Strawberry Island Campsite Closing
Its tough economic times, and a 50% cut in the WA Department of Natural Resources Recreation budget, including recreation staff cuts, that has forced the agency to close some campsites, and reduce services to others. The agency analyzed all its recreation facilities, and made cuts where they made sense. Strawberry Island, adjacent to Cypress Island see map in the San Juan Islands, fell under a closure category for many reasons. It’s a more remote site, has fewer visitors, costs are higher to service and maintain on a remote Island, and its toilets were leaking! Recently after a pumping service, which costs over $750 per toilet (yes the agency pays over $250,000 dollars to pump poop annually!!) salt water was pumped and left in the vault. After 24hrs and another check the toilet vaults were bone dry indicating they were contributing to polluting the Puget Sound. The agency was forced to remove them with no funding to purchase or install new ones. Strawberry Island is not closed to visitation, and is still a fantastic island to visit, just that it’s been downgraded to a non-designated campsite.
Summer swim at Strawberry Island. (Photograph by Steve Weileman)
There is still hope. If the paddling community decides Strawberry Island campsite is a greatly need facility on the Cascade Marine Trail, then we need to pony up and directly fund its existence long term. That would mean creating a funding mechanism to pay for and install new toilets, and amenities, do the maintenance, and ensure funding will pay for pumping them. Or install compost toilets which still require some maintenance/service. Other recreation user groups are already doing this to save other DNR facilities such as horse camps, and 4×4 sites. Contact the WWTA our non motorized advocates, and let them know how you feel about this idea? Call them at (206).545.9161 Also get in touch with the DNR Recreation Program, they are always interested in hearing from the recreation community, and sign up for their informative recreation e-newsletter – their Budget issue here Or contact your legislator and voice your opinion and re establish DNR recreation funding directly, now that the NOVA non-motorized and off road vehicle grant money has been deferred away from the DNR to fund State Parks.
A fleet of boats on the very popular Strawberry Island. (Photograph by Steve Weileman)
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