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Officials say La Push trail designs aim to minimize footprint amid old-growth and habitat constraints
Summary
Staff and Western Federal Lands reported progress on the La Push/Fortune corridor but said a DNR survey that classifies parts of parcel C as old growth requires further plan revisions; Western Federal Lands will fold tree-survey data into updated designs to show which trees, if any, would be affected before DNR can approve.
Committee members and staff updated the Trails Advisory Committee on an on-site meeting with Western Federal Lands, the Department of Natural Resources and WSDOT to work through difficult parcels on the Fortune/La Push corridor.
Will Hable and other staff said designers proposed a minimum-footprint rural trail cross-section — roughly a 10-foot paved tread with 1-foot shoulders and minimal outslope — to reduce impacts. DNR, however, classifies any stand containing old-growth characteristics as an old-growth parcel, and parcel C was flagged under that interpretation; a DNR survey of significant trees and diameters was received by Western Federal Lands the day before the meeting.
A Western Federal Lands representative said the next step is to fold the DNR survey into design work and return with plans that identify any potential tree impacts and possible workarounds. Committee members discussed options such as narrowing the tread in pinch points, physically shifting alignment where feasible, and avoiding trees unless unavoidable. The group emphasized minimizing clearing to stay consistent with federal and state habitat plans and U.S. Fish and Wildlife considerations.
The committee also discussed funding and land-acquisition work elsewhere in the corridor, including appraisal and timber-crew work related to a private 6+-mile parcel east of the bridge and efforts to secure RCO-grant-related extensions. Staff said they may require follow-up technical briefings and further DNR conversations before the committee can endorse a final alignment or recommend a plan amendment.
Members agreed Western Federal Lands should come back with revised plans that explicitly map trees flagged by DNR and show design options that would avoid or minimize removals; staff will coordinate follow-up briefings with DNR and the Department of Community Development to provide additional context when the designs are ready.
The committee characterized the meeting as a productive step toward minimizing environmental impacts while advancing trail design, but said more detailed mapping and mitigation analysis is required before final approvals.
