Washington has 419,255 acres of BLM lands and 9,273,265 acres of National Forests. The last wilderness areas designated in Washington were in 1988: Mount Rainier, Olympic, and Stephen Mather.
Bills
Wild Sky
- Bill title:
- Wild Sky Wilderness Act
- Bill number:
- S. 2483/H.R. 886
- Sponsors:
- Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), and Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA)
- Summary:
-
This legislation would protect 106,577 acres of national forest roadless lands in Washington. A little more than an hour from downtown Seattle or Everett, the Wild Sky is a rugged landscape with thousand foot cliffs, high alpine peaks, breathtaking waterfalls, lush old-growth forests and crystal clear rivers, and more than 25 miles of salmon and steelhead spawning streams. The Wild Sky Wilderness proposal is unique because it would also protect mature second growth forests that were railroad logged in the 1920s and 1930s. These areas naturally regenerated to become diverse forests of Douglas fir, cedar, hemlock, maple and cottonwood. Protecting these lands will help ensure the future of wildlife populations throughout the region including mountain goats, spotted owls and bears.
- More info:
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Washington Wilderness Coalition
Lake Valhalla viewed from
Mt. McCausland; © Harry Romberg
Alpine Lakes Additions
- Bill title:
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Wild Pratt River Act
- Bill number:
- H.R. 4113
- Sponsors:
- Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA)
- Summary:
-
This legislation would expand the existing 362,000-acre Alpine Lakes Wilderness by 22,100 acres to include important lower-elevation lands and complete watersheds. It will also designate the Pratt river as Wild and Scenic under the Wild and scenic River Act. The mature second growth and old-growth forests protected by the bill are just an hour east of downtwon Seattle. This campaign, compromised of nearly a dozen conservation and recreation groups, has worked with the bill's sponsor, congressman Dave Reichert, to follow the same local stakeholder consultation process that went in to crafting the Wild Sky Wilderness Act. As a result, the bill enjoys broad support from local stakeholders, such as local mayors, mountain bikers and elected officials. The bill was introduced November 8th, 2007 and has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- More info:
- Sierra Club
- Washington Wilderness Coalition
Pratt River viewed from Bessemer;
© Rick McGuire
Campaigns
Colville National Forest
- Summary:
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A partnership between timber interests and conservationists to seek solutions that will ultimately protect some 350,000 acres of magnificent old-growth forest, including ponderosa pine, western larch, white pine and red cedar. The area hosts some of the most diverse wildlife habitat in the Pacific Northwest and is home to wolverines, grizzly bears, lynxes, and martens. Another 400,000 acres will be protected from the old industrial logging of the past and slated for responsible forest management.
- More info:
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Conservation Northwest
