Today's introduction by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Congressman David Reichert (R-WA) of a bill to protect more than 22,000 acres of wilderness adjacent to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area in Washington State, as well as designate parts of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie and Pratt rivers as "wild and scenic" was praised by Jon Owen, Deputy Campaigns Director of the Campaign for America's Wilderness.
"Senator Murray and Congressman Reichert are continuing the proud Washington State tradition of finding common ground and then protecting it," said Owen. "They are adding to the Evergreen state's rich bipartisan Wilderness heritage."
The Alpine Lakes Wilderness was designated by Congress in 1976, and is a popular recreation destination. The legislation introduced today will add significant rare low elevation old-growth forests less than hour away from downtown Seattle to the Alpine Lakes wilderness. Senator Murray led the successful effort with Congressman Rick Larsen to designate the Wild Sky Wilderness in Washington State in the last Congress. Rep. Reichert introduced the Alpine Lakes wilderness expansion and Pratt River wild and scenic bill last year. This year, Senator Murray joined the effort and expanded the scope of the legislation to include wild and scenic designation for the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River. "We hope this year, during the 45th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, we will see these special Washington State forests and rivers added to the Washington wilderness legacy," added Owen.
