WSGA - Park Land Use / Advocacy WSGA - Park Land Use / Advocacy - Info, outreach, and contacts http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:07:13 -0700 90 Caching in Washington State Parks http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=474
QUOTE (hydnsek @ Aug 22 2010, 05:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I met with Washington State Parks' designated geocaching representative, Kathy Hale, last week. Her role is statewide, mainly to ensure awareness and cooperation with WSP's geocaching directive among its parks, and to address any overarching issues. Specific geocaching concerns are left to the discretion of the individual parks. She invited me to submit a new blurb on geocaching for WSP's Activities page, saying she knew the current one could use updating. It's great that WSP has assigned a staff member as a geocaching contact, and that she's encouraging us to provide appropriate communications about our activity.


I'm wondering if there could be some streamlining of the procedure for getting caches in state parks approved, as I've heard from others that it seems to be kind of lengthy to get approval. I know of at least one cache (a current placement that was hidden prior to the permit system) with a temporary permit due to the length of the process. I've personally backed off of one location that I had been considering due to the length of the process.]]> Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:51:02 -0700 http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=474 Geocaching article in WA parks magazine http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=467 WRPA Today, the professional magazine for Washington park personnel. The primary readers are city and county park employees in the Washington Recreation & Park Association (WRPA).

The article, "Geocachers Promote Park Partnerships," appears in the Summer 2010 issue. The article is on page 20 of the magazine PDF file, or you can view just the article. I was asked to contribute the article by the editors, who work at Burien City Parks, part of our liaison network.

This article could be a good reference when working with parks personnel, since it appeared in one of their professional publications and summarizes geocaching and our work with parks.

]]> Sat, 07 Aug 2010 22:22:23 -0700 http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=467 Geocaching returns to Discovery Park (Seattle) http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=381 today Caching Again in Discovery Park was published, the first cache in Seattle's Discovery Park since caches were banned there in November 2007. Read some background here.

After two years of disconnects, we met with Seattle City Parks on March 3, at which point they joined our Liaison Program and agreed to rescind their ban and reintroduce geocaching on a trial basis. WSGA member rodgowdy became their Geocaching Liaison. Thanks to rodgowdy, we now have a cache in Discovery, a CITO in the works, and a couple more caches in the wings. You go, guy!]]> Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:47:38 -0700 http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=381 New! Park Liaison Program http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=351 Park Liaison Program (PLP), in which a WSGA member is paired with a park system to help them with geocaching activities. As geocaching celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2010, parks recognize that it’s a popular, family-oriented activity, and are looking for ways to support it with limited staff and resources. The PLP helps parks embrace geocaching without compromising their goals or adding to their overhead.

The Park Liaison Program is another way in which WSGA is working with Washington parks at all levels (city, county, state, federal) to create mutually beneficial relationships and ensure continued access for geocachers – part of the club’s founding mission. The Liaison puts a face on geocaching and provides a go-to person for park personnel. In turn, WSGA builds trust with the park system by self-managing our activity, ensuring greater support and faster resolution should problems arise. Groundspeak has expressed its appreciation and support for our program, and offered to help if needed.

I piloted the liaison approach over the past two years at Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, the flagship of King County Parks. Its success has cemented a positive relationship with KCP, from the director down to staff at its 180 parks. This led to other park systems asking to participate, and the Park Liaison Program was born. To date, the Liaison Program has mitigated issues in several parks and persuaded Seattle City Parks to reintroduce limited geocaching at Discovery Park - our biggest win so far! Other parks see the mutual benefits of this program and are asking to participate.

