WWTA is a leader, partner, and resource for water trail planning and development across the state of Washington. WWTA facilitates volunteer involvement in water trail stewardship and educates members and the public at large about relevant political issues and best practices for low impact recreation (Leave No Trace). WWTA represents the state's non-motorized boating population in the political and recreational planning realm. WWTA remains an authority on the needs of non-motorized boaters in terms of physical and informational access to Washington's waterways.




WWTA 2011 Auction Complete!
This year WWTA's Auction Homepage was hosted at Bidding for Good and ran from October 13th to November 3rd.

You can still link to the auction page at WWTA's Auction Homepage to donate toward the Challenge Grant generously made by Seattle Sea Kayak Club (SSKC)!

If you have any questions about the auction, please email development@wwta.org for assistance.

Thank you!

WWTA Annual Open House
It was wonderful to see everyone at the REI Flagship Store on November 10th! Thank you all for joining in the fun!

Notice:
South Sound-Arcadia Boat Launch Repairs Complete
If you have any questions, please contact John Konovsky, Environmental Program Manager at the Squaxin Island Tribe at 360-432-3804.



Site Steward Report Reminder!
WWTA's long-standing volunteer effort to maintain the Cascadia Marine Trail is calling on all Site Stewards to fill out and submit reports for this paddling season. Please submit a report for each separate site visited and, if you can, include photos of any problems you may have encountered at the site(s).

Mike Woolf, WWTA’s Site Steward Coordinator, will compile the information to determine sites that will require restoration and maintenance in the coming months.

Thank you, as always, for your efforts!

Sound, Education and Action (SEA) Kayakers 2011 Team
Melinda Buttles and Ben Bowen have been active over the past eight weeks representing WWTA as the 2011 SEA Kayaker Team. Ben and Melinda have been doing an outstanding job! Their first weekend in the field began July 8th with a circumnavigation of Vashon and Maury Islands, visiting all three CMT sites.

Week two, July 15, they headed through Deception Pass with overnight stays at Bowman Bay and Skagit Island. The third weekend July 22, was a kayak trip in the San Juan Islands, where they had the pleasure of making a guest appearance at YMCA Camp Orkila on Orcas Island. There Ben and Melinda hosted a full Leave No Trace workshop for two groups of teen participants in Orkila's Leadership Development Institute. On July 29, week four, the Team swapped out their double blades for singles and traveled the south Puget Sound by canoe, stopping at Hope Island, Joemma Beach State Park, and Anderson Island.

Week five found Ben and Melinda joining in on Paddle Kitsap. Over the two-day event more than 30 paddlers traveled from Port Gamble to Poulsbo, joined by Canoes from the Suquamish Tribe. In week six, Melinda and Ben visited Cypress Island and were greeted by groups of sailors, kayakers, and other boaters. That night they had a chance to meet their neighbors including a group of teens on a week-long sailing trip from Orcas Island's Camp Four Winds who were great sports in a game on the beach to test their Leave No Trace knowledge.

Week seven found the Team on Blake Island, and working in North Puget Sound (Stuart Island, Posey Island and San Juan Island) in week eight!




CASCADIA MARINE TRAIL
Posted June 2011 - Planet Forward on PBS
Posted April 2011 - Assignment Earth
Early in 2011 a local producer, Amy Mathis, put together a video telling the story of the Cascadia Marine Trail. It can be viewed both on PBS and Assignment Earth!

Planet Forward on PBS is where experts and engaged citizens weigh in on energy, climate and sustainability (Online AND on TV), featuring stories about innovation helping communities build for the future and adapt to a changing planet. Planet Forward is a project of the Center for Innovative Media at The George Washington University.

Assignment Earth Video News Segments About the World's Environment http://www.assignmentearth.org/
Find the story about the Cascadia Marine Trail under: Gallery - New Releases




GiveBIG Success!
The Seattle Foundation
The first-ever GiveBIG event was an amazing success, raising $3.5 million for 900 local nonprofit organizations! Thank you to all who participated in this historic day of giving. We are grateful to all who gave to Washington Water Trails Association. Currently we are awaiting the results on gifts made to WWTA via the campaign and will update you as soon as we receive information on the results. Thank you for being part of GiveBIG and supporting WWTA!



Leave No Trace (LNT) Training Course
WWTA's 10th Leave No Trace Trainer Course was held (June 25-26) at the newest Cascadia Marine Trail site, Wolfe Property State Park, Jefferson County. Participants included three Canadians from the BC Marine Trails Network Association and the two members of the 2011 Sound, Education and Action (SEA) Kayaker team, Melinda Buttles and Ben Bowen. Games, skits, and knot-tying instruction augmented discussion on teaching the seven Leave No Trace principles.

Small footprints in the sand on Sunday morning reflected the effectiveness of the group's LNT practiced skills. A raccoon had bypassed the campstove, pots, and dishes without stopping! Now there's a clean beach camp kitchen.




NEW VESSEL REGULATIONS
NOAA Issues Final Killer Whale Vessel Regulations
On April 8, 2011, NOAA announced final regulations to protect killer whales in Washington State from the effects of vessel activities. The new rules prohibit vessels from approaching any killer whale closer than 200 yards and forbid vessels from intercepting a whale or positioning the vessel in its path. This doubles the current approach distance of 100 yards. The rules go into effect early May and apply to all types of boats, including kayaks, sail, and motor boats in Washington's inland waters.



Cascadia Marine Trail
Wolfe Property State Park
Wolfe Property State Park offers a new campsite for human-powered watercraft users, the most recent addition to the Cascadia Marine Trail.

Twenty-one volunteers attended the April 9th work party, all working hard to clear brush from the future tent site. Other work included constructing and anchoring a bulletin board for signage, digging a drainage ditch by the tent site, and transplanting seedlings to line the beach access trail.

WWTA thanks go to Exped LLC for suppling an array of energizing snacks during the work day, and to Ellen and Mike Peterson for a fabulous chili feed, complete with salads and desserts! Special thanks to Rangers Seth & Ed for their leadership.

Check out the Exped blog about the work party here!



WWTA's Penrose Weekend
Penrose Point State Park (South Sound)
The group camp-over (April 5-17) included a work party that cleared a truckload of invasive ivy. Thanks to all who participated.

Alert
An important update on the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission's budget, and particularly on a legislative proposal that could save our Washington State Parks, is available here.


Update
Department of Natural Resources
The Senate and the House have recently introduced companion bills (SB 5622 and HB 1796) relating to recreation access on Washington State lands.

The state is facing a projected budget shortfall of $4.6 billion for the 2011-2013 biennial budget cycle. The Governor's budget proposal essentially zeroes out recreation funds in the State General Fund. In recent years, DNR has counted on a $1.2 million of General Funds each biennium for its Recreation Program. State Parks and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are also looking at enormous cuts. Typically, General Fund dollars represent 20 percent of DNR's total budget.

Legislators are interested in hearing more from the public. Sen. Kevin Ranker (San Juan Island) held a hearing on SB 5622, and Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (Sequim) is sponsoring HB 1796. Go online to the Washington State Legislature to search for information on both bills.

For any questions about the bills, contact Mark Mauren (360-902-1523).







Fall/Winter 2010 Easy Current News
Online Here

Spring 2010 Easy Current News
Online Here