as a portion of the road is now gravel.

Five Million Needed for Olympic Storm Repairs

2008-02-06T11:33:00.000-08:00

Reported today, the National Park Service at Olympic estimates it will costs upwards of $5 million to repair the damage caused by this past fall storms. The Park Service is finding the 2007 storm, as compared to the one in 2006, was more devasting to Olympic in part because the damage is more widespread.

Olympic damage during the early December storm includes three severely damaged sites along Hurricane Ridge Road and Crescent Lake access roads, as well as significant damage in the Quinault Valley, and areas of Staircase, near the southern end of the park.

Significant road repair work required at Olympic

2008-01-31T16:45:00.001-08:00

The National Park Service at Olympic National Park issued a press release today detailing the known damage caused by this winter's storms to several park roads. The news is sobering.

For example the Quinault South Shore road has a 750 ft washout, with another 150 buried in debris. Meanwhile, the North Fork road is still blocked by countless downed trees, whereas the Graves Creek road has extensive damage in at least three locations.

The park is developing alternatives to permanently repair damaged roadways and provide more sustainable access along the South Shore Road and Graves Creek Road. The public is asked to provide comments to help develop the alternatives, which will be presented in an environmental assessment to be released later this year. Comments will be accepted now through March 5, 2008 during the 30-day scoping period.

Comments must be submitted by March 5th and can be sent on-line by visiting here.

Things at Rainier Looking Up!

2008-01-07T12:08:00.000-08:00

After massive storms last winter, the National Park Service (NPS) reports things are returning to normal at Mount Rainier, Washington's icon national park. This summer, the Park Service expects hikers to be able to complete the entire wonderland route around the mountain. The historic trail had been damaged in approximately 16 places, so some reroutes were required. Also, the NPS believes damage to state route 123 on the park's east side will be repaired by the start of the summer season, allowing visitors to enter on one side of the park and exit at another. Finally, the NPS will soon take public comments on what to do with the carbon river road in the park's northwest corner. The Carbon river road has washed out repeatedly and the NPS is looking for suggestions on a sustainable long term public access solution.

Olympic's Hurricane Ridge Road Closed thru Weekend

2007-12-13T13:48:00.001-08:00

The national park service (NPS) at Olympic National Park announced the Hurricane Ridge road will remain closed at least thru the weekend. Last week's record storms damaged the road bed. Undercutting and erosion continue to remove more of the road making passage extremely dangerous for the visiting public and park personnel.

Other park roads such as the Sol Duc, the Hoh, the Queets, Quinault Valley, the South Shore Quinault, the Graves , the North Fork and the Staircase roads are also damaged.

Contact the NPS at 360-565-3131 for recorded information on road and weather conditions.

Storms hit Olympic Hard

2007-12-10T09:07:00.000-08:00

The winter storms that ripped thru Washington state on December 3rd hit Olympic National Park particular hard. The National Park Service reports that several roads have been washed out and will remain closed for the time being. Images of the storm damage can be found here.

For road information, call the park’s recorded road and weather information line at 360-565-3131 or go to www.nps.gov/olym.

Winter Storms Rip through Northwest: Parks hit again.

2007-12-04T14:25:00.000-08:00

Like last year, the winter of 2007 has produced major storms. Rain, wind and flood damage is wide spread across Washington State. Damage to infrastructure and communities has led to a state of emergency.

Once again public lands are taking a beating. With the storm likely to continue through most of the week, land management damage reports are just coming in. Olympic National Park reports park crews are cutting their way through numerous downed trees, in an attempt to access park entrance roads, make damage assessments and begin repairs.

Over the last 48 hours, the Hoh Visitor Center has received more than 14 inches of rain. Meanwhile, the Elwha river reached record heights yesterday rising 14 feet in 24 hours. Rock slides, mudflows, downed trees and power poles are spread throughout the park.

The coalition will post more information on these storms as its made available.

Public Lands Day: A Flood of Help!

2007-10-03T11:40:00.001-07:00

This last Saturday, the NW Storm Recovery Coalition hosted a very successful National Public Lands Day event at Mount Rainier National Park.

In total, 115 volunteers contributed a total of 529 hours. Teams of volunteers worked on ten service projects that included trail repair, campground restoration/clean up and other projects throughout the park. The day started with a speech and send off by Representative Norm Dicks. Representative Dicks has been a strong supporter of park storm recovery making several trips to the park over the past year.

