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HomeMy WebLinkAbout071526 - RCO Newsletter - July 2026ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/1d9e606c-e643-9cc9-ddd8-3c4e3a1ffa7e.png> Message from the Director Welcome to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office’s (RCO) bimonthly newsletter. In this issue we're including stories about the grant programs that are (or will soon be) accepting applications, a grant program that helps small forest landowners fix barriers to salmon and other water animals, and two stories with tips on how to keep you and the state safe while recreating this summer. Thank you for reading! Announcements * Planning for Recreation Access <https://us.list-manage.com/_5xxyyCR8M3?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> grant applications due July 15. * Washington Invasive Species Council <https://us.list-manage.com/ObRnPl9AyAZ?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> meets July 16. * Michelle Martin <https://us.list-manage.com/1383ewVINYT?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> joined RCO as an outdoor grants manager. * Point Defiance Loop Trail <https://us.list-manage.com/42xuymWPdo9?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> grand opening July 31. * Accepting grant applications for recreation projects on August 4. * Salmon Recovery Funding Board <https://us.list-manage.com/bWjz_qxu1Km?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> meets August 5. * Recreation and Conservation Funding Board <https://us.list-manage.com/vJJ89kMONQP?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> meets August 5. <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/96300637-cf15-c0f0-ae6e-71feb1139b0b.png> Applications Accepted for Trails, Boat Access, and Shooting Ranges On August 4, RCO will begin accepting grant applications for the Nonhighway and Off-road Vehicle Activities Program’s trail grants <https://us.list-manage.com/13Lk2GR0tN0?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863 a855eb321285724e591d29> and education and enforcement grants <https://us.list-manage.com/xfTCJ1HO1hY?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> , Recreational Trails Program <https://us.list-manage.com/dOWS5IH3Lop?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> , Boating Facilities Program <https://us.list-manage.com/raU253yx6TE?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321 285724e591d29> , and the Firearms and Archery Range Recreation <https://us.list-manage.com/ng8hRF5JjIR?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> program. The Nonhighway and Off-Road Vehicle Activities Program and the Recreational Trails Program are for backcountry trail maintenance, construction, and education and enforcement activities. The Boating Facilities Program funds planning, acquisition, construction, and renovation of motorized boating access facilities. The Firearms and Archery Range Recreation program funds the acquisition, development, or renovation of firearm ranges and archery training and practice facilities. To kick off the fall grant cycle, RCO staff will host a series of webinars on August 4. During the webinars, staff will share information about the grants offered, eligibility requirements, key program changes, and how to apply. * Firearms and Archery Range Recreation Program webinar <https://us.list-manage.com/cD59r5TGqqD?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> is at 9 a.m. * Boating Facilities Program webinar <https://us.list-manage.com/S0v4SCeNUnn?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> is at 11 a.m. * Nonhighway and Off-Road Vehicle Activities and Recreational Trails Program webinar <https://us.list-manage.com/4xkJC4LZ9DL?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> is at 1 p.m. Grant applications are due October 31. <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/027760a2-c6c2-3ad8-2e9d-efeacf0c7ce1.png> Don’t Pack a Pest—Leave Firewood at Home When planning your next camping adventure, don’t forget your marshmallows for roasting, but leave the firewood at home—plan to buy it where you’ll burn it <https://us.list-manage.com/zuxY2nNhD8J?e=18 6c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> . Firewood can contain uninvited insects hiding in the wood. Moving firewood around can spread invasive species all over Washington. At a glance, a wood bundle may not show signs of insect eggs or larvae. However, deep within, invasive insects like spongy moth, emerald ash borer, or Asian longhorned beetle may be hiding. These pests can cause significant damage to our forests by devouring multiple tree species. In response to the threat, the Washington State Department of Agriculture developed a rule <https://us.list-manage.com/MWUYjLP_6kC?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> beginning August 18, that untreated firewood cannot be brought into Washington from outside the state and all treated firewood must meet strict treatment and labeling requirements.The Washington Invasive Species Council commented in support of this rule during the department’s rulemaking process. Help prevent the spread of invasive species by following these simple steps: * Check for burn bans before your trip and if firewood collection is permitted onsite. * Buy firewood within ten miles or less from where you plan to burn it. * Don’t bring firewood home. Plan to burn what you gathered or locally purchased. <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/0c8864a8-2eda-d29f-3e70-3d6e0e77a48d.png> Working with Landowners to Help Recover Salmon The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates there are more than twenty thousand human-made barriers preventing salmon and steelhead trout from reaching upstream spawning and rearing habitat. These barriers range from deteriorating or undersized water drainage pipes under roads and railways to embankments, dams, and levees. RCO administers the Department of Natural Resource’s Family Forest Fish Passage Program <https://us.list-manage.com/ggtlLL5HZHU?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> , which helps small forest landowners fix barriers like these on their land. Since the program began in 2003, more than four hundred landowners have taken advantage of the program to repair around five hundred barriers and open about fifteen hundred miles of habitat. This past spring, the Family Forest and Fish Passage Program Steering Committee allocated $5.6 million to correct twenty-three fish passage barriers next summer. The barriers are in fifteen counties throughout the state, and their removal or repair will be managed by fourteen different organizations. Correcting the barriers will allow fish and other water animals access to more than fifty miles of upstream habitat beyond the barriers. Our agency is working with project sponsors and engineers to complete agreements and then will begin the design and survey work for the permit process and begin implementation next summer. <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/c009c987-b7d6-c54c-cad8-35293619e39d.png> Federal Grant Cycles Underway We’re accepting applications for two grant programs administered by the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service. Historically, these grant programs were offered inconsistently, but the federal government has committed to offering them annually for the next five years. The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership <https://us.list-manage.com/rW317NWog9h?