Register to attend virtual meeting or to submit public comment
information released by Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
The Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) for the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest will meet virtually on two upcoming dates to discuss potential funding for projects that benefit watersheds and forest-related resources on national forest lands in Okanogan, Chelan, Kittitas, and Yakima Counties. Thirty-eight projects will be reviewed by the committee.
Chelan County and Kittitas County projects will be reviewed on June 1, and Okanogan and Yakima Counties projects on June 16. The meetings will be held virtually from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or until all committee work has been completed.
A total of $912,506 is available for natural resource projects in the four counties in which Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest lands reside–in Okanogan ($357,067), Chelan ($189,228), Kittitas ($181,810), and Yakima ($184,401) Counties. This amount represents two fiscal years (FY2019-2020) of Title II funding made available through reauthorized payments under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000.
The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has submitted 23 project proposals requesting Title II funding for noxious weed control, road repair and stabilization work, campground and wilderness toilet replacements, guard station roof repairs, trail and trailhead maintenance, campground maintenance, road brush removal, and litter and abandoned vehicle removal.
Other projects include proposals from Chelan County and Okanogan County Noxious Weed Boards and Washington State University for noxious weed control, from Northwest Youth Corps and Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance for trail reconstruction and maintenance, projects dealing with maintenance of winter use trails from Highlands Nordic Ski Club and Mountain Trails Grooming Association, three proposals from Okanogan County Public Works for road maintenance, sno-park plowing, and purchase of equipment, and a culvert replacement project from Cascade Fisheries.
Each RAC consists of 15 members who represent a wide variety of citizen interests and are residents of each of the four counties within the two national forests. The committee’s funding recommendations will be forwarded to the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Supervisor for final approval.
All committee meetings are open to the public; a block of time has been reserved for members of the public to comment on proposed projects. Please contact Resource Advisory Committee Coordinator Robin DeMario at 509-664-9292 or robin.demario@usda.gov by Thursday, May 27 to register for a public comment opportunity of 3 minutes or less or for information on attending the virtual meeting. Written comments will also be accepted.
For additional information on Resource Advisory Committees, go to the Secure Rural Schools website
