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Volunteers from WA increase support as recreation spots grapple with workforce and funding reductions

Can the work of volunteers adequately resolve these issues? Crew leaders overseeing volunteers in Washington express doubts, asserting it's more complex than it appears.

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4 min read
Unpaid labor may not suffice to tackle these issues, assert experts who oversee volunteers in...
Unpaid labor may not suffice to tackle these issues, assert experts who oversee volunteers in Washington.

Volunteers from WA increase support as recreation spots grapple with workforce and funding reductions

Washington State Volunteers Bolster Public Land Management Amid Budget Cuts and Staffing Shortages

Amidst dwindling budgets and reduced staffing levels, Washington State is witnessing a surge in volunteer efforts to support public land management. Local residents are pitching in to maintain recreational areas as land management agencies grapple with limited resources.

Two high school students, Max Nelson and Monte Dams, recently spent a workday tending to the trail to Teneriffe Falls as part of their community service commitment. Their selection to volunteer on this particular trail was spurred by the recent decisions by the White House to slash staffing levels and halt budgets at the United States Forest Service and National Park Service.

"This seems like a more impactful opportunity, something that genuinely needs our help," stated Monte Dams, who took a break from his cutting and digging tasks.

The rising interest in volunteering ahead of National Trails Day on June 7 echoes this sentiment, as outdoor recreation organizations in Washington report an increase in offers to help care for public lands. This trend comes in response to the sudden financial blows to such lands.

The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust anticipates 550 volunteers this year—an eightfold increase compared to last year—to fan out across the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area, stretching more than 90 miles from Seattle to Ellensburg.

While volunteers offer valuable assistance, the leaders who supervise their efforts emphasize that amateur labor can't replace the capabilities of well-funded public land agencies.

"There's no substitute for the resources and capacity offered by the federal government that we all contribute to," commented Betsy Robblee, the conservation and advocacy director for The Mountaineers, a nonprofit organization promoting outdoor conservation and education activities. "We simply cannot bridge the gap, nor should we be expected to."

Three decades ago, the U.S. Forest Service faced similar budget constraints that led to fewer trail maintenance resources. This created an opportunity for Washington's burgeoning volunteering culture to rise and fill the gap. Since then, local organizations like the Washington Trails Association have partnered with the Forest Service to manage and maintain trails across the state.

This ongoing partnership has not only multiplied over the years but has also powered trail maintenance projects and built new infrastructure. Each year, the nonprofit Washington Trails Association logs over 150,000 hours of trail work by 3,400 volunteers—contributions valued at approximately $4.7 million according to the organization's 2024 annual report.

"Our volunteers join for a multitude of reasons: they want to contribute, learn, or find camaraderie," said Kindra Ramos, the Washington Trails Association's chief program officer. "What I often hear is the satisfaction in what you can accomplish in a day, and the power in what you can achieve when you come together."

Despite the positive impact of volunteers, budget cuts are causing challenges at both state and federal levels. The recently passed two-year state budget in Olympia will allocate $7.5 million annually to cover maintenance backlogs at the state's three land management agencies—DNR, Washington State Parks, and Department of Fish and Wildlife—down from $10 million per agency previously. Additionally, the Discover Pass fee will increase by 50%, from $30 to $45 starting October 1.

At the federal level, budget freezes and staffing reductions continue to hamper trail maintenance efforts. While federal judges have ruled against such freezes, Senator Patty Murray claims that the administration is still withholding at least $430 billion in funds. Approximately 500 Forest Service staff members in Oregon and Washington have taken deferred resignation offers, calculated to represent 25% of Forest Service staff nationwide.

As the summer approaches, these financial and staffing challenges are adversely affecting Evergreen State trail projects. The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust plans to rebuild the Denny Creek Trail west of Snoqualmie Pass in August, but the project's success depends on whether the Forest Service will cover its share of the cost.

With reduced staffing, volunteers are taking on basic tasks once handled by the Forest Service, such as cleaning graffiti tags from bathroom facilities. Although volunteers are managing to apply temporary fixes due to fiscal constraints, they are not intended to replace professional agency functions.

For now, volunteer efforts are essential in preserving public land quality and access in Washington state, given the ongoing fiscal and staffing shortages at both state and federal levels.

  1. Despite budget cuts and staffing shortages, Washington State residents are volunteering to maintain public recreational areas, led by high school students like Max Nelson and Monte Dams.
  2. The surge in volunteering is in response to financial blows and staffing reductions at United States Forest Service and National Park Service due to decisions by the White House.
  3. Monte Dams, a volunteer, expressed the significance of the work, stating it feels more impactful than other opportunities.
  4. Outdoor recreation organizations in Washington have reported an increase in offers to help care for public lands ahead of National Trails Day on June 7.
  5. The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust expects 550 volunteers this year, eight times more than last year, to work across the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area.
  6. While volunteers offer assistance, leaders stress that they cannot replicate the capabilities of well-funded public land agencies.
  7. Betsy Robblee, the conservation and advocacy director for The Mountaineers, noted that while volunteers contribute, they cannot bridge the gap created by budget cuts.
  8. In the past, budget constraints led to fewer trail maintenance resources, which allowed Washington's volunteering culture to rise and fill the gap.
  9. Local organizations like the Washington Trails Association have partnered with the Forest Service to manage and maintain trails across the state for years.
  10. The Washington Trails Association logs over 150,000 hours of trail work each year by 3,400 volunteers, valued at approximately $4.7 million according to the organization's 2024 annual report.
  11. The recently passed two-year state budget in Olympia will allocate $7.5 million annually to cover maintenance backlogs at state land management agencies, down from $10 million per agency previously.
  12. At the federal level, budget freezes and staffing reductions continue to hamper trail maintenance efforts, with approximately 500 Forest Service staff members in Oregon and Washington taking deferred resignation offers.
  13. Evergreen State trail projects are being adversely affected by these financial and staffing challenges, with the Denny Creek Trail rebuild depending on whether the Forest Service will cover its share of the cost.

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