NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS Day will be observed Saturday across the nation and here on the North Olympic Peninsula.
The observance provides an opportunity for the masses to visit a variety of publicly-held lands free of charge.
This is one of the bigger free days each year, allowing access to national parks and forests, federal Fish and Wildlife sites and Bureau of Land Management locations.
Washington State Parks also provide free entries Saturday.
To honor the spirit of the day, which was launched in 1994 by the National Environmental Education Foundation, volunteer work parties are planned in both Clallam and Jefferson counties.
West End work party
The biggest work party will clean up a variety of river access points on the West End near Forks.
State Department of Natural Resources staffers and partners will work on a number of sites including the Hoh Store access area and bar; Cottonwood parking area and bar; Morgan’s Crossing parking area bar; Dowans Creek; Wilson’s boat launch; the Sandrock Hole parking, trail and boat-launch areas; the Moriarty Hole parking and trail; Wisen Creek North walk-in and boat launch sites; Bear Creek Campground loop trail and the Sol Duc Hatchery boat launch.
Volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. at the Natural Resources Olympic Region Office, 411 Tillicum Lane in Forks.
Work will begin at 9 a.m. at the sites.
Workers will become eligible for a free state Discover Pass.
For more information, phone Eric Steffen at 360-640-3266, or Jessica Hanawalt at 360-640-5387.
Sadie Creek trail party
Another work party is planned along the Sadie Creek trail system, 8 miles west of Joyce.
Volunteers and Natural Resources staffers will be tackling trail tread, cutting overgrown shrubs and other duties.
Sadie Creek offers lowland and rugged mountain bike riding and ATV use along its 30-mile combination of trail and roadway.
Volunteers are asked to bring along their bike, ATV or ATV trailer to help haul materials or for transportation on the work day.
This work party also provides a voucher for a state Discover Pass.
Parking for the event is located at the first right off East Twin Rivers Road off state Highway 112.
For more information, phone Justin Zarzeczny at 360-460-2075 or email Justin.Zarzeczny@dnr.wa.gov.
Mount Townsend hike/party
Volunteers at Saturday’s Mount Townsend trail party/hike will receive a Northwest Forest Pass, honored at all National Forest Service-operated recreation sites in Washington and Oregon where a day use fee is required.
The work party will meet at the Mount Townsend Trail’s Upper Trailhead at 8:30 a.m.
For more information, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-TrailParty16.
Marine climate change
A number of speakers will discuss the varied impact of climate change on the marine environment at “Our Marine Resources Facing Climate Change” an event from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Port Angeles Red Lion Hotel, 221 N. Lincoln St.
The free event is presented by the Clallam Marine Resources Committee and Olympic Climate Action.
Speakers will discuss ocean acidification and its effects on shellfish, water availability on the North Olympic Peninsula and the impacts of decreasing water levels on salmon.
A panel discussion and question-and-answer session also are planned.
Refreshments will be served.
State Parks board meets
A pilot program that would allow private investors to develop recreation amenities in four state parks, including Fort Flagler, is on the agenda at the next Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission set today in Sequim.
The commission meeting will begin at 9 a.m. at Holiday Inn, 1441 E. Washington St., Sequim.
The commission, which has seven regular meetings a year at various locations around the state, is looking at private development of cabins or other facilities at the four parks.
Only one is on the North Olympic Peninsula: Fort Flagler Historical State Park on Marrowstone Island.
The goal, park officials say, is not to privatize parks but to provide visitor amenities at little to no cost to the state. The park system would earn revenue from concession agreements.
Any development would need to be aligned with the state parks mission and would be sited to avoid negative impacts to sensitive natural features and systems, they said.
As proposed, the property would stay under state ownership, with leases granted to private investors.
Parks now have concession agreements with commercial ventures — that’s nothing new.
The difference is that the new proposal would mean that Washington State Parks would reach out to private industry with a competitive process to gauge interest, according to Virginia Painter, State Parks spokeswoman.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
