 The Cascades Wild Campaign is a long-term Puget Sound Headwaters Initiative advocating for new Wilderness additions to the Mt. Baker, Noisy Diobsud, Glacier Peak, Boulder River, Henry M Jackson and Alpine Lakes Wilderness Areas and new Wild and Scenic River designations for important rivers, streams and their tributaries. This effort is a crucial push to protect vital wild lands and waters on the west slope of the North Cascades from the I-90 corridor to the Canadian border.
The wild forests and rivers
of the Cascades Wild campaign represent the source of Puget Sound. These rivers provide most of the freshwater input into the Puget Sound estuaries, which serve as critical habitat for a wide range of
species, especially all five species of Western Pacific salmon. The low-elevation forest and riparian areas also provide the high-quality habitat needed for a range of species to survive, recover, and combat changing climates- species including: cougar, lynx, black-tailed deer, elk, eagles, river otter black bears, and endangered grizzly bears, only 20 of which
currently exist in the North Cascades. In addition, these ecosystems hold a high cultural value to over 10 local tribes.
The low-elevation watersheds contained within the Cascades Wild proposal provide drinking water to over 900,000 people in Snohomish and Whatcom counties.Whatcom County has some of Washington's most valuable agricultural lands and brings in over $260 million of revenue a year. These watersheds support Whatcom County's berry industry, which supplies over 75% of the
raspberries and nearly 17 million pounds of blueberries each year in the US. The loss of these watersheds would be a significant economic burden on Washington's economy.
By permanently protecting these areas, we can ensure the preservation of fish and wildlife species, tribal culture and economy, and the availability of wild places for millions of
residents who use these lands for year round recreation and clean water. Cascades Wild will benefit nearly one million residents in King, Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties with world-class recreation, ecotourism opportunities, clean drinking water, and sustainable fishing and farming
business.
Stay tuned for more information as the Cascades Wild campaign moves forward!
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