Below are the park systems currently in the program, with their liaisons and inception dates. In most cases, there are specific parks in the Liaison Program, with the backing of their larger park system and plans to expand it into other parks. (Updated 8/31/10)
  • King County Parks (Cougar Mountain) – hydnsek; pilot, 1/08
  • North Cascades National Park Service Complex – hydnsek; 10/08
  • Snohomish County Parks (Lord Hill and Paradise Valley) – GrievousAngel; 2/10
  • Seattle City Parks (Discovery Park) – rodgowdy; 3/10
  • Camano Island and Cama Beach state parks – Rey del Roble; 3/10
  • Island County (Wenburg County Park) - Rey del Roble; 3/10
  • Kitsap County Parks - Jomer & Traci, 4/10
  • Richland City Parks - meandbrea, 8/10
  • Bellevue City Parks - hydnsek, 8/10

We are also working with several park systems outside the Park Liaison Program, including those in Renton, Kent (rodgowdy), Burien, and Anacortes (Jimmerbowl); Washington State Parks (hydnsek); and Mount Rainier National Park (K2D2). In addition, we coordinate with cachers working with park systems outside of WSGA, including Olympia City Parks (ohjoy!).

What does a Park Liaison do? The specifics vary from park to park, but may include:
  • Ensuring geocachers adhere to park regulations. If a park says “no off-trail use,” all caches must be by a trail (specific distance defined – at Cougar Mountain, it’s 10 feet). “Day use only” – no night caching is permitted. If certain park areas are off-limits due to sensitive habitat or safety issues, no cache placements will be allowed.
  • Ensuring geocachers adhere to geocaching.com guidelines on placement, especially those under Off-Limit (Physical) Caches. We don’t bury caches, screw things into trees, deface property, contribute to habitat destruction, etc. Mantra: “What would the ranger think?”
  • Working with park personnel to create and/or implement caching guidelines for their lands. These may be informal, enforced by the Liaison, or written up as a public document. In most cases, cache placements can be overseen by the Liaison without a formal permitting or approval process by the park, as has been demonstrated over the past two years at Cougar Mountain, which has a strict no-off-trail policy.
  • Physically visiting cache placements to ensure they adhere to guidelines and minimize environmental impact (e.g., social trails, foliage damage).
  • Monitoring caches and addressing problems if the owner is not responsive, up to and including removing caches if required.
  • Contacting cache owners and working with them to mitigate any problems that arise.
  • Keeping park personnel informed about cache placements on their land, and promptly addressing any problems identified by park staff.
  • Educating park personnel about geocaching and its benefits, such as raising awareness, educating visitors, and increasing attendance.
  • Taking park personnel geocaching to familiarize them with the activity, show them cache placements in their parks, and get their feedback.
  • Helping park personnel place caches to further their educational and outreach goals.
  • Streamlining the park’s interactions with Groundspeak by serving as a conduit to the company and reviewers. This is particularly helpful if the park needs to clarify its boundaries, request cache removals or moratoriums, or otherwise present an official request.
  • Hosting CITO (Cache In, Trash Out) volunteer work parties to help the park. In addition to debris cleanup, a CITO event could be invasive-plant removal, native plant restoration, even trail-building - basically, whatever type of volunteer work the park needs.

Many thanks to the members of WSGA’s Parks Advocacy Committee who have volunteered as Park Liaisons. If you’re interested in participating, or know a park system you think would benefit, please contact me. Most parks currently in the program are in the Puget Sound area, but we hope to see it expanded across the state.

I have posted a PDF version of the Park Liaison Program announcement / particulars, in case anyone wants to have a hard copy or forward it to someone.

Follow-up: Bryan and Jenn at Groundspeak both responded that they love the Liaison Program. Bryan said: "What a wonderful program! Congratulations to the WSGA. We will share it with the reviewers and let you know if there are any suggestions. Of course, if there is anything that Groundspeak can do to assist, please don't hesitate to contact Jenn or myself anytime."]]> Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:19:30 -0700 http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=351 Potential Closure of State Trails http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=305
South Puget Sound Region: Little Si trailhead, Mount Si trailhead, Middle Fork Snoqualmie trails, Rattlesnake trails.

Northwest Region: Cattle Point and trail, Cattle Point lighthouse, Cypress Head campground, Lummi Island campground.

