On March 23, 2006 the Riverside State Park Foundation accepted a grant for $10,000 from Recreational Equipment, Inc.  (REI) on behalf of Riverside State Park.  We were selected as 1 of 100 parks nationwide to receive this grant. 

The Foundation, along with the Riverside State Park Advisory Board and park management, has selected several projects for this grant.  This meets several objectives.  First, it allows the funds to be spent in 2006 as required.  Second, it distributes the funds among several diverse interests within the park.  Third, it increases the opportunities for matching funds and other contributions.  Funds will be used to develop a “water trail” along the Spokane River and Little Spokane River.  This will entail fliers that identify points of interest along both rivers.  Improvements will be made to the Fisk Property which is part of Riverside State Park but is further down river.  Thus far this is undeveloped land.  There will be improvements to an overlook at the Bowl and Pitcher and improvements at a group trailhead just off Seven Mile Road commonly referred to as the airstrip.  Additional projects will be identified if funds are available. 

These projects support a wide variety of recreational interests.  They are viewed as long term investments in the park which will enhance recreational opportunities and preserve the natural resources.  As opportunities arise we will work with State Parks, and other stakeholders, to expand on these improvements with other projects to enhance their contribution to Riverside State Park. 

The Riverside State Park Foundation is a 501C3 corporation.  This means that interested individuals and corporations may make tax free donations to the park.  People interested in making such a contribution to the park may contact Manager Rene Wiley at the park and we will be glad to work with you on special projects. 

On behalf of Riverside State Park, the Riverside State Park Foundation and the community at large, we thank REI for its generous donation to the future of Riverside State Park.

Groups Adopt Trails in Park

by Mike Brixey

Riverside State Park has established an Adopt-a-Trail program for the purpose of promoting volunteer participation in the enormous task of maintaining and repairing all of the trails within the Park. Recently, two groups have adopted portions of trails that see heavy use from all users.

The 92nd Maintenance Operations Squadron from Fairchild Air Force Base has adopted the section of trail from the Devil’s Toenail overlook downstream to the trail’s intersection with the Centennial Trail. Fat Tire Trail Riders Club has adopted the newly completed trail named Angel’s Wings, located at the north end of the 1997 burn area and bypass for the rocky trail known as Devil’s Down.

The groups combined this Spring to complete maintenance on the section near the Devil’s Toenail overlook. This steep section of riverfront trail is very popular with all trail visitors and was becoming badly eroded. Additionally, rock crib walls, originally installed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s, were falling over and needed repairs.

The crib walls were rebuilt to match their original installation. Materials that had fallen down the bank were reclaimed and placed to establish a new foundation for the trail. The trail bed then had soil replaced and compacted. New drainage features were added to control runoff and slow future erosion.

Further downstream, several large boulders that were encroaching into the trail were moved, most loose rock that had fallen from the basalt cliff above was discarded and the trail surface was restored. Some poison oak was also carefully trimmed back to minimize exposure to passers-by. Upstream, a section of trail had berms removed, allowing runoff to sheet off of the trail, rather than flow and erode the center of the track.

All repairs were done keeping in mind that the trails are multi-use. All trails within the Park are open to all non-motorized users, excepting the equestrian area (closed to bikes) and the Little Spokane River Natural Area (hikers only). The repaired trail forms a portion of the equestrian 10-mile and 25-mile loops. It also sees use from hikers, mountain bikers, trail runners, orienteers and many others. The repairs should allow the continued enjoyment of this special section of the Park for many years to come.

State Park Commission Approves First General Fee Increase
for Overnight Facilities since 2003

At its regular meeting in August, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission approved its first general fee increase for camping, overnight facilities and watercraft launch services since 2003. The increases, intended to catch the agency up to market rates and to help close the gap between costs and rising inflation, will become effective immediately for services visitors use beginning Jan. 1, 2007. The new fees will remain in place through 2009. Confirmed reservations already in the system will not be charged the new rates.

In adopting the fee increase the Commission follows its budgetary obligation to raise, through fees, approximately one-third of the revenue needed to cover operation costs. The Commission reviews fees annually, using a focus group that includes members of the public and park staff, who consider market rates, fees charged by other state park systems, inflation and other costs. The annual fee review keeps the Commission apprised of current market information; however, since 2000, the Commission has attempted to provide more certainty for the public and to more accurately project operating revenues by adopting fees for a three-year period. The last general fee increase began in 2003.

With the fee increase, camping will be $17 for a standard campsite and $24 for a full-utility site. The watercraft launch fee will be $7, and reservable moorage will be $12. Some parks have an additional popular destination fee of $2 instead of the $1 charged previously, and some premium sites in the system are an additional $5.

Update on the Granger Property Conservation Futures Nomination

by Eric Erickson

In the October 2003 RSPF Newsletter we announced that the Granger Property which the RSPF nominated in May 2003 had ranked high and that an attempt was going to be made to appraise and acquire it. The last 3+ years have been frustrating and disappointing, to say the least. To summarize, despite heroic efforts by Steve Horobiowski of the Spokane County Parks Department, after two appraisals, the County and the Granger Property owner have been unable to reach a common understanding on exactly what is for sale, and therefore they cannot agree on how much the property is worth. A few weeks ago the County formally removed the property from further consideration.

At various times the members of the Inland Northwest Land Trust, State Parks, and the RSPF have attempted to facilitate the process, but all have failed. At this point unless a miracle occurs, the property will eventually be sold and developed, thus eliminating the possibility of gaining this property for water access for wildlife and humans in the northern Nine Mile portion of Riverside State Park.