That evening a celebratory gathering included an informal dinner and presentations at Columbia Crest Elementary School near Ashford. Phil Freeman, owner of Copper Creek Restaurant and Resort in Ashford, presented proceeds from the Music for the Mountain fundraiser held this past spring totaling over $5,000 to Mount Rainier National Park (via Washington’s National Park Fund), the Nisqually Land Trust, and Friends of the Upper Nisqually. The Seattle Times' coverage of the day can be found here.

The NW Storm Recovery Coalition wishes to extend its thanks again everyone who helped out this past summer.

Coalition work on America the Wild!

2007-10-02T14:15:00.000-07:00

America The Wild is a nationwide radio broadcast. Hosted by veteran talk show personality and outdoor enthusiast Shoup Shepherd the show runs every weekend. This past Saturday Shoup interviewed Sean Smith of the National Parks Conservation Association. The two spoke about climate change, storm recovery and the future of public access in our national parks.

Click on show 104 segment #2 to here the interview.

Summer cools down, repairs heat up!

2007-09-19T12:32:00.000-07:00

The summer is quickly coming to an end, but storm recovery work remains in high gear.

First, the Park Service at Olympic announced the initiation of work to install a permanent bridge over West Twin Creek on the park's Hoh road. The Hoh road was severely damaged during last November's storms. At West Twin Creek the storms washed away a 65 foot long and 25 foot deep section of the road. The new bridge will not only better ensure public access, but will also provide improved salmon passage up the Hoh river and West Twin creek.

Meanwhile at Mount Rainier, storm recovery partners are feverishly preparing for the upcoming public lands day on September 29th. The day will begin with several service projects including trail repair, revegation and campground cleanup. It will end with a bar-b-que to celebrate and commemorate the past year's work.

At Mount Rainier alone, more than 1,500 people donated more than 56,000 volunteer hours to storm recovery. National Public Lands Day will provide the Park Service, elected officials, and coalition partners the opportunity to thank everyone for their contribution.

To learn more about the Rainier efforts and/or sign up for a service project on National Public Lands Day please visit the following links here and here.

Hope to see everyone the end of the month.

Join Us for National Public Lands Day at Mount Rainier

2007-09-10T13:22:00.000-07:00

YOU ARE INVITED to NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY at MOUNT RAINIER!

When: Saturday, September 29, 2007

Service projects 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
End of Season Celebration and Dinner 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: Meet for the End of Season Celebration at Columbia Crest Elementary School (9 miles west of Mount Rainier National Park's Nisqually Entrance; three miles west of Ashford on SR 706).

Check-in for service projects will be either at Longmire, 6 miles east of the Nisqually Entrance, or a Columbia Crest, with shuttle service provided to project locations. Details will be provided with your online registration.

Who: Friends of the Mount Rainier Recovery Initiative -- Volunteers, sponsors, staff, media, and anyone who contributed in any way to the recovery effort are all invited to attend!

What: A variety of service projects will cap off a very successful first season for the Mount Rainier Recovery Initiative. Teams of volunteers will work on trail repair, campground restoration, habitat rehab, and other projects throughout the park. In the evening, we will host an informal dinner and celebration, with hamburgers, hot dogs, presentations, and lots of pictures from the summer's work. Come for the service project, or just for the dinner, or sign up for both!

How: To confirm your attendance, sign up here. Click on the calendar link at September 29. You may register for a service project, to attend the dinner, or both. If you do not have Internet access, please call Jill Baum at 360-569-2211 ext. 3414.

Why: Following the devastating floods of last November, hundreds of individuals volunteered to help clean up campgrounds and rebuild trails all over the park. Much work remains, but a
lot was accomplished, too. More than half of Mount Rainier's trail repairs this summer were completed by volunteers! Behind the scenes, concerned citizens who weren't able to volunteer in the park wrote letters and contributed financially to the recovery program. These efforts have literally rebuilt our park. On National Public Lands Day, we will come together to celebrate these many acts of stewardship, and to thank those who have given their time and effort so we may all enjoy this special place.

The End-of-Season Celebration is hosted by the Northwest Storm Recovery Coalition, including Mount Rainier National Park, the Student Conservation Association, the Washington Trails Association, Washington's National Park Fund, the National Parks Conservation Association, and The Mountaineers. Sponsors so far include REI, Starbucks, HSBC Bank, Mount Rainier Guest Services, International Mountain Guides, Ranger Doug's Enterprises, and Columbia Crest School.

