Discover Pass goes into effect July 1

MOSES LAKE - Open your wallet, it will cost more to visit state parks and other recreational lands in Washington State after July 1. As reported last week, the Discover Pass will be required to access certain recreational areas in the state.

Deep budget cuts have forced the state legislature to either provide a revenue source or close state parks around the state. The solution, according to the legislature, is to offer the Discover Pass.

A family can pay $30 a year to purchase the pass and visit state parks, Fish and Wildlife properties and lands controlled by the State Department of Natural Resources as many times as they want.  The alternative is to pay a daily $10 fee.

A press release from the State Parks and Recreation Commission, Department of Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife states, "Beginning July 1, the pass is required for vehicle access to recreation lands and water-access sites managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the state Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. State recreation lands include state parks, boat launches, heritage sites, wildlife and natural areas, campgrounds, trails and trailheads."

So it seems the legislature was faced with two choices: Close the lands or create a way to keep the lands open, such as generate more money through the pass. Thus the Discover Pass was born.

Is it fair to call this an extra tax? Of course, at least I think so. But it is a tax paid by people who use the specific lands.

Will the Discover Pass keep people from using state parks for day use? Of course, at least I think so. My mother might visit Potholes State Park once a year, usually when my wife, Garnet, and I are camping at the park. There is no reason for her to buy a Discover Pass to visit the park once a year.

My sister, Denise, who lives in Richland and has three grandchildren, would be a prime candidate for the pass. This may be an appropriate Christmas present for her, along with the encouragement to visit all the properties covered by the pass and visit them often.

There are a few other angles to the pass. A vehicle displaying Fish and Wildlife vehicle recreational use permit, issued to people buying a fishing or hunting license, will have access to Fish and Wildlife lands and water access points without buying the Discover Pass. However the permit does not cover natural resource or state park lands.

Exemptions to the purchase of a Discover Pass

State parks: A camping reservation stub or camping receipt will function as the permit for the camper's stay at a state park.

Sno-Parks: A Discover Pass is not needed by those who are Sno-Park seasonal permit holders. This permit does not apply to non-winter recreational activities.

Off-Road Vehicles: If your ORV is required to display an ORV tab, you do not need a Discover Pass for that vehicle. However, you will need a Discover Pass for the street-legal vehicle that transports your ORV to a state recreation site. The trailer does not require a pass.

Disabled veterans and other state parks pass holders: Washington State Parks offers pass programs that reduce or waive camping, moorage and watercraft launch fees for limited-income senior citizens, disabled veterans, foster parents and people with disabilities who qualify for and receive a pass. These pass holders are not required to display the Discover Pass while visiting  state parks, but are required to display the Discover Pass while on Fish and Wildlife or Natural Resource lands, unless the vehicle permit is displayed.

State Parks boat launch sites: You will not need a Discover Pass to launch your boat from a State Parks boat launch if you have the annual Natural Investment Permit. You will need the Discover Pass for boat launches managed by Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife in a state park using a daily launch permit.

Volunteer hours

Volunteers who work 24 hours or more on agency-approved projects are eligible for a complimentary Discover Pass.

Purchasing the Discover Pass

The Discover Pass may be purchased on line at: www.discoverpass.wa.gov. Also at sporting goods and other retail stores selling recreational fishing and hunting licenses. The passes can be purchased by calling 866-320-9933.

Price tag

The annual Discover Pass is $30, with a one-day pass costing $10. The total cost includes the $30 pass fee, a 10 percent transaction fee and $2 dealer fee for a total of $35. A one-day Discover Pass costs a total of $11.50, which include the $10 base price, a 10 percent transaction fee and a 50-cent dealer fee.

The Discover Pass must be visible in the front windshield of street-legal motor vehicles on state recreation lands.

There is a $99 penalty for failing to display the pass as required.

Where does the money go?

Revenue from pass sales will be divided among the three state agencies managing state recreation lands in proportion to General Fund reductions: This being 84 percent to State Parks; 8 percent to Fish and Wildlife; and 8 percent to Natural Resources.

Beginning on July 1

On the July Fourth holiday weekend, which is the first few days of Discover Pass implementation, public education and compliance with the new pass requirement will be emphasized, according to Fish and Wildlife officials.

Most disturbing information saved for last

I've saved what is considered by this writer to be the most disturbing requirement of the Discover Pass until the last. The pass is not to be transferred from one vehicle to another, but the legislation specifically states the pass applies to only one vehicle.

Fish and Wildlife vehicle permits are arranged to cover two vehicles. I may take Garnet's Jeep to Martha Lake on a fishing trip one day and my Dodge Ram to the lake the next day. I would be legal by simply switching the vehicle permit from one vehicle to the other.

If I purchase a Discover Pass and use it to have lunch at Potholes State Park one day in the Jeep, I would need a second pass to drive the Ram to the park the next day.

State parks may lose money in this deal or at least attendance will drop. Imagine family members in five vehicles from around the state and nation planning a family reunion at Potholes State Park. They may pay $50, at $10 per vehicle, to get together or they may go somewhere else. Or they may take one vehicle in and pay $10, then shuttle the rest into the park in the same vehicle, making five trips.

This will be an interesting experiment, which is what the Discover Pass is at this point.