No motorcycles from November to April.

A permanent restroom on Mount Erie.

An off-leash dog area north of Heart Lake.

Those are some of the proposals in the draft Forest Lands management plan city staff hopes residents will take the time to discuss at an advisory board meeting April 3.

The Forest Advisory Board and subsequent committees took into account public comments and results from a telephone survey conducted last fall to draft the plan as it pertains to public uses, conservation and maintenance.

The Anacortes Community Forest Lands encompass 2,800 acres within the city limits and includes Mount Erie, Whistle, Cranberry and Heart lakes and 50 miles of multiple use trails.

The plan proposes motorcycles be prohibited Nov. 1 to March 31. The reason for the restriction is the damage the vehicles tend to do to the trails during the winter months, said Operations and Forest Lands Manager Jonn Lunsford.

“We approached it mainly from a maintenance and management priority,” Lunsford said. “We fully expect a healthy debate and encourage that. We don’t expect this to be the last word.”

In addition to the seasonal restriction, some trails will be closed permanently to motorcycles due to their steepness and difficulty to maintain in general. Trails in such areas as south Cranberry have seen motorcycle damage in recent years such as widening and rutting.

Another possible controversial issue is a suggested off-leash dog area north of Heart Lake. The multi-user area is contained, easy to get to and isolated from the other parts of the Forest Lands, said Lunsford. But he added the location is not as important as discussion of the off-leash issue itself.

Policy changes regarding Mount Erie include requirements of instructional climbing groups to provide proof of insurance, liability and use agreements.

Group sizes will also be limited to diminish environmental impact to the mountain, but individual climbers and the casual recreational user won’t see a change in the rules, Lunsford said.

The draft plan reinforces long-term restrictions, including the taking of vegetation, removal of wildlife, hunting, camping, smoking and alcohol consumption. Changes to the restrictions includes allowing electric-powered boats as opposed to absolutely no motorized vessels on the lakes.

The draft plan instructs the city to add wheelchair accessible trails and viewpoints, build a permanent restroom on Mount Erie, create more neighborhood trail heads rather than trail connections to individual homes that break up the natural habitat and continue making the Forest Lands available to Anacortes schools and local universities for environmental education and research.

The plan also contains information on the city’s Conservation Easement Plan that works in conjunction with the Skagit Land Trust and Friends of the ACFL, and it recognizes the volunteer effort of removing invasive, non-native plants and the city’s reliance on that volunteer work, Lunsford said.

The city’s goal with the management plan is to conserve and enhance the Forest Lands’ unique environment and habitats while maintaining recreational opportunities for local residents.

The Forest Board will likely deliberate and make a recommendation to the City Council by the end of the summer.

Once complete, a condensed version of the plan will be printed on the reverse side of ACFL trail maps.

The draft plan is available on the city's Web site at http://www.cityofanacortes.org.


Comment at meeting April 3

The Anacortes Forest Board takes public comment on the draft Anacortes Community Forest Lands management plan at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 3 at Fidalgo Center.

Comments may also be submitted through April 30 by calling the Anacortes Parks and Recreation Department at 293-1918, by e-mailing Director Gary Robinson at or by mailing them to Anacortes Parks and Recreation, Box 547, Anacortes WA, 98221.

A second public meeting on the Forest Lands draft plan is May 1.

Public comment on the initial draft of the Anacortes Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan will be taken at a Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 8 in the City Council Chambers.