If you have questions about this event or about Mount Rainier's volunteer program, please contact Kevin Bacher, Volunteer Program Manager, at 360-569-2211 ext. 3385; or Jill Baum, Project Director for the Mount Rainier Recovery Initiative, at 360-569-2211 ext. 3414.

You can also find information, news, and photos of volunteers in action on our website here.

Thank You and Looking Ahead to Next Year

2007-08-24T16:34:00.000-07:00

Even though the summer isn't over yet, the NW storm recovery coalition and federal agencies such as the National Park Service are already looking toward next year and the flood restoration work that remains to be done. It's almost hard to believe its been almost a year since we all were all stunned to learn of the devastation from last fall's storms. Since then the public has turned out by the thousands to repair miles of trail have been repaired, restore countless bridges and clean up campgrounds and picnic areas. Yet, there will be much left to do next year.

To everyone who volunteered this summer, please consider joining us at Mount Rainier on September 29th for National Public Lands Day for a day of work and celebration. Anyone who swung an axe, wrote a check or contacted elected officials in support of flood recovery is invited. Hope to see you there.

Progress Made

2007-08-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

The National Park Service at Mount Rainier announced earlier this month that it had restored access to the Wonderland trail. Hikers are now able to apply for permits to hike the entire trail for the remainder of the season. This is outstanding news. The Wonderland trail is nearly 100 miles and circles the entire volcano.

Also, check out the calendar. Many September projects are already posted including the end of season National Public Lands Day event and celebration.

Cascade River Road Access Restored!

2007-08-03T08:14:00.000-07:00

The National Park Service announced this week temporary vehicle access on the Cascade River road. This road provides western access to Cascade pass. Flooding last November necessitated the closure of the Cascade River Road three miles from its end. The road through the repairs remains rough and narrow. A park map can be found here.

Storm Repairs, Commendations and August Events

2007-07-26T11:17:00.000-07:00

As the summer moves along, Washington state storm recovery efforts are heating up. SCA and WTA programs are making great strides repairing damaged trails, bridges and campgrounds. Perhaps more importantly, this volunteer outreach is creating a feeling of ownership for the park's future among park volunteers.

Meanwhile, Senator Maria Cantwell has recommended a commendation for Park staff at Olympic, Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks and their heroic efforts to repair and reopen Washington's national parks after the fall storms. The NW storm recovery coalition echos Senator Cantwell's recommendation.

Finally, August recovery events are up online. Check them out and get involved.

Mount Rainier Storm Recovery Newsletter Online

2007-07-23T09:26:00.000-07:00

The Next edition of the Mount Rainier National Park's volunteer newsletter is now online! The issue features eleven stories by a cross-section of Mount Rainier's volunteers. You'll meet people from all four corners of the park; short-term volunteers and those that have been here for decades.

Enjoy.

Agnes Creek Temporary Bridge In Place!

2007-07-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

Readers of this blog will remember back in April that the Agnes Creek bridge on the Pacific Crest Trail in the North Cascades was wiped out by a tree that most likely fell during last fall's floods and wind storms. The NW Storm Recovery Coalition is happy to report the National Park Service announced today that a temporary suspension bridge has been built.

The coalition extends a big thank you to all who took part in this repair!

A Month of Volunteer Opportunities!

2007-07-02T16:47:00.000-07:00

The coalition volunteer calendar is updated. July is shaping up to be a month filled with opportunities for concerned citizens to get involved in the Mount Rainier recovery.

Recovery Update: Progress Being Made!

2007-06-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

Significant progress is being made to reestablish public access to Mount Rainier National Park. To date, more than 45 work parties have been organized, with roughly 400 volunteers giving more than 3,000 hours to storm recovery. Thanks to everyone for all the great work.

The second issue of Mount Rainier National Park's volunteer newsletter is now available! This issue will introduce the Student Conservation Association and other partners who are instrumental in helping make the most effective use of our volunteers. Plus, Mount Rainier has new volunteer opportunities to announce--including a 4th of July parade to march in! The newsletter can be found here.

Coalition Calendar Online!

2007-06-19T09:11:00.001-07:00

Check out our new events calendar! On it the coalition posts information on upcoming volunteer events, activities and work parties.

There are many exciting ways to get involved. Washington Trails events are posted in light green, Student Conservation Association activities are in light blue while the Park Service are in dark green. Fundraisers and other events are in grey and dark blue.

