DNR invites volunteers and the public to help celebrate the dedication of a new bridge for motorized recreation in Capitol State Forest this Saturday, April 30.
Festivities begin at 8:30 a.m. with a volunteer work party to help with gravel and restoration work along the trail and around the bridge. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place shortly after 1 p.m. and includes a raffle drawing of riding gear.
The celebration is perfect timing: Capitol State Forest’s season opening for motorized recreation is May 1.
The new bridge is funded in part by a Yamaha OHV Access Initiative GRANT™, awarded to DNR last year. The grant helps promote safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable riding areas.
The bridge provides access from the Straddleline ORV Park in Grays Harbor County to the forest. It replaces an unsafe, old bridge that crosses a fish-bearing stream on Trail #50 in the northern part of Capitol State Forest. The old log stringer bridge was falling into disrepair—and was actually a little short for the stream crossing, causing the abutments to wash out.
DNR staff and crews from the nearby Cedar Creek Corrections Center installed the bridge this past fall.
The new bridge—built with steel I-beam stringers and a pressure-treated wood deck and railing—should serve users for the next 30 years and will be easy to maintain. The Yamaha grant also enabled DNR to harden the approaches to the bridge, which will help protect the stream from sediment delivery.
Come celebrate on April 30
What: Capitol Forest Bridge Dedication and Volunteer Work Party
Where: Straddleline ORV Park
When: Saturday, April 30
Schedule of events:
8:30 a.m. — Arrive at Straddleline ORV Park (Directions)
9 a.m. — Work begins on Trail #50 and bridge
12:30 p.m. — Work party returns to the tent at Straddleline
12:45 p.m. — Speeches and recognitions. Raffle drawing for gear donated by Yamaha.
1 p.m. — Procession of quads and bikes leaves ORV park for bridge area
1:10 p.m. — Ribbon-cutting ceremony
1:30 p.m. — Open ride for volunteers
For more information: Nick Cronquist, Community Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator, Pacific Cascade Region, (360) 480-2700.
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EAR TO THE GROUND WITH DNR & COMMISSIONER FRANZ 