Northeast Region: Dragoon Creek campground, Lake Spokane campground, Leader Lake, Palmer Lake.

Southeast: Indian Camp, Milwaukee Road corridor.



Pacific Cascades Region: McLane Creek day-use area, Mima Mounds interpretive center, Butte Creek picnic area and trail.

Olympic Region: Little River trailhead, Bear Creek campground, Lyre River campground, Minnie Peterson campground, Willoughby Creek campground.

A couple of our elected officials are scrambling to come up with a bill that will drum up some money to and thus avoid closing these trails/campgrounds.

A bill has been introduced that would allow the DNR to charge fees for some sites and would direct the DNR, State Parks and Recreation and Dept of Fish and Wildlife to explore creating a single pass for access to lands managed by the three agencies.

This is just another sign of our financially strapped times. If it came right down to keeping Little Si and Mt. Si and Rattlesnake trails open for cachers/hikers in exchange for an annual pass or a fee to use these wonderful trails, I would pay it. The alternative is not so good. Besides, when has the state ever reopened a recreational area/park after its closed it due to budget short falls? If they close them, they usually stay closed.

]]> Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:01:57 -0700 http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=305 Lee Memorial/Experimental Forest http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=295 Just FYI:
The locals already know it, I hope, so this is for non-locals and new cachers: Since the end of September, the Lee Memorial/Experimental Forest in Snohomish County (between SE 188th Street and SE 197th Street, between SR 9 and SR 522) has had a no-geocaching policy. All caches in the forest (four or five) were removed then.]]> Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:38:28 -0700 http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=295 Sand Bagging on the Green River Trail http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=279
As of today, crews are putting up a 4 - 5 foot sand bag wall along the Green River Trail in Tukwila. The trail is essentially closed from where the 405 goes over the trail in Tukwila. This sand bag wall supposedly extends southward towards Costco and possibly beyond. With all of the industrial and warehousing along the river, its quite possible that the sand bag wall could extend further south of the Costo/Home Depot complex in Tukwila. Caches on the riverside of the trail will essentially be "cut off". I have a couple of caches that will essentially be cut off by the sand bag wall. For the safety of others, I have decided to disable my caches will have access cut off by the sand bag wall. If any cachers have caches hidden along the Green River Trail, I highly recommend going out and checking on them to see if they will sand bag wall will cut off access to the caches.

UPDATE 11/3/09 - I am posting some picts of the "wall". These bags are 3000 pounds each. The crews putting this wall up have told me that the wall will be up for at least three years or whenever the Howard Hanson darn is fixed. So, this monolith will be up for a while.]]> Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:15:11 -0700 http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=279 WDFW http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=263
I'm rather new to the sport/hobby/obsession tongue.gif and I am sure this has been covered somewhere although my searches come up empty.

I found a couple of caches last week on WDFW land which I had to obtain a parking permit for. So that got me to looking at other WDFW land in the area. I was wondering if these places are under the State Parks guidelines so you need a permit to place the cache, or what? I searched their website but didn't find anything. Does anyone know? I have a couple of places in mind for caches on WDFW land wink.gif

Thanks in advance!
Ricki]]> Sat, 26 Sep 2009 10:43:58 -0700 http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=263 Potential Flooding in the Green River Valley http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=257 I am sure folks in the local Geocaching community have heard concerns about the structural challenges that the Howard Hanson Dam east of Auburn has which has limited storage capacity which the Army Corps is indicating that they will be forces to release a lot more water down river to the communitys of Auburn, Kent, Tukwila and Renton that would not normally see. Because of this, the Corps is saying that the levees along the Green River could by topped or the levee could fail flooding the valley.

