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January 30, 2018
Dear Friends and
Neighbors,
I know that many of us share a love of Saddle Rock,
officially acquired in 2011 by the City of Wenatchee. It is not only an iconic Wenatchee
landmark but also a popular outdoor recreation site for our area. I really
appreciated everyone who joined us for our community hike up Saddle Rock, which concluded my first annual 12th
District listening tour last fall.
During the listening tour, I met with representatives from
the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust, a local organization that brings together
businesses, organizations, and individuals to preserve and protect nature and
recreational opportunities in our region. The Chelan-Douglas Land Trust started
in 1985 with a small number of volunteers and has grown into an organization
with talented staff and over 2,500 local members. I applaud the organization
for its vision for future generations and its effectiveness in bringing diverse
stakeholders together to create positive outcomes.
Board members from of the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust
joined my staff and me last fall at the Confluence Technology Center in Wenatchee. We
discussed many things, including funding for the Saddle Rock project.
Board members shared with me last fall that the organization
is fully prepared to improve trails to Saddle Rock, including the creation of
an emergency access path. They have even raised the necessary funds to make the
trail enhancements, but the City of Wenatchee cannot conduct or authorize any
ground-disturbing activity as long as there are certain levels of hazardous
substances in the soil. These substances are the results from rock waste and
arsenic concentrations associated with past mining activity in the area. Wenatchee
obtained Saddle Rock from the state, which was a big win for the City of
Wenatchee, but now I’d like the state to fund any cleanup work so that the city
and its partners can make further enhancements to Saddle Rock.
Since learning about this whole issue during my listening
tour, I have been working to help secure necessary cleanup funds. Through the state’s
environmental cleanup law, grant money from a voter-approved tax on hazardous
substances may be available to assist with this sort of project. If the
Legislature considers any adjustments to the recently-approved 2017-19 Capital
Budget, a prime opportunity may present itself to secure such funding for work
at the Saddle Rock site (officially known as the Gold Knobs Prospects Project).
My office hosted Curt Soper, the organization’s Executive
Director, for part of his visit to Olympia last Thursday. I asked my colleague,
Senator David Frockt (46th District, Seattle), who is now Senate leader on the
capital budget, if he would meet with Curt and me to discuss the project. He
graciously agreed, and we had a very productive discussion about outdoor
recreation, Saddle Rock, and cleanup funding. Curt was a great advocate, and we
are hoping for a positive outcome should any budget adjustments be possible.
Curt Soper, Executive Director of the Chelan-Douglas Land
Trust, and I met recently with Senator David Frockt, who is the Senate’s
capital budget leader. I am showing him photos of the new Saddle Rock Gateway
Trailhead as the three of us discuss project funding.
Last Saturday, just a couple days after our meeting in
Olympia, my family and I participated in a guided snowshoe hike at Saddle Rock Park, hosted
by the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust. It was a fun and educational day for many
families, and the weather cooperated with both weekend snow and sunshine.
Saddle Rock is a beautiful asset – in spring, summer, fall, and winter! I’m
thankful for the amazing recreational opportunities it provides and am grateful
to the state, City of Wenatchee, Chelan-Douglas Land Trust, and many others who
have supported recent improvements, like the Gateway Trailhead. We need to
continue to enhance Saddle Rock for current and future generations. I’m hopeful
we can take another big step forward this year.
Hillary Clark, Membership and Education Coordinator for
the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust (center), guided a snowshoe tour for families up Saddle
Rock last Saturday along with Executive Director Curt Soper (left).
For more about my work in Olympia and at home:
Thank you for the opportunity to serve this amazing
district!
Sincerely,
Brad Hawkins
State Senator
Brad Hawkins
12th Legislative District
E-mail:
brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov
Website: senatorbradhawkins.org
107 Newhouse Building
- P.O. Box 40412 | Olympia, WA 98504-0412
(360) 786-7622 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000
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