Washington Wilderness Coalition

New Conservation Voices

Business Owner, Local Resident Reflects on the
Wild Sky

by Dave Meier
December 2005

As a longtime resident of the Sykomish River Valley, I am very familiar with much of the area that will be covered under the Wild Sky Wilderness proposal and it is my sincere hope that this area will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Having lived in the Skykomish Valley for nearly forty years, including graduating from Sultan High School, I literally grew up in the shadow of the Wild Sky. The beauty of the area has shaped much of who I am today and is the reason I have chosen to continue to live in the Sky Valley.

I may also have a bit of a unique perspective regarding my support for the wilderness proposal in that I spent nearly twenty years employed in the timber industry, specifically saw mills.

Obama Administration OKs Old Growth Timber Sale in Roadless Area

Alaska (07/20/09) — Just two months after Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued a "time out" on logging projectes in roadless areas nation wide, he greenlighted a timber sale in old growth forest in Alaska's Tongass National Forest. The disappointing decision to road and clear cut a now pristine roadless area highlights the urgency for President Obama to follow through with his campaign promise to permanently protect the public’s last remaining wild forests. Washington Wilderness has been instrumental in gaining the local support of elected officials and key stakeholders in support of the roadless "time out" and continues to work with supporters to encourage the Obama administration to uphold the 2001 Roadless Rule. Click Here to view recent local media including Guest Opinion articles.

Interior Secretary Supportive of Mining Reform

Washington DC, (07/14/09) — The Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act (S. 796), seeking to reform the outdated Hardrock Mining Law of 1872, received a Senate hearing today. During the hearing, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar mentioned that the administration will make reforming the 137 year-law a top priority "to ensure a fair return to the public for mining activities that occur on public lands and to address the cleanup of abandoned mines." The outdated law has left a significant impact on the environment and on public funding. Hardrock mining has contaminated an estimated 40% of Western watersheds and left nearly half a million abandoned mine sites. There are an estimated 3,800 abandoned mines in Washington State's federal lands with an estimated clean up cost of $50 billion. Washington Wilderness has lead a statewide coalition of conservation, recreation, hunting, fishing, tribal and religious groups working to support meaningful mining reform. To find more information Please Click Here.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Interim Directive Protecting Roadless Areas

Washington DC, (05/28/09) — The Obama administration today took a key first step in protecting Roadless forests by calling for a one-year moratorium on road-building and development on the millions of acres of remote national forests. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack directed that for one year, no road construction or removal of timber can take place without the Secretary’s approval in National Forests protected by the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. WWC has led efforts to gain the key support in Washington State that has urged the Obama administration to uphold the previous Roadless Rule. Over the last six months, over 200 local elected officials and more than 160 local stakeholders just in Washington State alone have signed on to a national Roadless Resolution calling on the Obama Administration to uphold the Roadless Rule. To review the Resolution, local elected and stakeholder support, and more on the Roadless Rule Click Here.

Senator Murray, Congressman Reichert Discuss New Alpine Lakes Wilderness Bill

North Bend, WA, (04/10/09) —
U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Congressman Dave Reichert (WA-08), joined by members of the Alpine Lakes Working Group and local elected officials, came together today at the Three Forks Natural Area in North Bend to discuss their recently introduced bi-partisan, bi-cameral, Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act.