Several events are already posted through the end of June. July and August activities will be up shortly. Check it out and get involved.

On a different note, the Park Service at Olympic National Park announced yesterday that it will reopen the Heart of the Hills campground on June 22nd. This is great news for anyone who enjoys the Hurricane ridge area of the park.

The campground had been closed since December 15th, due hundreds of trees blown down during the wind storm.

Reopening the campground is a major step in the storm recovery, according to Park Superintendent Bill Laitner.

National Trails Day, HUGE SUCCESS!

2007-06-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was National Trails Day. Nearly 300 people volunteered to repair trails, bridges and other facilities throughout Washington's National Parks and Forests damaged during last fall's storms. Work parties deployed throughout the Cascades and Olympic Mountain Ranges. In all more than 2,000 volunteer hours were donated, tons of rocks, wood, and other material were moved and thousands of yards of trail were brushed, regraded and replanted.

Additional information on the day can be found here. Click here for pictures from one work party at Mount Rainier.

The storm recovery coalition would like to thank everyone who turned out. We couldn't do our work without you.

Beyond the Storm

2007-06-01T08:32:00.000-07:00

Last night the NW Storm Recovery Coalition hosted a town hall meeting to update the public on the current state of recovery efforts at Washington's National Parks. Roughly 70 people turned out on a beautiful Seattle night to hear recovery reports from the Superintendents of Mount Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades National Parks. A big thank you to Representatives Norm Dicks and Dave Obey who also were in attendance and provided insight into the Park Service appropriations process.

Pictures from the event can be found here.

The Beyond the Storm event comes on the heels of tomorrow's National Trails Day. Coalition partners will lead several work camps to repair storm damage throughout Washington State.

Interactive Storm Damage Maps Online!

2007-05-20T17:50:00.000-07:00

As winter snows melt, more damage to our Northwest national forests and parks is revealed. Over the weekend, the Tacoma News Tribune ran a story and interactive map highlighting backcountry damage. The National Park Service (NPS) also has an interactive map. It can be found here. The map shows known damage to backcountry trails, bridges and campsites. The Washington Trails Association also just launched an online trails database. The Storm Damage Map and Database will be updated as more trail damage is uncovered, and as damaged roads and trails are repaired.

The NPS reopened Olympic's Hoh Road on May 1st. The Hoh Visitor center is currently open on the weekends, but will open daily on May 25th.

Finally, please join us for a night with the Superintendents on May 31st. Rainier Superintendent Dave Uberuaga, Olympic Superintendent Bill Laitner and North Cascades Superintendent Chip Jenkins will update the public on storm recovery efforts and how interested individuals can get involved. Click here for more information.

Coalition Storm Recovery Efforts Kick Off June 2nd!

2007-05-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

On June 2, in celebration of National Trails Day, hundreds of dedicated volunteers from Washington Trails Association (WTA) will hit backcountry trails throughout the Cascades and Olympics to repair storm damage from last winter’s record rains.

National Trails Day, organized every year by the American Hiking Society, is the largest trail celebration in the US and boasts more than 1,000 locally organized events in all fifty states, involving nearly a million trail enthusiasts across the country. The day is centered on healthy outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship.

Washington Trails Association is hosting eight trail work parties this day and one storm damage scouting hike. Each year, local groups like WTA have been a part of this nation-wide celebration of trails. Meanwhile, the National Parks Conservation Association, as well as the Student Conservation Association will host work camps up at Mount Rainier.

For more information on National Trails Day activities visit here.

In related news, the NPS at Mount Rainier announced yesterday that State route 123 to the Stevens Canyon entrance, as well as the Ohanapecosh Campground and Visitor Center will open May 25th.

Gifford Pinchot Forest Needs Your Help!

2007-05-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

Besides National Parks, Washington's National Forest also saw significant damage from last fall's storms. The Gifford Pinchot National Forest in south/central Washington was particularly hard hit. Like neighboring Mount Rainier, the Gifford Pinchot lost roads, campgrounds and trails.

The Forest Service has been making slow but steady progress on repairing this damage. To learn more about how you can help repair some of the damage please click here or here.

Evening with the Superintendents, May 31

2007-05-08T10:47:00.000-07:00

The Northwest Parks and Public Lands Storm Recovery Coalition is sponsoring an “Evening with the Superintendents” on Thursday, May 31, 2007. This event will bring the Superintendents of Mount Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades National Parks together to update the public on the ongoing restoration programs in the parks and answer questions about the process. This unique event promises to be very informative.

