Lake Sammamish - Launch and Park Fees

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by steve frye on October 14, 2011 at 9:02am

What a bunch of crap!!! Just another way to tax us to death! They need to send a simplified tax form instead: How much money did you make? Send all of it in along with a quart of your blood and your right arm!

Permalink Reply by Jordan Doucet on October 14, 2011 at 1:43pm

John, if that's the case, I'm all over that. Here's some more information:

 

Holders of the annual Natural Investment Permit (State Parks watercraft launch permit) do not need to have the Discover Pass to access a state park, but they do need the Discover Pass to access Department of Fish and Wildlife and Department of Natural Resources lands. More information is available on the Discover Pass website.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission charges a daily or annual fee for a Natural Investment permit. The permit is required for the following activities in state parks systemwide:

• Watercraft launching
• Trailer dumping

Annual permits are available for purchase at State Parks headquarters in Olympia, regional offices, online and in person at the parks when staff is available. Daily permits are only available at the parks. Annual permits are valid for one year from the month of purchase.

How do I get the annual permit – A Natural Investment?

• You can Purchase Online
• You may print out an application and mail it in with your payment
• You may purchase a permit in person

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on October 14, 2011 at 8:47pm

If you buy 2 permits the second one is $60. You could save 5 bucks by buying an extra for a buddy and it would be $65 each.

Permalink Reply by Gary Lucas on October 18, 2011 at 7:24pm

Just to let us all know this is whats up with the pass

Exemptions to the Discover Pass
Updated: Week of Aug. 1, 2011
Your purchase of the Discover Pass supports recreation on state lands. However, you do not need to purchase the pass under certain circumstances. Download the "Do I need a Discover Pass?" chart (92KB PDF) or read the following information about exemptions to the Discover Pass:



Camping in a Washington state park: Your camping reservation stub or camping fee receipt will serve as your permit for the duration of your stay in the park where you have paid for a campsite, vacation house, environmental learning center, yurt or cabin. If you visit other state parks in the area, you will need an annual or one-day Discover Pass. You will need a pass if you are camping on lands managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) or Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).


Hunting and fishing on WDFW-managed lands. The Discover Pass is not required for holders of certain hunting and fishing licenses on WDFW recreation lands and water-access sites. For those individuals, a "WDFW vehicle access pass" will be required for vehicle access to WDFW lands and boat launches. WDFW will honor WDFW vehicle use permits that were purchased prior to July 1, 2011, on WDFW lands through March 31, 2012.

Those license holders will need a Discover Pass to access DNR-managed lands that are developed or designated as recreation areas, sites, trailheads and parking areas. Signs will be posted in these areas. License holders will not need a Discover Pass to access small blocks of undesignated DNR-managed lands.

For vehicle access to lands managed by State Parks, all hunters or fishers will need to purchase the Discover Pass. As a reminder, hunting is not allowed on State Parks lands.

Note: The vehicle access pass is valid for the license's year (April 1 through March 31) and is issued free of charge with an individual's initial purchase of a big-game or small-game hunting license, western Washington pheasant permit, trapping license, Watchable Wildlife decal, or saltwater, freshwater or combination recreational fishing license.


Sno-Park seasonal permit holders: You do not need a Discover Pass to use a designated Sno-Park between Nov. 1 and March 31 for winter recreation activities. The Sno-Park permit exception does not apply to non-winter recreation activities.


Off-Road Vehicle (ORVs): If your ORV is required to display an ORV tab, you do not need a Discover Pass for that vehicle. Generally, ORVs are non-street-legal vehicles. 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. Street-licensed vehicles, such as dual-sport motorcycles or four-wheel-drive vehicles, will be required to display a pass.


Disabled veterans and other State Parks pass holders: The Washington State Legislature has created pass programs or certain visitors to Washington state parks. These existing passes reduce or waive camping fees for qualified limited-income senior citizens, disabled veterans, foster parents and people with disabilities. 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 WDFW or DNR lands.

Pass holders visiting state parks need to display their free- or reduced-price pass on the dashboard or fill out a self-registration envelope and include the pass number on the envelope.

Disability placards and license plates: The Department of Licensing issues these disability permits and license plates, and holders of these are exempt from needing the Discover Pass on State Parks lands, pursuant to RCW 79A.05.065. Holders of these permits and plates do need to have the Discover Pass to access WDFW or DNR lands. For information about DOL-issued disability permits, visit www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/parking.html


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 DNR and WDFW and in a state park using a daily launch permit.


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


Those with certain written agreements with agencies. Individuals with leases, easements, and other contracts may not need a Discover Pass if their contract with the agency specifically exempts them from the pass. The agencies are analyzing their existing contracts to determine which ones provide exemptions from the Discover Pass requirement.


Please note: Even though the pass is not required in these cases, your purchase helps to maintain, manage and operate state recreation lands. As funding for recreation shifts from tax support to user fees, the responsibility to cover the costs of these exemptions will shift from the general public to visitors. You also may continue to donate to Washington State Parks when you register a vehicle through the Department of Licensing.