The State Lands Development and Renovation category of the WWRP provides funding to repair, renovate, and develop outdoor recreation facilities on existing state recreation lands. These grants might include funding for new hiking, mountain biking, or horseback riding trails on state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) land, improvements to fishing and boating areas hosted by the state Department of Fish & Wildlife (DFW), or new camping areas in popular destinations like the Teanaway in Central Washington. As outdoor recreation becomes more popular in our state, these grants help address overcrowding, improve visitor experience, and allow more people to enjoy our great outdoors.
This month, our featured project is the Blue Lake (Wannacut) Access Development near Oroville in Northeast Washington. Recently funded by the Legislature’s capital construction budget, this project will renovate the boat launch area, install accessible pathways, and install an accessible fishing platform, as well as improve bathroom and parking facilities. Anglers, kayakers, and nature watchers will benefit from a better site to enjoy beautiful Blue Lake. Thanks to the WWRP, people of all abilities will have the opportunity to access our great outdoors. This project was supported by the Okanogan County Tourism Council, the Wenatchee Valley Fly Fishers, and the Methow Valley Fly Fishers. It is on the ancestral lands of the Nłeʔkepmx Tmíxʷ (Nlaka’pamux) and Syilx tmixʷ (Okanagan).