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August 1993 |
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Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) purchases five railroad rights of way from Burlington Northern for interim Trail use under the federal railbanking statute (16 U.S.C. 1247(d)) for over $3 million. |
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| January 1994 |
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Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission accepts title of the corridor with the understanding that the United States Forest Service will develop and manage the corridor as a public Trail. RTC donates $50,000 to State Parks to offset interim management costs. |
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| April 1994 |
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Adjacent landowners file litigation in Federal District court against State Parks and Rails to Trails Conservancy (Dave v. Rails to Trails Conservancy) |
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| September 1994 |
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Federal District court dismisses adjacent landowner's case, stating that the National Trails Systems Act provided defendants with right to the corridor. The court also directed plaintiffs that compensation claims should be directed to the Federal Court of Appeals. Plaintiffs never filed a claim to the Federal Court of Appeals. |
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July 1994 --
April 1996 |
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The U.S. Forest Service holds public scoping meetings to determine public interest in Trail development. |
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| August 1995 |
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The Washington State Attorney General sends a letter to Klickitat County Sheriff clarifying the public's legal right to use the Trail and warns against attempts at issuing trespassing citations, erecting illegal barricades or harassment of Trail users.
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| February 1996 |
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The Rail corridor along Klickitat River experiences flood damage from local snow melt and storm. |
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| March 1996 |
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The U.S. 9th Court of Appeals affirms the September 1994 Federal District court dismissal of the adjacent landowner's claims. |
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| April 1996 |
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The U.S. Forest Service publishes results of draft alternative responses and revised alternatives accounting for recent flood damage.
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| March 1997 |
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Klickitat County Commissioners Resolution #05197 accepts the Lyle Community Action Plan, which includes development of the Trail along the Klickitat River.
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| May 1997 |
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The U.S. Forest Service issues an environmental assessment and various management options to the public. They receive over 144 comments with 84 % supporting public use of the Trail (10% opposed, 6% no position). In addition, they received petitions from 72 residents of Goldendale and 117 residents of Klickitat supporting the Trail. |
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| June 1997 |
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Cleve Pinnix, the Director of Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, writes a letter to Forest Service commending their thorough and substantial efforts in preparing the EA and management alternatives, and further recommending National Recreational Trail designation.
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| June 1997 |
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Klickitat Community Council passes a resolution supporting the Trail. |
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| June 1997 |
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Survey in community of Klickitat shows 85% of residents are supportive of the Trail. |
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| June 1998 |
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Lyle Community Action Council passes resolution supporting the Klickitat Trail. |
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| June 1998 |
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Door-to-door survey in the community of Lyle shows 93% of residents supportive of the Trail. |
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| June 1998 |
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The regional forester of the U.S. Forest Service decides to shelve the Klickitat Trail management plan, following political pressure from the Klickitat County Commissioners. |
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| September 1999 |
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There is a site visit with the U.S. Forest Service, Washington Department of Transportation, Klickitat County and Lyle Community Action Council members to discuss opening the first two miles of the Trail. |
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| April 2000 |
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Six-year statute of limitations runs out for adjacent landowners to claim compensation in the Court of Appeals. |
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| July 2001 |
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Washington State Parks sends letter to Klickitat County’s prosecuting attorney stating that recreation use of the Trail was permitted by State Parks and interference by adjacent property owners was unlawful. |
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| January 2002 |
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Washington Attorney General’s office sends letter to Klickitat County’s prosecuting attorney reaffirming that State Parks owns the Trail and permits public use. |
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| June 2002 |
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College student Sean Stroup is cited for “criminal trespass” by the Klickitat County Prosecuting Attorney, Tim O'Neil. |
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| July 2002 |
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The Washington Attorney General’s office sends another letter to Klickitat County’s prosecuting attorney, admonishing him that “it is the duty of law enforcement officials to uphold the law, not to assist others in violating the law.” |
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| July - August 2002 |
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Judge Robert Weisfield of West District Court dismisses the case against Sean Stroup. He issues an oral statement that recreational use of the Trail is legal. |
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August - Nov.
2002 |
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Organized hikes are led by local volunteers. The six hikes draw over 100 people with no incidents of hikers breaking any laws. There are several instances of harassment of the hikers by adjacent property owners. Illegal barricades across the Trail are removed by Washington State Parks. |
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| October 2002 |
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A private meeting is scheduled by Senator Honeyford with State Parks, Klickitat County officials and Trail opponents. State Parks issues a request for temporary Trail closure until Feb 1, 2003. |
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| November 2002 |
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State Parks holds a public meeting in Lyle, WA regarding the Klickitat Trail. Over two hundred people attend, and fifty-one give public testimony (forty supportive of the Trail and eleven opposed). Of the supporters speaking, over two-thirds are local residents. |
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| December 2002 |
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State Parks Commission holds a public meeting in Olympia, WA regarding the Klickitat Trail. Twenty-four of the twenty-seven speakers encouraged State Parks to retain ownership of the Trail and work with the U.S. Forest Service and local interests to open the Trail to the public. Half of those testifying in support of the Trail were residents of Lyle and Klickitat. |
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| January 2003 |
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Local supporters of the Trail organize and found the Klickitat Trail Conservancy (KTC) as a nonprofit corporation in the State of Washington. The Effective Date of Incorporation is January 29, 2003. |
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| January 2003 |
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Washington State Parks Commission again holds hearings to decide whether they will continue to remain the property holder of the Klickitat Trail. Eight members of KTC attend and support on going ownership. The Parks Commissioners unanimously resolve to retain the Trail property and to work with USFS and Klickitat Trail Conservancy to move the Trail project forward. The Trail is reopened for public use. |
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Feb. - March
2003 |
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USFS vigorously reinitiates the management study process. They hold public meetings in Lyle and Klickitat. The Klickitat Trail Conservancy regenerates its Trail hike program sponsoring hikes and/or bike rides on the Trail at least twice each month for the entire Spring and Summer. KTC also starts its working partnership with State Parks which results in numerous work parties to clean up trash, pull weeds, put up signs, locate and pay for three portable toilets, and monitor the Trail. Klickitat Citizens Council unanimously passes a resolution supporting USFS development of the entire Trail. |
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May - June
2003 |
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USFS hosts 3 all-day Mitigation Workshops open to the public in order to work out potential problems among the various stake holders. KTC presents State Parks with payments of $2500 in order to help off set expenses for the Trail. KTC hosts Rails-to-Trails President Keith Laughlin and US Congressman Brian Baird for a Trail ride. |
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August 2003 |
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KTC hike and picnic celebrates the one year anniversary of the first public hike of the Trail, August 3, 2002. USFS releases the draft Environmental Assessment for management of the Trail with the preferred alternative of intensively managing and developing the Trail from Lyle to Klickitat. |
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December 2003 |
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Forest Service finalizes Klickitat Trail decision. Full text of 12/19/03 press release. |
