Palouse to Cascades trail report to legislators seeks input from Adams County landowners

A meeting about the Adams and Whitman County portion of the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail was well attended in Ritzville on Jan. 8, with over 30 community members, landowners and government officials showing up to provide input for a facilitation report that will be delivered to the Washington State Legislature this session.

The Palouse to Cascades trail spans 212 miles and traces the route of the state's section of the Milwaukee Railroad, which once stretched over 2,300 miles from Tacoma to Chicago. The route utilizes former rail bed, which was acquired by the state 40 years ago. Since then, most of the trail west of the Columbia River has been developed by Washington State Parks, while the portions of the trail east of the river are still largely undeveloped.

The report is being headed up by the state Department of Commerce, which hired SCJ Alliance, a community planning and design firm with seven offices throughout the state, to conduct the study. The report will review and advise the legislature on policy regarding ownership, use and development conflicts along the trail's right-of-way in the two counties. The report comes as the legislature considers upcoming capital and operational appropriations for the Palouse to Cascades trail.

The report, as was stressed by officials throughout the meeting, sought feedback from local stakeholders in both Adams and Whitman County on how to best address issues such as vandalism, trespassing and noxious weeds that landowners adjacent to rail trails across the country have sometimes faced. The report seeks to find a path on how all interested parties can come together to make recommendations that will be acceptable to those involved.

Last Wednesday's meeting at the Washington Association of Wheat Growers building was the third and final meeting over a three-month period. Two advisory group workshops were held in November and December, in Rosalia and Lind. "Road show" presentations were also given in Tekoa, Rosalia, Malden, Lind and Colfax during that span.

"I really appreciate those of you who have been coming and participating," said SCJ Alliance's Bill Grimes at the beginning of the meeting. "It's made a huge difference in the contents of the report. I know we've gotten a lot of different viewpoints, and I think what we have reflects that."

The potential issues of vandalism and trespassing were on the minds of landowners who own property adjacent to the trail. Those in attendance were able to voice their concerns by leaving handwritten comments or concerns at various tables at the meeting, with each table focusing on a different aspect of what the report will be discussing. The comments will be included in the final report to the legislature.

Many participants over the three-month period have frequently mentioned the need for an improved emergency response along the trail, such as including post markers for improved EMS response, better cellular networking and streamlined gate access. Another recommendation urges the development of trail monitoring that is both immediate and sustainable, suggesting the formation of a volunteer group of trail rangers and oversight by both adjacent landowners and communities.

One of the most supported recommendations made by participants throughout public feedback process is for the state to be proactive in maintaining good-neighbor relationships with the more than 2,000 landowners adjacent to the trail. "However achieved, operators must deliver on promises and coordinate every aspect of growth and operations with locals. Such relationships are also more likely to evolve as partnerships, helping minimize conflict and optimize outcomes."

Developed by feedback received throughout the advisory group workshops and "road show" presentations, 25 core recommendations were presented at the meeting. The level of priority, cost and type of conflict for each of the recommendations were factored into the list.

Of the 25 recommendations, 14 are listed as being a high priority. Some of the high priority recommendations developing localized plans, prioritize and maintain fencing along the trail, shore up safety concerns, coordinate with landowners, and police and monitor the trails. None of the high priority recommendations are expected to have a high cost to implement.

One of the recommendations specific to Adams County was addressing the Othello Gap. There, a portion of the Palouse to Cascades trail is still active as a shortline railroad that is used for the movement of agriculture commodities. Addressing the gap is listed as a medium priority and is projected to have a high cost.

Stephen McFadden, Adams County Economic Development Director, attended the meeting and told The Journal that the county wants the rail to stay intact.

"There's a lot of national movement toward rail-trails, and I think there's a lot of positives there," said McFadden. "But you've got to make sure you've addressed the adjacent property owners' concerns, and that has to be done on the front end."

The report being submitted to the legislature is expected to be available for the public to read later this month.