Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway Initiative
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Become a FRIEND of the YAKIMA RIVER CANYON SCENIC BYWAY on
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The Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway is a world-class drive for visitors and residents of Washington State. It embodies the Central Washington experience from its scenic shrub-steppe vistas to its diverse recreational opportunities, and rich geological, natural, and cultural heritage. The Byway enhances communities and places of interest along and nearby the corridor, increases tourism, and adds to the local culture and economic base. The Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway Partnership seeks to tell the Byway's story and broaden the traveler's experience through improvements that make the route safer and more accessible to all who wish to experience its natural beauty.
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Impressed by the beauty of the landscape, Governor Daniel J. Evans proposed that the 22 miles of State Route 821, lying nestled between the curves of the Yakima River and the steep canyon hillsides, should become the state's FIRST scenic byway
In 1967, the WA state legislature authorized the development of scenic and recreational highways throughout the state. Then main goal of the Scenic Byway Program was to ensure that travelers could safely enjoy aesthetic, historical and cultural values while also allowing public access to recreation opportunities like hunting, fishing, hiking and biking.
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Background
In 1967 the state legislature authorized a bill (Senate Bill 424) providing for the development of scenic and recreational highways throughout the state. Following the passage of the bill, the State Parks and Recreation Commission and the State Highway Department studied sites around the state for designation. The Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway (YRCSB) “was proposed as the state’s first scenic corridor due to its great potential for allowing the traveler to pass through beautiful country at a pace enabling him to enjoy and appreciate its beauty” (Daniel J. Evans, Governor).
The main goal of the scenic byway program was to ensure that the traveler could enjoy outstanding aesthetic, historical and cultural values while also allowing access to recreation opportunities like hunting, fishing, hiking and biking “in such a manner as to not interfere with the traveler on the highway.” Unfortunately, because the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan (CMP) was never fully implemented, other recreational pursuits are now seriously interfering with safe driving conditions on the YRCSB State Route 821.
The YRCSB is widely accessed by both community members and visitors. Locals use the drive between Ellensburg and Selah as a relaxing and beautiful way to commute north and south, they use it to experience the stark beauty of the shrub-steppe habitat, and they share wildlife viewing and other recreational pursuits with friends and family who are visiting the area. The Canyon is also popular with the cycling community even despite the narrow shoulders. With several fly-fishing companies taking advantage of the blue-ribbon trout fishery, multiple camping grounds, and several float-boat operators/rental companies, thousands of tourists and recreationalists use the YRCSB throughout the year.
In the four decades since the Corridor Management Plan was developed the Bureau of Land Management has purchased over 9,000 acres along the byway and developed four (Umtanum, Lmuma Creek, Big Pines and Roza) recreation sites. In addition, the WA Department of Fish and Wildlife has purchased much of the viewscape along the byway and now offers hunting and hiking access to over 100,000 acres of land in the Wenas and LT Murray Wildlife Areas. Despite these developments several vital components of the plan were never fully implemented. As a result this historic stretch of highway and its surrounding landscape remain an under-developed treasure. The main goal of the Scenic Byway Program, to merge road safety with recreation access, is not being met. Current recreational use is now seriously interfering with safe driving conditions.
Tourism and Economic Development
Recreation-based tourism is a huge part of Kittitas and Yakima Counties’ economies. The revitalization of the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway will draw in tourists and new residents to our area, which bring along with them support for our tax bases and economic growth opportunities. The Yakima River’s Blue Ribbon Trout Fishery and the abundant river floating access attract people from all over the country. The byway won’t just serve as a physical link between communities, but also a vital economic highway representing significant tourism dollars and connecting visitors to the businesses at both ends of the byway and every point in between.
Recreation and Natural Resources
Access to recreational opportunities is paramount to public use of the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway. The byway, located so centrally in the state, is well positioned to be a recreational hub that several communities can enjoy and benefit from. In addition to the economic incentives, the enhancement of recreation along the byway will provide visitors, community members and tourists alike, with more opportunities to enjoy and connect with the local landscape and wildlife. The Yakima River Canyon is rich in natural resources. Visitors to the byway have the opportunity to appreciate its abundant wildlife, spectacular wildflower blooms, endangered shrub-steppe habitat, the volcanic basalt cliffs left in the wake of Mt. Mazama, and the wondering curves of a river teaming with wild salmon.
