DNR to close access to illegal and unauthorized mountain bike trailsin northeastern Whatcom County, WA

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/RecreationEduc...trails_nr.aspx

March 30, 2012

DNR to close access to illegal and unauthorized mountain bike trails
in northeastern Whatcom County
Safety, water quality, and protection of state trust lands key reasons
for closure

OLYMPIA – On Monday, April 2, the Washington State Department of
Natural Resources (DNR) will begin closing access to illegal,
unauthorized mountain bike trails and structures in the North Fork
Nooksack forest block in northeastern Whatcom County. The trails were
built without obtaining permission from DNR or county and state
permits.

Without careful planning and developing, these trails pose a risk to
public safety and the environmental health of the area. And without
proper engineering design, liability coverage, and maintenance, DNR
cannot ensure the public’s safety. In addition, the sediment running
off the trails can impact water quality.

“We recognize that these trails have become popular with mountain
bikers*who come from all over western Washington to ride them,” said
Mark Mauren, DNR’s Recreation Program Manager. “We appreciate that the
public places a great deal of value on having access to outdoor
recreation in this part of the state. But we need to direct people to
trails that are safe and sustainable.”

Beginning Monday, DNR crews will be removing user-built structures and
restoring the areas where the unauthorized trails were built. In
addition, DNR law enforcement officers will monitor the area and issue
citations to anyone observed trying to build illegal trails or
structures or attempting to ride these trails.

Thoughtful planning provides sustainable recreation
DNR is committed to providing recreation opportunities that are
compatible with its obligation as steward of nearly 3 million acres of
state trust lands. The agency is interested in pursuing safe and
sustainable trail-based recreation in the county through a thoughtful
planning process that involves input from citizens and recreation user
groups.

“We welcome the opportunity to partner with the public to get funding
and to plan and develop new recreation areas,” Mauren said. “Once
developed, these areas will also need adequate funding to maintain and
provide enforcement protection.”

In addition, DNR recreation planning relies on the best available
science to help determine the most suitable locations for siting
trails and facilities. To develop a new recreation site, DNR must also
obtain all state and county permits and have adequate resources to
maintain trail systems once they are built.


For the past five years, DNR has been developing recreation plans on
state lands. Designated mountain bike trails are included in each of
these landscapes, including Reiter Foothills Forest in eastern
Snohomish County; Yacolt Burn State Forest, in southeast Washington;
and Ahtanum State Forest west of Yakima. To date, DNR has developed or
is in the process of developing recreation plans on 314,000 acres of
state forested trust lands.

Other mountain bike options
Nearby mountain biking opportunities on DNR-managed lands include
Blanchard Forest, which has some designated mountain biking trails and
Walker Valley ORV Trail System, east of Mount Vernon.

Many of the ski resorts in the area, such as Stevens Pass and Whistler
Mountain, offer summer mountain biking opportunities. Duthie Hill Bike
Park near Issaquah provides year-round riding.

Recreation on DNR-managed lands
DNR manages 5.6 million acres of state-owned forest, aquatic,
agricultural, conservation and urban lands. Most recreation on these
lands takes place in the 2.9 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 camping experience in a natural setting.

Media Contact: Bryan Flint, DNR Director of Communications and
Outreach, 360-902-1023,