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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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State surveys boaters on marine parks, moorage

Puget Sound waters provide a haven for boaters below the slopes of Cascades volcanoes such as Mount Baker. (Rich Landers)
Puget Sound waters provide a haven for boaters below the slopes of Cascades volcanoes such as Mount Baker. (Rich Landers)

WATERSPORTS -- The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is asking boaters to help the agency better understand how boaters use state marine parks and provide their views on possible changes to fees and policies for next year.

Complete the online survey by June 15.

The 30-question confidential survey takes about 5 to 15 minutes.  

A summary of results will be posted on the same web page in July.

State Parks manages more than 40 marine parks, located primarily in Puget Sound. These parks are accessible only by boat and often feature floats or buoys for overnight moorage. 

Since 2009, the agency has lost almost 80 percent of its tax support, and moorage fees are well below market rates. Results from the survey will help guide State Parks in developing a sustainable funding structure as it takes a more market-based approach to managing all of its facilities.

  • See maps showing marine park locations. 
  • Current boating-related fees for state marine parks are posted here.


Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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