korengalois Posted May 10 Posted May 10 Curious if anyone has read Kyle McCrohan (Climber Kyle)'s blogpost on abundant access to wilderness or has any thoughts. It's been interesting reading the feedback he's been getting. https://climberkyle.com/2025/05/04/the-case-for-abundant-recreation/ Quote
JasonG Posted May 11 Posted May 11 Even though WA is listed as having an office of outdoor recreation (maybe this is RCO?), I don't think it is functional in the way of Utah or Wyoming. With the dysfunction in DC, I think the states need to lead in funding improvements to access and stewardship on federal lands. The movement is in relative infancy, but seems to be working well in other states, and WA just needs to make it happen. https://recreation.utah.gov/ https://wyooutdoorrecreation.wyo.gov/index.php/about Agree that we have too many people vying for rec access from too few points. There is a lot of land out there to spread out on. There will be wildlife impacts, however, with people spreading out more. I do know that several local Tribes are against improving access for this reason. How-to-Create-an-Office-of-Outdoor-Recreation.pdf Quote
JasonG Posted May 11 Posted May 11 Oh yeah, no state income tax might be an issue! Still, I think if you added a small percentage onto sales tax for outdoor rec related purchases it would pencil. I think that is how CO has funded it. Quote
Fairweather Posted May 25 Posted May 25 Great topic. I wrote a master's thesis on wilderness access and your work reminds me of that long-ago project. You mostly avoid the effect wilderness/green orgs have had in limiting access vis-a-vis litigation and road closures. Back in the day NCCC and ALPS--and even the WTA were advocating for very limited/restricted access to virtually all wild areas and a strict interpretation of WA1964. Ditto the Pilchuck Audubon Society--and even some pretty radical NPS Superintendents like Bill Briggle. Other than theorizing that wilderness provided a sort of escape valve for capitalism, I didn't map out the economics as you have. I like what you've done! Quote
Fairweather Posted May 25 Posted May 25 On 5/11/2025 at 3:24 PM, JasonG said: Oh yeah, no state income tax might be an issue! Still, I think if you added a small percentage onto sales tax for outdoor rec related purchases it would pencil. I think that is how CO has funded it. Washington State's biennial budget twelve years ago was $18.5Bn. Today's is $76Bn. A state income tax won't solve wilderness access problems. And an additional sales tax would get funneled straight to politically-connected orgs just like Inslee's "Climate Commitment" carbon auction fraud. Quote
KaskadskyjKozak Posted Tuesday at 06:59 PM Posted Tuesday at 06:59 PM WA taxes are high enough. It's all about what the politicians in Olympia prioritize - and it's NOT wilderness recreation and access! 1 Quote
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