Palouse to Cascades Trail Facilitation
From the densely forested Cascades to the scablands carved by the Ice Age floods, Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail gives hikers, cyclists and, in some places, equestrians a taste of Washington’s diversity. State ownership of this linear park runs from west of North Bend to the Columbia River near Vantage—and continues from the town of Lind to the Idaho border. Western portions of the trail are largely improved, but portions east of the Columbia River remain in primitive condition, with support for its completion far from unanimous. In 2019, the Department of Commerce hired SCJ to convene conversations and workshops with trail users, advocates, adjoining towns, neighbors, ranchers, and farmers to facilitate problem-solving and mediate long-standing conflicts. The process included forming and chartering an advisory group; conducting three sequential workshops to discuss issues, opportunities, and recommendations; preparing a comprehensive study of best practices; and producing a report documenting the process and promoting a set of 26 consensus recommendations.
Client Reference:
Ben Serr
Growth Management Supervisor
Eastern Region
Dates of Involvement: 2019 – 2020
Cost: $125,000
