Park and restoration planned for Mouth of Klickitat River
Photo of the Klickitat Mile One Site. Photo contributed from the U.S Forest Service.
By Haley Mast
The Forest Service is proposing a new site development in efforts of enhancing recreation opportunities at Klickitat Mile One (Klickitat County Park).
The work that includes a restroom, parking lot, and launch site for hand-carried boats could start as early as May 2020.
The proposal is addressing existing impacts to water quality, scenery, and vegetation in the lower Klickitat National Wild and Scenic River Corridor. The Klickitat Trout Unlimited (TU) Chapter has developed a long-term goal for site management and restoration aiding the Forest Service in the new site development.
The need for the proposal
Bank erosion where boats have been pulled down at the already existing Mile One site. Phto contributed from The Klickitat Trout Unlimited Chapter.
Klickitat Mile One has been a desirable area for river access among visitors. The Klickitat TU reports “the unmanaged recreational use at Klickitat Mile One has resulted in damage to and removal of: natural vegetation; visible surface and streambank erosion; and improper disposal of garbage and human waste.”
Parking near the existing site is scarce, which has left people making their own roads and parking spaces causing damage to the vegetation. The existing site also lacks a designated boat launch and river access trails. This has resulted in the creation of numerous user-created trails and gullies that are eroding and contributing sediment into the Klickitat River. There are no restrooms available for day use and overnight visitors causing sanitation issues. Some are defecating and urinating at the site and leaving behind sanitation and toilet product waste.
Location of site via Google Maps, contributed from the U.S Forest Service.
“Government and law enforcement officials, as well as local residents, have expressed concerns about sanitation and visitor safety at the site,” The Klickitat TU reports.
These conditions have raised concern for the Klickitat TU and have helped to shape their development plan for a site management strategy that will combat the main listed issues.
The Klickitat TU released a statement on their management plan proposal “there is a need to develop a site management plan that will protect and enhance natural, cultural, and scenic resources at the site while providing for safe access to and enjoyment of recreational opportunities.”
The Columbia Gorge Forest Service left a statement in their proposal about the Mile One site “There is a need to reduce visitor impacts such as, abandoned property, human waste, trash dumping, road pioneering, steampunk erosion, and improve visitor safety.”
What the site development would look like/project proposed
The site being developed would be approximately 2.13 acres of a 4.0-acre parcel. Development of the site would include a designated parking area, a restroom facility, picnic tables, a designated river access trail, and rehabilitation and revegetation of existing user-created trails.
The Forest Service has considered some management options that include a paved onsite parking area that would restrict vehicles from driving off-road by placing blocked foot/bike-only trail gates, restrooms, picnic tables, and trash service.
Hard overview of the soon-to-be developed site. Photo courtesy of the U.S Forest Service.
The Klickitat TU’s long term proposed site management plan was set with the goal of
Maintaining valued resources and characteristics of the river corridor, such as water quality, scenery, and natural vegetation.
Provides a positive public recreation experience to visitors.
The site management plan was developed on the principles of natural resource restoration and recreation site development objectives.
Klickitat TU has listed the main objects they wish to achieve for both of the principles; resource restoration and site development.
Restoration:
Reduce sediment deposition and erosion by removing and rehabilitating user-created trails and river access points along the river bank;
Restore and stabilize gullied slopes;
Reestablish natural streambank vegetation;
Restore natural upland vegetation and improve soil quality in areas impacted by off-road vehicular travel;
Site Development
Establish developed recreation facilities for day use only, and prohibit overnight camping;
Create a designated parking area designed to prevent vehicular access outside of that parking area;
Provide accessible visitor amenities, including a waterless vault restroom, information kiosk, picnic tables, and an accessible trail to the river;
Design the river access trail to provide an opportunity to launch small non-motorized boats that can be easily hand-carried;
Prohibit launching of larger boats (defined as those that can not be hand-carried to the water via the river access trail and/or require a trailer for transport) and motorized boats from National Forest System lands at the site;
Provide long-term site management, including sanitation, site maintenance, and law enforcement.
Development plans of the sight. Photo courtesy of the U.S Forest Service.
Where is the progress currently?
The Consistency Determination was signed on August 21, 2020. The Klickitat TU wrote “Our lower Klickitat River grant proposal was funded!” on October 15, 2020. There are still some steps needed between now and when site construction can begin. But starting from a proposal in 2017, the light at the end of the tunnel is nearing.
In early October, the Klickitat Chapter received a grant from the Embrace A Stream program to support this project and now has a chance to win additional funds to complete the work. From Nov. 2-8, the chapter has a chance to win its share of $20,000 in cash prizes to help fund the Mile One restoration.
The community can help in funding the Klickitat project by visiting www.embraceastream.org and donating between Nov 2-8 2020. During the Embrace a Stream week.
On Oct. 30th, 2020, Lynn Burditt, Forest Supervisor of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, signed the document finalizing the Klickitat Mile One proposal.
“The Forest Service has identified a need to develop a site management plan that will protect and enhance natural, cultural, and scenic resources at the site while providing for safe access to and enjoyment of recreational opportunities,” Burditt wrote.
The signed final proposal means the site can officially begin its developments. The Forest Service projects the implementation of the development to begin in May of 2021.