My concern with this issue and Geocaching has to do with caches along/near the river. Particularly, caches along the Green River trail for which I have a few hidden along. If you believe what you hear in the news, the flooding is inevitable. In fact, King County Elections is moving there headquarters which is currently located on Grady Way in Renton to higher ground. That speaks volumes to me. So, should the caches located on the trail/near the river be automatically disabled and removed as a precaution say about mid November to early December? What about getting the word out to cache owners about disabling/removing their caches during flood season? Would the WSGA issue some statement about this?

I am looking for direction here. It seems to me that since our sport promotes ecological awareness by having CITO events and we as cachers try to give back to our parks and forest by removing garbage/trash while out "in the field", then I think we certainly should not add to an ecological nightmare that a flood would bring to the area by letting our caches become flood debris.

I welcome your thoughts on this issue.

]]> Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:02:46 -0700 http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=257 WSGA Advocacy Committee http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=134 Thought I'd split this out of the Park / Land Use Advocacy thread....

At the Jan. 22 WSGA board meeting, I was asked to head the Advocacy Committee, which is the part of WSGA that works with the Washington park systems (city, county, state, federal). This is a standing committee under our Bylaws.

Thanks to Weightman, seattlegeekgrrlz, and AndrewRJ for agreeing to serve on the revitalized committee this year.

I'm looking for more folks interested in being on the committee - who either have, or want to build, relationships with our parks, so PM/email me if you can help. All current members live in the Puget Sound area, and I'd really like to have committee members from around the state, to be truly representational and have local folks able to respond when something comes up at a park outside Puget Sound.

This thread will report on the Advocacy Committee's activities. Please post a note if there's something you'd like us to discuss / investigate, or have feedback on our work.

The new Advocacy Committee is having its first meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Please drop me a note if you have something you'd like us to discuss.

]]> Sun, 01 Feb 2009 12:44:38 -0700 http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=134 North Cascades NPSC wants our input http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=129 previous post, the folks at North Cascades National Park Service Complex are very interested in the potential benefits that geocaching (and other "questing" activities) could offer their park.

I recently received this request from our contact there:

QUOTE
I will be talking about geotourism (place-based tourism) with the local chambers of commerce this spring.
What would you like me to say or share regarding geocaching, earthcaching, or other quests?
I'm thinking it might be great to put out a geotourism bookmark that highlights websites for the unique aspects of North Cascades activities. What do you all think of these ideas?

I need the info (websites/ local links) by the end of February for talks in early March.
So no need to reply immediately...and any thoughts are appropriate.

Cindy Bjorklund
Interpretive Specialist
North Cascades NPSC


Wow, she's offering to help evangelize geocaching, et al, in the local communities up there! cool.gif

So, toss out your ideas and suggestions, and I'll compile them into a coherent spiel for her.

Thanks!]]> Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:06:15 -0700 http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=129 Park contacts and policies http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=48 where people can share their knowledge about geocaching contacts and policies in specific parks and/or park systems, thereby saving others time and typing. No need to "cold call" a park if someone already knows the relevant info. And, if you encounter problems, you'll know a fellow cacher who works with that park and maybe can help.

Example: The first time I contacted North Cascades NPS Complex, I went through a general email on the park's website, got routed through several folks, and had to keep repeating my geocaching spiel and request. Weeks (months?) later, I finally got a dialog going on caching, and my earthcache was approved (first cache in the park). Now they are enthusiastic about it, and have designated a specific contact person. (And two more caches were just published up there.) Communicating this info with y'all could save the next cacher some legwork. (E.g., Sassy recently asked me who to contact at North Cascades.)

City and county parks take varying approaches to caching. Discovery Park: no how, no way (what's the latest on that?). King County Parks: go right ahead, no permission required. What about others?

And while Washington State Parks and the National Park Service have official geocaching guidelines, individual parks have discretion in how they are applied (although permission is always required).

FYI, in case you haven't seen them, here are some relevant resources on geocaching in our state and federal parks:

With that preamble, let's trade park intel! (Note: When listing emails, be sure to alter them so they can't be scraped.)

I'll go first....]]> Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:01:23 -0700 http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=48