HomeMy WebLinkAbout040125 - Proposed House and Senate Budgets Include $120M for WWRP!ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
$120M for the WWRP!
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April 1, 2025
The House and Senate released their versions of the Capital Construction Budget for the 2025-2027 biennium yesterday. Both the House and the Senate included $120 million in funding for
the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP). <http://smartmailerclick.bisglobal.net/act_linkClick.aspx?sm_guid=ODU4MzM0fDc5MzUzNjg5fDF8amVmZmJvY2NAY28uamVmZmVyc29uLndhLnVzfDc4ODY1NDh8aHR0c
HM6Ly93aWxkbGlmZXJlY3JlYXRpb24ub3JnL3Byb3Bvc2VkLWhvdXNlLWFuZC1zZW5hdGUtYnVkZ2V0cy1pbmNsdWRlLTEyMG0tZm9yLXRoZS13d3JwL3wwfDB8MHwxMTYxfDB8MHx8ODUzNDkzfDE1> This level maintains the previous
2023-2025 budget funding level and signifies continued strong support for Washington’s recreation and conservation priorities and projects.
“To say this year has been a challenging one budget wise is an understatement. We appreciate that the House and Senate have acknowledged the importance of outdoor recreation and conservation
by keeping the WWRP at the $120 million level,” says Yvonne Kraus, Executive Director of the WWRC.
“Demand for outdoor recreation continues to grow, and so do the conservation needs that come with that demand. We are grateful and appreciate the legislature’s deliberation and decision
to emphasize continued and consistent funding for our State’s great outdoors. The House and Senate budget proposals in support of our playgrounds, our parks, wildlife habitats, as well
as our working farms and forests represent a bright light in a trying and demanding Legislative session,” adds Kraus.
As the state’s premier grant program for habitat conservation and outdoor recreation, the WWRP has had a significant impact on Washington's landscape and quality of life, having leveraged
over $2.2 billion in parks, trails, wildlife habitat, working lands, and other recreation and conservation projects since 1991. WWRP project funding is distributed across 12 grant categories,
through a nationally recognized and impartial ranking process, managed by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). Additionally, the 2025-2027 ranked project results
represent funding distribution and evaluation criteria that were identified and recommended in a comprehensive program equity review.
We continue to see record levels of Washingtonians outdoors, seeking the mental and physical health benefits of outdoor recreation. At the same time, funding cuts at the Federal agencies
have caused staffing and resource shortages as well as ongoing funding uncertainty at popular recreation and conservation lands within our State’s National Forests and National Parks.
These challenges and pressures on recreation experiences and habitat protection only amplify the importance of balancing growing recreation demand with the preservation of our environment
and ecosystems, and the need for continued robust funding. WWRP projects not only provide outdoor opportunities for families across the state, they also help preserve wildlife habitat,
mitigate climate change effects, economically benefit rural communities, and protect our working lands.
At $120 million, the budget funds just over 100 WWRP projects statewide. Skippy Shaw, Washington State Government Relations Director at The Nature Conservancy, and Chair of the WWRC
State Policy Committee, says "We are grateful for and thank our Capital Budget leadership for making these projects possible and for their continued investment in our State’s great
outdoors.”
Three sample projects that will benefit from the proposed funding include:
* Final design and redevelopment of park amenities in the upper plateau of Veterans Memorial Park, in the City of Mountlake Terrace. The project will renovate an existing playground,
picnic shelter, pedestrian trail loop and install a new restroom facility and plaza space. These park features were selected for inclusion in the development of this project as a direct
response to community and stakeholder feedback.
* The Riverside State Park Glen Tana Acquisition near Spokane, adding just over 1,000 acres to Riverside State Park, including nearly 2 miles along the Little Spokane River. This project
will provide habitat for many wildlife species and connects existing recreational and conservation areas. A unique partnership between Washington State Parks, Inland Northwest Land
Conservancy (the Conservancy), the Spokane Tribe of Indians, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, and Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. Glen Tana incorporates environmental
stewardship, expanded recreational access, and salmon reintroduction efforts, all within close proximity to the residents of Spokane and the Spokane Valley.
* Pioneer Park Inclusive Playground in Walla-Walla is a new playground with a mission of creating an engaging, open, and accessible space for children and adults of all abilities to
gather and build community, foster emotional, physical and mental health through creative play, natural spaces, and learning. Emphasis is on natural play elements, including hills and
logs for improved sustainability and reduced long term maintenance and repair costs.
The budget does come in short of the WWRC’s $150M request for the upcoming biennium, which means 15 projects of local importance to communities across the state will not be funded, including:
* Development of a 27.9 acre portion of Eagle Ridge Park in Lake Stevens. The city planned to build facilities such as a nature-themed playground, amphitheater and outdoor classroom
space, restrooms and much more. The park is home to protected areas including eagle habitats, riparian areas, mature forests and wetlands – all of which would be preserved and protected
in this development but will now not come to fruition due to lack of funding.
* The Department of Fish and Wildlife submitted a project to acquire 1,200 acres of critical elk habitat in the Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area. This project would both protect and enhance
the most critical winter range area in the Mt. St. Helens Elk Herd area, but also watershed and tributary habitat for species of salmon. A further benefit is providing year-round public
access to the wildlife area which is currently land locked by private ownership.
* The Wooten Wildlife Area Rainbow Lake Pier Project, providing improved fishing and ADA access at Rainbow Lake, a popular fishing-only lake for rainbow trout.
However, while the full ask wasn’t met and some projects will need to wait until the next grant cycle, the WWRC Board appreciates the hard work in advocating for funding consistency
and stability at a time of uncertainty, and looks forward to working with RCO staff and grant recipients in implementation and completion of their projects and vision.
Onward, together.
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