Please join us!

“An Evening with the Superintendents”

Thursday, May 31st
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

The Mountaineers – Tahoma Room
300 3rd Ave., West
Seattle, WA 98104

For more information about the event, contact:
David G. Graves, Northwest Field Representative

dgraves@npca.org

Road to Paradise Reopens!

2007-05-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

On Saturday the National Park Service officially reopened Mount Rainier National Park. The mountain had been closed to the public since the November storms.

Roughly 200 people including Representatives Norm Dicks and Dave Reichert turned out for the ceremony. For more information about the day see here and here. Olympic National Park had similar good news, when it reopened the Hoh river road.

Yet, Saturday marks only the beginning, much work at Rainier, as well as Olympic and the North Cascades remains to be done.

A Flood of Volunteers

2007-04-26T16:06:00.000-07:00

The Land Letter recently ran a story on the flood of volunteers expected this summer to help restore some of the damage to Mount Rainier National Park. Thanks to the NW Storm Coalition's outreach countless people are signing up for SCA and WTA Rainier work camps.

However, volunteers are also needed to repair damage at National Parks such as Olympic and the North Cascades, as well as National Forests such the Mount Baker Snoqualmie and Gifford Pinchot.

To learn more about how you can help, please visit the "Get Involved" sidebar on the right side of this page.

Public "Ownership" Key to Recovery

2007-04-24T15:35:00.000-07:00

Recently, Joel Connelly of the Seattle PI wrote about the state of storm damage on Washington's national forest lands and the difficult task the forest service faces to repair and restore their lands. A critical component of long term recovery of these lands is the public's sense of ownership of our Forests and lands. As Joel correctly points out, volunteering to clear down trees from trails or rebuild washed out bridges helps establish a sense of ownership, which in turn may result in stronger congressional support for our public lands.

Storm Recovery: the Good and the Bad

2007-04-12T13:43:00.000-07:00

Much is happening regarding storm recovery in our Northwest parks. Let's start with the good. It now looks like the official opening date for Mount Rainier is May 5th. Weather and other factors may push the date back, but for now the Park Service is planning on public access up to Paradise the first week of May. Longmire Museum and visitor center will also open that day. The Cougar Rock campground will open May 18th. While the Longmire Wilderness Information Center and the Ohanapecosh VC will welcome the public the following week. White River campground will open the end of June. Hooray!

The bad. State Route 123 which traverses the east of Mount Rainier will be closed all summer to the public from the Stevens Canyon road to Cayuse pass. An opening date for the the Stevens Canyon road remains up in the air due to landslides that cover and undercut the road.

As the winter snow melts it reveals previously unknown damage to park backcountry trails and facilities. Mount Rainier's wonderland trail is impassable in at least two areas. Other trails such as the Carbon Glacier and Emmons Glacier climbing route are also in bad shape. Meanwhile, Rangers at the North Cascades recently discovered additional damage to a bridge on the pacific crest trail, most likely caused by last fall's storms. See image.

However, WTA and SCA have begun efforts to repair some of the damage. WTA held its first work vacation in the Carbon river just this month. Meanwhile, SCA will soon bring on a Mount Rainier flood recovery coordinator to facilitate their efforts at the park.

For more information on the state of park roads or trails, please call Mount Rainier at 360-569-HIKE or North Cascades at 360-856-5700 x.515.

Under the Weather, Exhibit Opening!

2007-04-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

Last night more than 50 people turned out to attend the official opening NPCA's exhibit National Parks Under the Weather: How to Help. Those in attendance saw beautiful and dramatic images about the floods and were provided tools for getting involved in the recovery.

The evening also saw presentations by local photographers Don Geyer and Lani Doely who's photographs are displayed at the show. The exhibit runs through June 6th.

Mount Rainier Update: Opening Day!

2007-04-04T16:05:00.000-07:00

The Seattle PI and Yakima Herald recently ran stories on the Park Service's progress to repair damage at Mount Rainier caused by last fall's storms. The good news is the Park Service hopes to open to the Nisqually road May 1st. The Park Service also has set dates for the reopening of other park features and facilities such as Mowich Lake and Sunrise roads, as well as the White River campground.

On the other hand, roads such as Highway 123 and parts of the Stevens Canyon road may not be open this year, making access to the Mountain from the east side difficult.

The NPS has posted its latest update on road and trail repairs here.

For more information on road and trail openings, visit the Mount Rainier website or call 360-569-2211.

Urgent Action Needed! Storm Recovery Funds Added to Spending Bill

2007-04-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

On March 29th thanks in large part to Senator Patty Murray, the Senate passed a supplemental spending bill which includes $35.9 million in federal funding to help repair damage to NW public lands caused by last fall's storms. Specifically, the bill which will now be reconciled with the House version, provides:

$11.9 million to repair washed out roads and bridges

$17 million to repair roads in National Parks

$7 million to repair roads in National Forests

The President is threatening to veto this funding, which is part of a larger spending bill. Please contact the White House at 202.456.1414 and urge him to sign the bill.

NW national parks and forests need these funds to restore basic services and public access.

Coalition on KCTS

2007-03-23T13:41:00.000-07:00

Sunday Jay Satz with the Student Conservation Association, Sally Jewell NPCA board member and David Uberuaga Mount Rainier Superintendent will appear on "KCTS Connects." The panel will discuss the recent storm damage to Mount Rainier and how interested indivduals can get involved in its repair.

The show will run on Seattle's channel 9, March 25th at 12:00 pm.

Park Remark Podcast

2007-03-22T16:24:00.000-07:00

Jeremy Sullivan of the Park Remark has posted a podcast interview with NPCA's NW regional director Sean Smith. Jeremy and Sean discuss the storm damage to NW parks, NPCA's latest exhibit on the storms, and the upcoming Seattle Park Service listening session.

Park Service Listening Session, March 26th

2007-03-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

On March 26th, the National Park Service will hold a Centennial Initiative listening session at Seattle's Town Hall from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. The meeting is open to the public and designed to allow interested individuals the ability to shape the park system's next hundred years. More information on the Centennial Initiative can be found here. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne is expected to attend.

NPCA and the rest of the storm coalition will be reminding the Secretary about the recent storms and our Washington parks' need for restoration.

For more information on the listening sessions, please contact Sean Smith at either (206) 903-1444, ext. 21 or ssmith@npca.org.

Climate Change, Floods, Retreating Glaciers and Maintaining Access.

2007-03-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, the New York Times ran an article on the difficult task Park Service personnel face in predicting future flood events like the ones the devastated Mount Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades this last November. This unpredictability makes it extremely difficult to mitigate damage, while maintaining access.

Despite this, the Park Service continues to make progress toward reestablishing public access to Mount Rainier. Most notably the NPS expects to reopen the road to Paradise by this May. The full extent of the damage to back country campsites and trails won't be known until the snow melts.

Visiting Mount Rainier this Summer? Bring your sense of adventure and patience with you!

2007-03-06T12:33:00.000-08:00

Eric Sorensen in a special for the Seattle Times details what visitors to Mount Rainier can expect this summer. There is good news and some bad. On the positive side, it looks like the Paradise area should be open to the public by either April or May. Unfortunately, other areas such as the Wonderland trail will see limited access this year. Other Washington parks and forests are likely to see similar impacts to visitor access.

Under the Weather Opens March 15th!

2007-03-05T09:53:00.000-08:00

The National Parks Conservation Association will host an exhibit highlighting the recent storm damage to Washington's National Parks. Featured images will include shots from all three national parks, as well as the work of Lani Doely and Don Geyer. The show runs from March 15th thru June 6th with an Artist reception to be held April 5th.

The exhibit will be open to the public at 313 A First, Ave. South, in Seattle Washington Tuesday thru Saturday. For more information please contact Shane Farnor at either sfarnor@npca.org or 206-903-1444 ext. 24.

Olympic Repairs Damage

2007-02-23T14:13:00.000-08:00

The National Park Service at Olympic National Park is steadily repairing roads and reopening public facilities damaged during winter storms. Extensive progress has been made on the Kalaloch, Mora, and Ozette campgrounds, as well as the Living Forest and Peabody Creek trails. Temporary repairs have been made on the Hoh road. The Park Service hopes to reopen the road and campground by May 1st. The Park Service is taking comments on more permanent repairs to this road.

Additional information on these repairs and how to comment on the proposed Hoh road repairs can be found here.

North Cascades Drying Out

2007-02-20T11:19:00.000-08:00

The National Park Service recently released a Flood Recovery update for the North Cascades. Although, flood damage at North Cascades wasn't as severe as at Mount Rainier or Olympic extensive damage still occurred.

