Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The first results are coming in on a new fee policy at Washington State Parks, including those at Steptoe Butte and Palouse Falls.
The Discover Pass, instituted by the state legislature earlier this year after funding cuts, is a pass that is required of all motorized vehicles visiting a park for more than 15 minutes.
The passes cost $10 for single day use and $30 for an annual pass.
Previous to this year, except for a three-year period between 2003 and 2006, entrance to state parks was free.
Melinda Owens, park ranger based in Washtucna, has seen some of the impacts.
“It has changed the job a little,” she said. “It seems if we’re not out there enforcing it, it’s not happening. So with Parks on the line, we spend our weekends out at Palouse Falls, collecting.”
Funds are coming in.
Over Memorial Day weekend 2010, just over 1,000 cars visited over the three days. This year, after more parking was added, the number increased to 1,700.
Since July, when the Discover Pass began, rangers have collected $4,920 in yearly passes at Palouse Falls, along with $9,843 for the daily option.
Palouse Area Parks Manager Mark Truitt says it’s hard to say what this means to the individual parks in Whitman County.
“This money is going to fund all parks, not just my park,” he said.
The 15-minutes exception is for a bathroom stop. There are designated parking spots for that.
Both Palouse Falls and Steptoe Butte parks are unmanned. There are no rangers living on site.
In the case of Steptoe, Rangers have deemed it too costly to monitor the Discover Passes at the park, since their office is in Washtucna. Visitors to Steptoe Butte are still required to have one.
“It takes a lot of ranger time to get compliance (with the Discover Pass),” said Truitt. “Some days it’s good, other days it’s not.”
The mission of the pass is to make up for State Parks’ elimination from the General Fund of the Washington State budget.
The 2011 Legislature created the Discover Pass to replace $65 million in reduced state general fund (tax revenue) support for the maintenance and operations of state recreation lands. Less than two months after the Governor signed the bill establishing the pass, it was made available to the public.
“The Discover Pass will determine whether or not State Parks remain,” Ranger Owens predicted. “Some may have to go.”
As far as the reaction from the people, Owens said it has been mostly accepting.
“Most people understand,” she said.
She is one of them, because each ranger has to have a Discover Pass to enter a park.
“Hopefully it will save the state parks,” she said.
Beginning in October, vehicle owners will have the option to buy the annual pass for $30 when renewing their vehicle license tabs.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Phil Anderson said sales figures for the months ahead will provide a good indication of public support for the Discover Pass and the future of state parks and other public lands.
“It’s hard to tell much from one month of data,” Anderson said. “The public is still learning about this program and sales outlets will increase substantially as state vehicle licensing offices start selling the Discover Pass.”
“Everybody’s trying to get the dollars to survive,” Truitt said. “It’s a change in my 30 years in the park system.”
In 2003, the legislature instituted a program under which State Parks charged $5 for day use or $50 for the year in an effort called the Natural Investment Pass. The state abolished the fees in 2006. At other times, Parks collected funds through donation boxes.
“Only time will tell, really,” said Truitt.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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