It’s almost summer, and many of us are excited to get out on the water to paddle, boat, fish, swim, or just enjoy the beach. Many of the places where we access lakes and rivers are made possible by the Water Access category of the WWRP. These projects make waterways more accessible to the public by creating public shoreline access, boat and kayak launches, and fishing docks to create more opportunities for people to connect with the outdoors.
This month’s highlighted Water Access project is the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Access Development in King County. Funded by the recently passed capital construction budget, this project will create launch and take-out locations for a popular half-day kayaking and rafting run on the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River.
The Department of Natural Resources, along with project partners King County and the City of North Bend will develop launching locations at Granite Flats and Mine Creek, halfway up the Middle Fork Valley. New trails will be built there to expand opportunities for walking, swimming, fishing, and picnicking along the river. The department will develop a take-out spot at Tanner Landing in North Bend by building a parking lot and access to the river. The department will also build a park, the Dahlgren Family Park, to provide access to Tanner Landing from North Bend Way, as well as picnic facilities and natural play areas.
The project is part of a larger project to develop public access to the Snoqualmie River, and future phases will improve access to the lower and upper sections of the river. With a location easily accessed by both the local community and millions of nearby residents, these much-needed improvements will create wonderful opportunities for people to raft, kayak, walk along the river, fish, and picnic.