The Cascade River road and the Stehekin River road saw considerable damage. The Cascade road providing western access to the popular Cascade pass, is currently closed at milepost 20. The road will likely remain closed to cars until at least August. It is open to hikers, but high water flows my prevent safe passage. Meanwhile, Company Creek road in the Stehekin valley was also damaged. The Park Service is working with private property owners to repair access in this area. Please use extreme caution in any flood area.

Campground such as Colonial and Harlequin were especially hard hit during the storms. Several feet of mud and debris buried these campgrounds. Fortunately, the NPS expects to have both open by Memorial day weekend.

The Park Service is considering long term repairs to several areas including the Cascade and Company Creek roads. Comments or questions on these repairs should be sent Roy Zipp at 360-856-5700 ext. 367.

Progress Made at Mount Rainier

2007-02-13T08:35:00.000-08:00

The National Park Service (NPS) is making steady progress toward reestablishing public access to many popular sites at Mount Rainier. The NPS recently shored up a bridge at Kautz Creek, restored power at Longmire's emergency operations center and nearly completed repair of a 400-ft break in the park road at Sunshine point. Click here to read more.

Congress, We're counting on you!

2007-02-12T15:35:00.000-08:00

Jeremy Sullivan of the Park Remark posted a story on the coalitions' efforts to raise additional federal appropriations for storm repair efforts. As Jeremy correctly points out, the coalition's recent letter to Representative Norm Dicks is a reminder to our Congressional delegation that we need their help to restore our NW heritage.

SCA Storm Recovery Website Online

2007-02-09T13:20:00.000-08:00

The Student Conservation Association has a website dedicated to park recovery efforts. Information includes up to date press and how to get involved. Check it out!

Your Parks and Public Lands Need You!

2007-02-09T09:07:00.000-08:00

Lance Dickie of the Seatlle Times weighs in on what we all can do to help repair Mount Rainier, Washington's iconic national park. Click here.

As Lance points out there is plenty of work for everyone. Countless volunteers will be needed. To offer your skills please contact either SCA or WTA. However, repairing Mount Rainier is also going to take a significant amount of money. Private donations to the effort can be made through the WNPF. Congress has a roll to play as well. Please contact your elected officials and urge them to support the Park Service's needs.

Coalition Thanks Congressman Dicks for leadership on Flood Recovery

2007-02-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

Eleven Washington conservation groups sent a letter to Congressman Dicks thanking him for working toward full funding to repair national parks in the Northwest. Click here to see the press release.

Storm Recovery Information

2007-02-06T10:40:00.000-08:00

Below are links to up to date information from both the National Park Service and the US Forest Service on the recent storms.

Mount Rainier
Olympic

North Cascades

Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Coalition Launch

2007-02-06T10:35:00.000-08:00

NW Parks and Public Lands Storm Recovery CoalitionWashington

National Parks are central to our environment, quality of life and economy. In response to fall storms that caused at least $50 million in damage to the parks, and due in no small part to the support of REI, we have formed a coalition of public land partners to facilitate the rebuilding of Mount Rainier National Park. The coalition called the Northwest Parks and Public Lands Storm Recovery Coalition includes the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), the Student Conservation Association (SCA), the Washington Trails Association (WTA), and Washington National Park Fund (WNPF).

OUR GOALS: 1) To build a stronger, long-term constituency for Northwest Parks and neighboring public lands. If left to rely on their existing budgets, our parks and forests will be decades in completing repairs, to the extent that they are completed at all. Congress must find additional funding for both repair of major access roads, as well as trails and related facilities.

2) To increase volunteer involvement in Northwest public lands stewardship. In the face of such extensive damage, volunteers have an important role to play. Volunteers can contribute to the restoration of the parks through trail maintenance, restoration and interpretation.

3) To provide public land managers with additional support and capabilities to manage volunteer efforts. With a large turnout of volunteers expected, current park service staff is not sufficient to manage such a large restoration effort.

4) To ensure everyone in our region has the opportunity to learn from and experience the parks. The Coalition will provide the public with information and facts about the status of restoration efforts and upcoming volunteer opportunities. The groups will also serve as a catalyst for a long-term discussion on sustainable access to Northwest public lands.

5) To encourage citizen investment to augment public support and volunteer labor. While volunteer efforts are unquestionably required, additional funding will be necessary to complete park restoration.