CGWA- Crow Butte Site Info

Current News

None.

Work Parties

None scheduled.

Parking Pass Info

None. Parking and sailing are free at this site.

Site Information

Site Coordinator: Dave Espinosa-Aguilar
Location: Benton County Washington
Property Managing Agency: Crow Butte Park Association
Property Owner: US Army Corps of Engineers
Web Site: www.crowbutte.com

General Info

Crow Butte is located on WA State Hwy 14 about 20-25 miles east of Roosevelt in Benton County Washington. This is a good intermediate sailing area, and the inside channel is very nice for beginners. One can sail from the park in the bay, very mellow and no current. Good swimming too. Or you can go out on the point and sail the main channel with much the same wind as 3 Mile. The advanced sailors can sail out to the main river for some nice wave sailing. Somewhat of a hike or swim, and would be great if you had a boat. That far east the sailing gets more iffy. This is a very family friendly park with clean restrooms and paved camp sites. This would be a good place to camp if you're thinking of sailing the far eastern sites and are looking for some comforts. Also a good choice if boating is an option, especially if you'd like to be on your own. Very secluded with some nice biking and hiking trails too. Watch for rattle snakes. Best before mid July. Call and reserve the group camp nearest the main river.

Beach Work and Site History

2003- Parks Grand 'Re-Openning'
2002- Washington State Park considered closing Crow Butte due to budget cuts. Corps of Engineers worked on proposal for the park.

Crow Butte Park: Grand Re-Opening

August 20, 2003- The Crow Butte Park Association (CBPA) is happy to announce the re-opening of Crow Butte Park. As of Wednesday morning August 13th the park re-opened to the public. The park was formerly run by Washington State Parks, but as of Fall 2002 Crow Butte has been closed to the public. There is a Grand Opening Ceremony scheduled for Saturday August 23rd.

Please come out and join us for a taste of local wines and fresh produce. The Grand Opening will be a fund raising event for CBPA all donations will be appreciated. The event schedule is as follows; Ribbon cutting at 11 AM, food and wine tasting 11 AM 4 PM, silent auction and raffle on the hour 12 PM 3 PM, and a good time for all throughout the day.

CBPA is the result of a 'Community Pulling Together¹ to save this park for the people of the Northwest. CBPA is a non-profit organization consisting of a group of people representing a number of local businesses. Businesses represented are Mercer Ranch, Watts Brothers, Chapoux Vineyards, Paterson Onion, Pioneer Hay, Alder Ridge Vineyards, and Sandpiper. CBPA¹s goal is to offer exceptional recreational opportunities and facilities for the public, inclusive of peoples of all ages, income, and interests. CBPA is committed to giving back to the communities that support it.

The park rates for the rest of the year are as follows: There are 50 RV sites that run $20.00/night with a $5.00 charge for an extra vehicle at the site, the Day use fees for the park are $1.00/person with a $5.00 maximum charge per car, and the Boat Launch fee is $5.00. To make reservations call (509) 875-2644.

We hope to have a great turn out Saturday, with a lot of press, and are accepting donations for the auction and raffle at this time. Any one interested in donating or if you have question about the Grand Opening please contact Hal White (509) 894-4773, or check online at http://home.earthlink.net/~malecha55/index.html

Corps seeks Crow Butte Park proposals

March 24, 2003
From: US Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District
Contact: Mike McAleer, 503-808-4510 / Web site

Portland, Oregon - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, today, released a Notice of Availability for Crow Butte Park, located on Lake Umatilla in Benton County near Paterson, Washington. Lake Umatilla is that portion of the Columbia River impounded by the John Day Dam.

The Corps is requesting proposals on a competitive basis to lease the existing park and recreation facility to the best-qualified individual or business entity. The Corps will accept proposals until April 30, 2003. It is anticipated that the successful applicant would begin operating Crowe Butte Park by July 1.

The Notice of Availability and Application for Leasing are posted on the Corps' Internet site at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/re/solicitations. A copy of the notice can be obtained by faxing a written request to: (503) 808-4675, ATTN: Phillip White, Realty Specialist. Please include name, address, and telephone number of the applicant and, if applicable, the name, address, and telephone number of a representative authorized to act on behalf of the applicant during the course of the project. Applications will be evaluated by: (1) provision of recreation opportunities and management services; (2) experience and background; and (3) financial capability.

Crow Butte Park consists of about 480 acres of developed land and water area and about 300 acres of undeveloped land, including all government-developed park and recreation amenities, support buildings, landscaping, hardscaping, and major capital assets.

As a matter of procedure the Corps has offered the land to the Department of the Interior under the right of first refusal as stated in Public Law 100-581. The law requires all federal agencies to first offer lands available for sale or lease to the Department of Interior for treaty fishing access purposes.

Corps pursues options for Crow Butte Park

March 12, 2003
From: US Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District
Contact: Mike McAleer, 503-808-4510 / Web site

Portland, Oregon - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reviewing management options for Crow Butte Park, located on Lake Umatilla in Benton County near Patterson, Wash. for the 2003 recreation season. The Corps plans to request proposals from any qualified person or organization interested in operating the park for public recreation purposes under a new lease agreement. The Corps will begin soliciting proposals on March 21, 2003.

"Based on discussions to date and the fact that the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribes have supported efforts to protect public access at Crow Butte while developing the Treaty Fishing Access Site adjacent to the park, it does not appear likely that BIA and Tribes would want to change course at this time," said George Miller, project manager.

In 1988, Congress authorized development of several Columbia River Treaty Fishing Access Sites along the Columbia River, including one on Crow Butte Island. The law specifically mapped the location of the site to include developed facilities within Crow Butte State Park. These facilities were to be improved and transferred to the BIA for treaty fishing purposes.

Miller said, "The Corps, BIA, and tribal governments recognized the potential impact on recreational use of the park and developed an alternative." The Corps, with support from the BIA and tribes, recommended that Congress change the law to include an undeveloped area upstream of the Crow Butte park boat ramp as a tribal fishing access site, and leave Crowe Butte State Park unaffected. Congress authorized the change in 1995.

As the Corps proceeded under the law change to prepare the design for the Crow Butte Treaty Fishing Access Site, Washington State Parks terminated their lease of the park due to budget shortfalls and will return the park to the Corps on April 3, 2003.

Recognizing its responsibility under Public Law 100-581, the right of first refusal, and the upcoming construction of the Crow Butte Treaty Fishing Access Site, the Corps discussed the potential offer of the park as a treaty fishing access site with BIA and Tribal Governments. Generally, the parties were not interested in taking the park as an access site, in part due to the potential impact on public recreational use of the park.