Too Dam Much Money

Too Damn Little for Trails

Here's the Good News- $62 million dollars of federal stimulus funds are heading to Washington's National Parks. Here's the Bad News-the majority of it-nearly $55 million worth is just for the dam removals on the Elwha River in Olympic National Park. That doesn't leave a whole heck of a lot for Rainier, North Cascades, and all of the National Historic Parks like, San Juan Islands, Fort Vancouver and Whitman.

Now, don't get me wrong. I support the dam removals-say so right in black and white in my Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula Book. But I also support getting our trails and access roads back in shape-and that just hasn't been happening lately. I want people to be able to get out on their trails and enjoy their parks and have lots of opportunities to do so. The Elwha River Dam removals are important but so is restoring our park's trails, roads and visitors facilities. Seven million dollars left over for them is just too damn little. The Dam's portion of stimulus money is just too damn much.