Cultural and Historic Resources
The canyon is also an incredible cultural resource due to its long history of importance to human communities. Evidence of a civilization dating back to 3000 BCE was found within the canyon, and although not fully documented evidence to suggest multiple European settlements from the 1800’s is also present. Unfortunately, many traveling the recreating along the byway are unaware of the bounty of cultural history that surrounds them. The heritage of the area is too remarkable not to be shared. Increased and updated interpretative signing along the byway, in addition to the proposed Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway Interpretative Center, will provide the much needed educational opportunities.
Transportation
One of the primary goals of the original 1968 Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan was to create safe driving conditions along the byway. Identifying and improving safety issues is still a fundamental element of the YRCSB Committee’s vision. In addition, a multi-modal focus, which provides hikers and bikers with safer routes along the roadway, is now a larger priority than it was in the past.
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The regional effort to conserve and protect the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway got a tremendous boost recently with the awarding of $1.625 million grant to the Cascade Land Conservancy from the Federal Highway Administration’s Scenic Byway grant program for the purchase of critical habitat in the Byway. The Conservancy is a partner with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on the purchase of 700 acres in the Yakima Canyon
More than two dozen organizations have joined together to form the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway Initiative.
"Our efforts in the Yakima River Canyon are comprehensive. We are addressing economic development and tourism, education and outreach, traffic safety and recreation, while at the same time identifying conservation and restoration priorities," said Jill Arango, our Kittitas County conservation director, and the lead coordinator for the 26-member initiative group.
In addition to the Conservancy, partners include: Kittitas Environmental Education Network, WA Department of Transportation, Kittitas County, WA Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Kittitas County Field and Stream Club, Canyon River Ranch, Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce, the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau, the Kittitas County Conservation District, Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group, Central Washington University, City of Ellensburg, Yakima Greenway Foundation, the Eaton Family, City of Selah, Red's Fly Shop, Washington Water Trust, WA Department of Parks and Recreation, Cowiche Canyon Conservancy, Kittitas Audubon Society, Bicycle Alliance of Washington, Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office, Yakima Fly Fishers Association, and Tight Lines Angling.
The Conservancy is leading an effort to highlight and prioritize the importance of the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway for our region’s economy and environment. The Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway is a world-class drive for visitors and residents of Washington State and it embodies the Central Washington experience from its scenic shrub-steppe vistas and rich riparian lands to its diverse recreational opportunities and important natural and cultural heritage. The byway also supports and complements the only Blue Ribbon Trout stream in the state.
Since designation in 1968, public agencies have secured over 120,000 acres of land in the scenic corridor and established several camping and access points along the river. These public access areas experience a high volume of traffic throughout the year. However, even with these areas the Canyon continually experiences challenges with dispersed access along the roadside which is degrading the road and the riparian habitat.
In recent years a large tract of privately owned land in the heart of the byway changed ownership and, as a result, two additional river access points were closed and the potential for development of this property is now a reality. The Conservancy holds a long-term option to purchase the property and is now seeking private funding to complete the purchase.
Next steps include raising the private funds for the remainder of the $3.2m total needed for the purchase. On June 25th there will be an event to “Celebrate and Support” the Scenic Byway at the Canyon River Ranch. Former Gov. Dan Evans will speak to a crowd of over 200 who will enjoy local foods, fly fishing demonstrations and great live music.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) received requests for 287 projects totaling $99,439,645, however only $40,672,500 was available for grants for the FY 2010 cycle. In total, 94 projects in 39 States were selected. Only three projects in Washington State were awarded funding. According to the National Scenic Byways project selection team, projects were prioritized and selected based on the following criteria:
· Project eligibility;
· FHWA’s emphasis to identify projects of greatest strategic benefit;
· FHWA’s principles of livability;
· The priority and the critical need assigned by the State or Indian tribe;
· Other administrative criteria such as benefits to the byway traveler, readiness to implement and the ability to leverage private or other public funding within the context of the availability of funding.
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