Some of the biggest changes in the Methow Wildlife Area recreation plan would occur in the Big Valley Unit.
Comment period on proposal runs through March 31
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking input on trails and access as part of a new recreation plan for the 35,000-acre Methow Wildlife Area. Comments are due March 31.
The plan would cover four main units of the wildlife area, which have existing trails for hikers, bikers and horses and also offer opportunities to wander freely to hunt, watch wildlife or look for flowers.
The proposed changes cover six trail networks — Big Valley, Bear Creek, Pearrygin Creek, Pipestone Canyon, Big Buck and Golden Doe — in four units of the wildlife area. There are no changes proposed in the Texas Creek Unit.
WDFW has published six maps that show where they are considering closing or rerouting existing trails or creating new trails.
Some 60 people attended an informal WDFW event in Winthrop last Wednesday (March 11), where they were able to view the maps and speak with agency staff about proposed changes.
The recreation review will consider the interaction of users with wildlife. That could mean adding or decommissioning trails or imposing seasonal closures to protect wildlife, WDFW Communication Specialist Nicole Jordan said.
WDFW inventoried all roads and trails in the Methow Wildlife Area three years ago. Most existing trails are informal, created through repeated use or inherited as old agricultural or access routes that existed before WDFW acquired the land, according to WDFW.
“The department assessed each route’s condition, impacts on natural, cultural, and/or tribal resources, and relative importance as part of a travel network that strikes an acceptable balance between conservation and recreation,” WDFW said. Based on this evaluation, WDFW determined which routes will remain open to public use — and to what type of use. Some routes may have seasonal restrictions or be reserved for administrative purposes, the agency said.
Specific areas
Some of the biggest changes are proposed in the Big Valley Unit near Mazama, where WDFW is looking to create a sustainable trail system that protects breeding habitat for sandhill cranes. A pair of cranes has nested in the area for half a dozen years.
Big Valley is a popular year-round destination — Methow Trails grooms a ski trail there, which is also open to snowshoers and does not require a trail pass. WDFW proposes a new loop trail in the agricultural field and closure of the existing trail that goes along the river.
In the Bear Creek area, WDFW proposes a new trail connecting Lester Road and Cougar Lake Road to avoid an area where beaver activity floods the existing trail. They are also considering a new trailhead and parking area on Upper Bear Creek Road.
In the Pearrygin Creek area (formerly known as Lloyd Ranch), a popular fat-biking area in the winter, WDFW is considering adding connections with existing trails near Pearrygin Lake.
Near Pipestone Canyon, WDFW is proposing the elimination of an extensive network of social trails, many of which cross steep terrain and affect sensitive wildlife in a variety of habitats. Reconfigured trails would be for hiking and mountain biking, with some appropriate for equestrians. They would restrict the rim trail to nonmechanized use. The changes would also strive to address impacts from wildfire and subsequent flooding and landslides.
In the Big Buck Unit west of Twisp, WDFW would create two zones, one with limited trail options to reduce habitat fragmentation and maintain “a more primitive recreation experience.”
In the Golden Doe area between Twisp and Carlton, WDFW would consolidate many trails into a main loop. They also propose a new parking area that would be safer and more accessible for vehicles and horse trailers.
Feedback on popular routes
In comments posted online in conjunction with the WDFW survey, there was support for efforts to improve trail access for various user groups, but also concerns about some of the proposed changes. In particular, there was concern about proposals in the Big Valley area, where people said they don’t want to lose the scenic section near the river (which they said is more protected from highway noise). Several said they oppose closing any winter trails there.
In the Pearrygin area, there was wide support for addressing weeds that make the trail nearly unusable during the summer — and not a draw for wildlife. “It is an overgrazed ecological disaster. Get rid of cattle and the barbed wire! It has potential for wildlife habitat,” one person said.
Some welcomed restrictions on where people can ride mountain bikes and designation of areas for equestrians, but others said they didn’t want to lose popular bike routes in the Bear Creek area. Several advocated separating horses and mountain bikes.
Some commenters suggested additional routes that would provide views or additional recreation opportunities in all seasons. Other suggestions include adding interpretive signage about birds and other wildlife.
A few commenters were hopeful that the recreation review could restore access to areas that have been closed the past several winters to protect mule deer habitat. People have told WDFW that they want to be able to access areas in the southern part of the valley where they can walk, snowshoe or ski without buying a Methow Trails pass.
WDFW has said that unpredictable activities and trail use can spook deer and force them to use up their limited energy reserves during the winter. Some members of the public have questioned the need for the closures and asked for data that shows the restrictions are working.
Planning specifically for recreation is a pilot project, with the Methow Wildlife Area the first to undertake this level of detail and to invite public input and review of recreational uses, Jordan said. Ultimately, WDFW hopes to replicate the process elsewhere in the state, where wildlife areas provide different benefits and have different needs, she said.
WDFW hopes to have a final Methow recreation plan this summer. The draft plan will be circulated for tribal review, followed by a public comment period as part of the State Environmental Policy Act, Jordan said.
Take the survey; see maps
To take the survey and view maps, go to https://wdfw.wa.gov, then the “Places to go” tab on the far right.
Scroll down to near the bottom, to “Visit your WDFW lands,” where there’s a box that says “WDFW is seeking input on recreation on the Methow Wildlife Area.” Click on the link that says “Take the survey.” Once you get to the survey, you can download maps and read comments.
People can also request a hard copy of the survey by emailing Nicole.Jordan@dfw.wa.gov. Comments are due March 31.
