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121 8: Implementation Public access project priorities Yakima River Access Citizen Advisory Committee members ranked public access projects for existing sites, new sites, and suspension bridges for: § Safety opportunities – replacing high risk public access sites, providing emergency response launches at hazardous river stretches, and reducing or eliminating other safety issues including congestion on access roads § On-water opportunities – reducing gaps in river access, providing access to the PTC Trail, WDFW and DNR conservancy lands across the river, and connecting with the PTC Trail and other multipurpose trail linkages in Cle Elum and Ellensburg, § Shoreline opportunities – increasing multi-use public access site potentials with habitat conservation measures, wildlife trails and interpretations, picnicking and other day-use activities, toilets and other services. Considered in the above rankings were implementation issues including whether the sites were publicly owned, shovel ready for improvements, with few or no railroad crossing barriers, and potentially involving other partnering agencies and organizations using multiple possible funding sources. Committee members scored each safety, on-water, and shoreline opportunity on a scale where low was a score 1, medium 2, and high 3. The 9 committee member composite scores were then ranked where low was a composite member score of 0-1.49, medium 1.50-2.29, and high 2.30-3.00. Following are the resulting composite scores for existing and new sites in order of river sequence from river origins to lower river stretches and not necessarily due to priority score: Safety On-water Shoreline Existing site enhancements Easton Acclimation Pond bridge, trails L L M King Horn Slough-Hundley Road trails, picnic L L M Bullfrog Road South toilet L L M Hanson Ponds/Whispering Pines footbridge L M H Lambert Road Access trails M M M Teanaway River Bridge launch, parking, trails H L M Clark Flat Acclimation Ponds trails L L M Thorp/Green Bridge trails, picnic, toilet L M M City Wells launch and parking area H H M Gladmar Road Conservancy bridge, trails M M M Ellensburg KOA shoreline trails M L M Thorp Highway South Bridge trails L L M Upper Rinehart Takeout ramp, parking H H M Rinehart/Umptanum Bridge launch rebuild H M M Mile Post 20/19 roadside picnic, trail M L M Big Pines Campground suspension bridge M M M New site acquisitions Bullfrog Road Bridge M M M Old Church Camp H H H Swauk Creek Access M H H New site development Bullfrog Road Bridge North H M M Bullfrog Road Bridge South M M H Old Church Camp H H M Swauk Creek Access H H H Thrall Road/Wilson Creek H H H As shown, committee members ranked existing sites of highest priority that most benefitted safety and on-water opportunities including Ellensburg’s City Wells launch and parking area, Upper