Help WTA defend a game-changing win for state lands and trails

In 2022, WTA led nonprofit partners, legislative champions and individuals like you to a big win for trails: a new source of funding for our state public lands. During this year’s state legislative session — which starts today and runs for the next 60 days — WTA needs your voice to protect this funding that helps us get outside.

Funding for our state lands is fixing trails from Deception Pass to Mount Spokane State Park, so you can enjoy the outdoors. Photo of Lighthouse Point Trail at Deception Pass by Amanda Morris.

• State agencies rely on this funding
• The 2022-won funding is a significant portion of each state agency’s budget. Until last session’s reduction, it was 40% of Department of Natural Resources’ recreation budget (currently 29%).

Turning $50 million of need into new funding for trails

In 2022, getting new funding for maintenance and operations for our state lands was an ambitious goal. But this funding was much needed. The list of maintenance projects on our state recreation lands — those managed by Washington State Parks, Department of Natural Resources and Department of Fish and Wildlife — was over $50 million.

Thanks to the voices of individuals like you and organizations like WTA, state legislators recognized the maintenance needs — and the public benefit of state lands that are easy to visit and safe to enjoy. Outdoor recreation supports 237,000 jobs in our state and saves $390 million each year in health care costs.

This year, maintenance funding replaced aging trail bridges at Elbe Hills and Yacolt Burn state forests and on Sadie Creek’s multi-use trails. Photo of Yacolt Burn’s Tarbell Trail courtesy of Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

Each year, improvements to trails and parks

Since the legislature made this investment, it has been ongoing in the state budget. Each year that money is fixing trails, toilets, roads, parking areas and campgrounds across the state.

Recently this funding has made it possible to:

• Northwest: Install fencing, maintain trails and decommission an unsanctioned trail to better protect hikers and nature at Deception Pass State Park.
• Central Cascades: Replace an aging trail bridge on Wallace Falls State Park’s Greg Ball Trail.
• Central Washington: Protect areas that had been damaged by unsanctioned use at Naneum Ridge State Forest.
• Eastern Washington: Construct a new trail at Mount Spokane State Park and complete an extension of Trail 25 at Riverside State Park.
• South Puget Sound: Build an ADA-accessible bridge over a creek on an ADA loop trail in Elbe Hills State Forest.
• Southwest: Replace an aging trail bridge on Tarbell Trail in Yacolt Burn State Forest near Cold Creek Day Use Area.
• Olympics: Replace a failing trail bridge on Sadie Creek’s multi-use trails.

Regular maintenance of trails and other outdoor infrastructure keeps you and others safe to experience outdoor places. It also saves the state money in the long run. This is similar to the way regular maintenance on your car can prevent costly problems down the line.

You helped protect this funding — let’s do it again

Due to a multi-billion dollar shortfall in our state’s budget, legislators will be looking at cuts during this legislative session, which runs now through March 12.

This funding allows Washington State Parks to maintain and build trails and make upgrades to better protect natural places. Photo of Wallace Falls State Park by Doug Murray.

Last year, Washington was facing a similar budget deficit. WTA was grateful when people like you joined us and our partners at outdoor recreation organizations and in the state legislature to save a majority of this funding for state recreation lands. (Maintenance funding for each state land management agency went from $10 million to $7.5 million for the 2-year budget.)

The governor has released a proposed budget that would further reduce funding for state agencies to take care of our public lands, cutting $500,000 from State Parks, $750,000 from Department of Natural Resources and $1.5 million from Department of Fish and Wildlife.

We know we can protect this funding again — but only with your help.

We need everyone who loves the outdoors to speak up for our state public lands. Join WTA’s Trail Action Network, and we’ll let you know when and how to use your voice during this year’s state legislative session, and beyond.