News Release 12-015
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
1111 Israel Road S.W., P.O. Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504-2650, (360) 902-8500
Don Hoch, Director
Media contact:
Lisa Lantz, (360) 725-9777 Lisa.Lantz@parks.wa.gov
Andrew Fielding, (509) 665-4312 Andrew.Fielding@parks.wa.gov
Wash. Telecommunications Relay Service: (800) 833-6388
State Parks holds public information meeting on necessary tree work at Lake Easton State Park
OLYMPIA –
Feb. 14, 2012 –
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission announces a public meeting Feb. 22, to discuss forest-health issues at Lake Easton State Park and to seek public comment on proposed treatments to deal with tree diseases in specific areas of the park.
The meeting will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, at the South Cle Elum Depot, 801 Milwaukee Ave., South Cle Elum. The park is located just west of the town of Easton on the south side of I-90 at 150 Lake Easton State Park Road, Easton.
Forest health issues have been identified in and around the area near the park’s western campground, day-use area, and boat launch.
Park staff have noticed a gradual but growing pattern of trees dying around these areas of the park. In consultation with Department of Natural Resources pathologists, staff identified tree pathogens -- particularly a disease known as laminated root rot -- in portions of these sites and in the adjacent forest. This pathogen can cause trees to fall with little or no warning, potentially posing significant risk to visitors, staff and facilities.
State Parks has identified the need to remove trees on approximately 17.5 acres within and adjacent to these developed park landscapes and is seeking public comment on the proposed treatments.
Anyone who is unable to attend the meeting may provide comments and receive additional information by contacting the park directly by phone, (509) 656-2586 or by email, Lake.Easton@parks.wa.gov.
Lake Easton State Park is a forested, 516-acre year-round camping park with 24,000 feet of freshwater access on the shores of Lake Easton in the Cascade Mountain foothills. The park has mountain views and hiking trails to explore in the summer and cross country and snowmobiling trails for winter recreation activities.
The Commission manages a diverse system of more than 100 state parks and recreation programs, including long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation. The 98-year-old park system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.
Support state parks by purchasing your Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
Washington State Parks is on Twitter at WaStatePks_NEWS and YouTube at WashingtonStateParks.
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