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> is the first of these programs and provides grants to acquire, develop, and renovate sites for public outdoor recreation in qualifying areas. These are urban areas with a population of twenty-five thousand or more, two or more adjacent areas with a combined population of twenty-five thousand or more, or any area administered by a federally recognized Native American Tribe. State and local agencies and federally recognized and non-federally recognized Native American Tribes and Tribal organizations may apply. Applicants may request up to $15 million per project. The Department of the Interior has set aside $125 million for this program nationwide. The second program, the Readiness and Recreation Initiative <https://us.list-manage.com/K2Y6MTEX0_S?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> , provides grants to buy and enhance land near military installations for public outdoor recreation. Projects must include land acquisition and be in a Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Partnership Opportunity Area <https://us.list-manage.com/3lFmApbUPVn?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863 a855eb321285724e591d29> or Sentinel Landscape <https://us.list-manage.com/ydeqJWPUllH?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> . Eligible areas in Washington include several U.S. Navy bases, Spokane’s Fairchild Air Force Base, and Joint Base Lewis-McCord Sentinel Landscape <https://us.list-manage.com/R3NpJfdbAvt?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> , which was the first federally recognized sentinel landscape. Applicants may request up to $3 million. There is $9 million available for grants nationwide. Projects for these federal programs must align with the purposes and requirements of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, meaning projects must meet a priority in the state comprehensive outdoor recreation plan and the entire park or funded site must be maintained for public outdoor recreation use forever. RCO’s application deadline is August 7. Projects must be submitted for the national competition by November 1. <https://mcusercontent.com/f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e/images/fbf214f8-8bc0-9e1a-bb3f-8636cc054fcf.png> Mind the Zone on Lake Union this Summer Warmer weather means spending more time on the lake and an increase in vessel traffic—and not just boats. That’s why the Recreational Boating Association of Washington created the Mind The Zone campaign. The campaign was created to spread awareness about the seaplane traffic on Lake Union during the summer. Every year, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, the City of Seattle installs five seaplane advisory buoys on Lake Union to help manage seaplane, boat, and paddle craft traffic. When the yellow lights on the buoys are flashing, that means a seaplane is taking off or landing and lake users need to ensure they’re at least two hundred feet east or west of the buoys, helping to keep everyone safe! Visit the Recreational Boating Association of Washington’s website <https://us.list-manage.com/g6cL9rnUjwE?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> for more information about the buoys and the Mind The Zone campaign. <https://us.list-manage.com/nUV377njcT4?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> <https://us.list-manage.com/1CLswA3uSSS?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> <https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block-v2/color-link-48.png> View this email in your browser. <https://mailchi.mp/rco.wa.gov/rco-newsletter-july-2026?e=186c5ff3d1> Copyright © 2026 The Recreation and Conservation Office,, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? 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This email was sent to jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us> why did I get this? <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/about?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=1945f2650d&e=186c5ff3d1&c=90d364195f> unsubscribe from this list <https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/unsubsc ribe?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&id=1945f2650d&t=b&e=186c5ff3d1&c=90d364195f> update subscription preferences <https://rco-fb19.mailchimpsites.com/manage/preferences?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e&i d=1945f2650d&e=186c5ff3d1&c=90d364195f> The Recreation and Conservation Office, · 1111 Washington St S.E. · Olympia, WA 98501-2283 · USA <https://us.list-manage.com/Fl7oPDQP07mvcj1YQLfy1P?e=186c5ff3d1&c2id=833b5ac863a855eb321285724e591d29> erences?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e\u0026id=1945f2650d\u0026e=186c5ff3d1\u0026c=90d364195f","url/anchorText":"update your preferences","url/urlTextSpan":{"beginIndex":77617,"length":23},"@EntityId":" 9947d3ad-17f0-4600-b8c7-73edb366da45","@extractionTimeUtc":"2026-07-15T18:46:18.8013727\u002B00:00"},{"url":"https://rco-fb19.mailchimpsites.com/manage/preferences?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e\u0026id =1945f2650d\u0026e=186c5ff3d1\u0026c=90d364195f","url/anchorText":"unsubscribe from this list","url/urlTextSpan":{"beginIndex":77954,"length":26},"@EntityId":"c298087e-865a-49e1-9775-c960025c5e0b","@ extractionTimeUtc":"2026-07-15T18:46:18.8013747\u002B00:00"},{"url":"https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/about?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e\u0026id=1945f2650d\u0026e=186c5ff3d1\u0026c=90d364195f","url/anc horText":"why did I get this?","url/urlTextSpan":{"beginIndex":79563,"length":19},"@EntityId":"7c7f67ed-ceff-4ffa-a575-6ab9c054e7f3","@extractionTimeUtc":"2026-07-15T18:46:18.8013780\u002B00:00"},{"u rl":"https://rco.us4.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e\u0026id=1945f2650d\u0026t=b\u0026e=186c5ff3d1\u0026c=90d364195f","url/anchorText":"unsubscribe from this list","url/urlTextSpan":{"beginIndex":79797,"length":26},"@EntityId":"cc798a6b-668e-4cd5-81d6-5d62d32d6531","@extractionTimeUtc":"2026-07-15T18:46:18.8013801\u002B00:00"},{"url":"https://rco-fb19.ma ilchimpsites.com/manage/preferences?u=f12461e10aed86ddd51107b5e\u0026id=1945f2650d\u0026e=186c5ff3d1\u0026c=90d364195f","url/anchorText":"update subscription preferences","url/urlTextSpan":{"beginInd ex":80029,"length":31},"@EntityId":"5a5af990-ef5c-4435-82b7-b89f0064ef51","@extractionTimeUtc":"2026-07-15T18:46:18.8013822\u002B00:00"}]