We’re shining up our 19 Columbia River-side recreation areas for another season of safe, family-friendly fun. We’ve got the “ingredients” – the mighty river, boat launches, picnic areas, trails, camping, wildlife viewing, and more. All you need to do for a beautiful, low-to-no-cost adventure is just add people! Brought to you by Grant PUD hydropower.
For a full set of recreation-area rules, visit 509river.org/park-rules. Here are some highlights. We’ll add a new category, weekly:
‘Family friendly’ means cleanliness
Grant PUD’s seasonal recreation-area staffers work hard to keep the restrooms clean and the grounds safe and well-tended. You can help them by:
- Leaving your camping or picnicking spot even cleaner than it was when you arrived.
- Take your trash with you or deposit it in one of the many provided garbage cans.
- Dispose of RV waste only in recreation areas where sewage hookups are available.
- Clean up after your pets.
- If you’ve cooked that day’s catch, deposit the fish guts and any uneaten parts back into the water body from which they were caught, not in the trash cans, please.
‘Family friendly’ means keeping it safe
Safety is our Number 1 priority in all Grant PUD recreation areas. That, too, requires collaboration.
- Please don’t bring glass containers. When these break it’s almost impossible to retrieve all the bits and shards from the soft ground. This poses a risk to tiny feet or paws.
- Drugs and alcohol are prohibited, as are all fireworks and explosives. Organized fireworks shows are allowed by permit only.
- Central Washington becomes highly prone to wildfire during the summer and early fall. Please honor posted restrictions to fire-pit use. Be fanatically careful with flame, cigarettes, hot oil – anything that could readily set the dry landscape afire.
- Be aware of others. Report unsafe situations to Grant PUD’s recreation-area security. Our security officials are friendly and willing to help.
‘Family friendly’ relies on respect
Grant PUD recreation areas are beautiful places that attract all types of visitors, from peace-and-quiet seekers, to nature lovers, to those who want to relax and have fun. Respect for others is what makes it work.
- Respect the space of others and the wildlife that inhabits the area.
- Keep music turned low or off and respect quiet time at night.
- Dogs – even friendly, harmless ones, must be leashed.
- Clothing or beachwear must be worn in public.
- If you bring any wheeled fun vehicles, like bicycles or scooters – whether electrified or non – obey the maximum 15 mph speed limit. Always yield to pedestrians, children and pets (both sometimes escape!) and wildlife.
- Use of drones or remote-control model planes or other unmanned aerial objects are prohibited for everyone’s privacy and to preserve peace and quiet.
A little consideration of others makes the visit better for everyone!
