The Washington State House of Representatives’ recent Capital Budget proposal unfairly targeted and cut 15 WWRP acquisition projects, including all but one in the Critical Habitat category.* Many of these were top-ranked projects that should have received funding under the allocation formula.
This “pick and choose” approach ignores the balanced funding criteria set out by law and breaks faith with grant applicants who rely on the program to select projects based on quality and importance.
Now is the time to speak out and let your Representatives know that the integrity of the program should be respected, and that these valuable acquisition projects should be restored in the final budget.
* The House cut 15 projects that would have received full or partial funding at $80 million (had they followed the statutory funding formula in their Capital Budget proposal).
projects cut:
Water Access
Barnum Point Water Access—Island (LD 10)
Urban Wildlife
Castle Rock Acquisition, Phase 2—Chelan (LD 12)
Middle Ohop Protection Phase 3—Pierce (LD 2)
Stavis NRCA & Kitsap Forest NAP 2016—(Kitsap (LD 35)
Critical Habitat
Cowiche Watershed 2016—Yakima (LD 14)
Mt Adams Klickitat Canyon Phase II—Klickitat (LD 14)
Simcoe 2016—Klickitat (LD 14)
South Fork Manastash—Kittitas (LD 13)
Mid Columbia – Grand Coulee 2016—Douglas (LD 12)
State Parks
Inholdings and Adjacent Properties 2016—Clark, Kittitas, Klickitat, Mason (LD 13, 14, 18, 35)
Riparian
Kennedy Creek NRCA Riparian 2016—Mason (LD 35)
Wenatchee Sleepy Hollow Floodplain Protection—Chelan (LD 12)
Natural Areas
Lacamas Prairie Natural Area—Clark (LD 18)
Washougal Oaks Natural Area—Clark (LD 18)
Local Parks
South Whidbey Campground Project-Phase 1—Island (LD 10)
Will you stand up for these important projects and the integrity of the WWRP? Please call your Representatives and ask them to work across the aisle to restore these acquisition projects in the final budget. Don’t know who your Representatives are? Simply visit Access Washington’s District Finder and enter your address to find your state legislators.
SAMPLE MESSAGE TO MEMBERS
Dear Representative [Last Name]:
I’m reaching out today to tell you that I support Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program acquisition projects in our district, and urge you to work across the aisle to restore these projects in the final Capital Budget.
These investments are vital for securing recreational access and conserving valuable wildlife habitat in Washington state, as well as improving the mental and physical well-being of our residents. Please support the integrity of the WWRP by funding the highest competitively ranked habitat conservation and outdoor recreation projects this biennium.
Thank you for the support.
SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT
Sample Tweets:
- Let your Reps know you support #WWRP! Public land acquisition is good for Washingtonians: http://bit.ly/ContactMembers #GetOutdoors
- I support #PublicLands & #WWRP! Join me in telling the House to restore cut projects in final budget: http://bit.ly/ContactMembers
- Hey (insert Representative’s twitter handle), please support #WWRP by restoring acquisition projects to the final budget!
Sample Facebook Post:
Join me in telling your Representatives that #PublicLands are needed now more than ever! Let them know that you support the acquisition of lands through the #WWRP, so that every kid has a park to play in. Contact your members now: http://bit.ly/ContactMembers
Social Images:
