Washington Land Grabs in the News

Titled, Some New Wilderness for WA, Too?, an article at Public News Service informs us that, "Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash) have introduced a bill to expand the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area in the North Cascade Mountains by 22,000 acres."

The article quotes Reichert as saying, "It’s the idea of bipartisanship and working together to make this an area that all of us can enjoy. It (d)oesn’t matter what party you belong to, protecting our wilderness is important to all of us." (Emphasis added -- Tom)

True to the parameters of Orwellian Newspeak, it is obvious that "all of us" does not include ALL of us. But, I digress.

Apparently, this new bill would widen the boundaries of the existing Alpine Lakes Wilderness, expanding the area that (not) ALL of us can enjoy into lower elevations along the Snoqualmie and Pratt Rivers.

The article also quotes a John Chelminiak, identified as the North Cascades Initiative Director for the Wilderness Society, saying, "It will be a spectacular place to take your children and experience wilderness without having to go to the top of a peak, almost virtually in the backyards of the communities of the North Cascades."

How much longer before these land grabs actually take our backyards?

The bill, known as H.R. 1769, "To expand the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the State of Washington, to designate the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River and Pratt River as wild and scenic rivers, and for other purposes," is currently in the House Committee on Natural Resources. Although the bill is listed on Thomas, the text is not yet available from the Government Printing Office. The companion bill in the Senate is S. 721 for which, at this point, almost no information exists in online sources. You might check Thomas or set up an alert on GovTrack if you're interested in further developments of this legislation.

The Public News Service article, by Chris Thomas, can be read at the link here.

On a related note, our Senator Murray is also sponsoring a bill, S. 635, that would add 14.3 miles of Illabot Creek in Skagit County lying outside the Glacier Peak Wilderness to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. This bill, currently without co-sponsors, is in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee of the Senate.

2009 Gold and Fish Pamphlet Available From WDFW

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has released the 2009 Gold and Fish Pamphlet containing the new rules for mineral prospecting and placer mining in Washington State.

The link to the .pdf file for the new pamphlet is here. You may download and print the pamphlet from this link or order it from one of the WDFW offices listed here.

In addition, the WDFW Habitat Permits & Regulations web page has moved to a new address which is linked here.

Both of these new links have been added to the right-hand sidebar: the 2009 Gold and Fish Pamphlet under "Prospecting & Mining Regulations" and the Habitat Permits & Regulations page under "Resources for Prospectors."

As the new regulations will not take effect until April 3, the current 1999 pamphlet is still available for download at the link here and in the "Prospecting & Mining Regulations" section of the right-hand sidebar until April 3.

WDFW Establishes New Habitat Conservation Working Group

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is calling for nominations of persons to serve on a new working group called the Habitat Conservation Plan Advisory Committee.

The WDFW press release, citing information provided by Greg Hueckel, assistant director of WDFW's habitat program, states that the new group "will consist of up to 24 advisors who will provide guidance on the development of a conservation plan to protect sensitive fish and shellfish species potentially affected by hydraulic project activities."

“We’ve contacted a variety of interest groups and individuals to make sure the new committee reflects all points of view as we develop this important plan," the release quotes Hueckel as saying. It then goes on to report that "(I)nvitations have been sent to tribal representatives, businesses, government agencies and environmental organizations."

Owing to WDFW requirements that prospectors and miners possess hydraulic project approval before commencing activities, one wonders if they will also be represented on the new committee?

The group is slated to start work this spring and is expected to continue for two years. The deadline for nominations is April 1. Nominations may be directed to Carol Piening, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Habitat Program, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091. Or by email to carol.piening@dfw.wa.gov.

Further information is available from the WDFW press release at the link here.