Farmers will have to pay thousands of dollars to drive equipment on long-distance recreational trails to reach otherwise inaccessible agriculture land under a policy proposed by Washington State Parks.
The five trails were once railroads. The tracks are gone, and trains have yielded to hikers, cyclists and equestrians. But rights of way still bisect farmland.
It’s unclear how many farmers would be effected, but state parks says it has received requests from adjacent landowners to use the trails to move farm machinery between fields.
Parks staff members last month proposed rules and fees for issuing permits.
The application fee would be $200. A separate processing fee would be at least $300. If the trail were paved or had a crushed rock surface, the processing fee would be $750.
Plus, there would be a per-mile fee of $2,000 or $3,000, depending again on the surface.
“That’s absolutely ridiculous. Way too much money,” Washington Farm Bureau Associate Director of Governmental Relations Scott Dilley said. “It looks like they’ve set up a process to exclude people.”
Several phone calls to state parks were not returned.
The policy would apply to the John Wayne Pioneer Trail between Cedar Falls and the Columbia River; the Willapa Hills Trail between Chehalis and Raymond; Columbia Plateau Trail between near Cheney and near the Tri-Cities; Klickitat Trail from Lyle north and east 30 miles; and the Spokane Centennial Trail between Spokane and the Idaho border.
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will conduct public meetings on the proposal Dec. 17 at the Hal Holmes Center, 209 N. Ruby St., in Ellensburg and Dec. 19 at Veterans Memorial Museum, 100 S.W. Veterans Way, in Chehalis.
Other policy provisions include:
• Landowners could only use trails when state parks decides there is no practical alternative.
• Permits wouldn’t be issued for sections that state parks says are heavily used by others.
• Farmers must have their permit and be ready to show it to parks staff.
• Engines must be turned off in the presence of horses.
• Flaggers must accompany equipment too wide to pass.
• Recreational users couldn’t be delayed for more than 10 minutes.
• The permit application would be reviewed by regional planners and posted on the agency’s website for 14 days for public comment.
• Farmers would have to immediately repair any damage.
• A permit will be canceled if other trail users complain.
Dilley said besides being too expensive, getting a permit would be too cumbersome and complicated.
State parks hasn’t provided any information to justify the policy or fees, he said. “It’s a shame they’re taking this approach.”
In a letter to the parks staff before the proposed policy was posted, Sen. John Braun, R-Chehalis, suggested far fewer restrictions.
“I agree they didn’t follow much of what I asked,” he said.
Braun suggested requiring farmers to show proof of insurance, obey speed limits and accept a “reasonable provision” to pay for wear and tear.
Braun said he thinks the parks commission will revise the proposal before adopting a policy. “I think it needs work,” he said. “It seems to be very aggressive on fees.”
The Washington Trails Association lobbied state parks to allow farm equipment on trails only when there is “absolutely no viable alternative,” according to its website.
The association advocated a public comment period for each permit application and that fees be high enough to pay for “ongoing inspection to ensure compliance with permit requirements.”
Efforts to reach a representative from the trails association for further comment were unsuccessful.
Written comments may be submitted to state parks until Dec. 19 by emailing planning@parks.wa.gov.
Comments and questions may be directed to Parks Planner Nikki Fields, 360-902-8658.
Source: www.capitalpress.com