20 Voices for 2020
“I am blessed to be able to work with Washington Wild and carry on the legacy of protecting our lands, our waters, and our salmon. In 2018 we rallied to authorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund in Green Lake. It was part of a national advocacy push led locally by Washington Wild. Now, we have permanently reauthorized the Land and Water Conservation Fund to make sure the dollars really go to where they need to be. It’s been decades in the making but we are finally here!”
“We are very tied to clean water at our brewery and in the Yakima Valley. Not only for beer and hops, but tree fruit and wine grapes. It’s very important for us to protect that for future generations. Joining the Brewshed Alliance was a natural fit for us because beer brings people together and when we do that, it allows us to raise money and bring awareness to these important issues in conservation.”
“I spent almost a decade working with groups like Trout Unlimited and local tribes, trying everything to get reasonable laws on the books for suction dredge mining. It wasn’t until Washington Wild joined up and brought with them hundreds of religious, businesses, and smaller environmental groups to our coalition that we were able to convince state legislators to pass our bill banning suction dredge mining in critical habitat. Governor Inslee signed that legislation in March. Washington Wild’s expertise in bringing diverse groups together toward a common goal was simply amazing and I know for a fact we could not have achieved the protections for our wild fish without Washington Wild’s help.”
“I fell in love with the Pacific Northwest after moving to Seattle to attend the University of Washington. My wife Katie and I have raised a family with a love of all things outdoors and a great appreciation for the natural beauty of the area. This love of outdoors and knowing that these resources must be preserved and protected for future generations is why I support Washington Wild as a donor and now as a board member.”
“Washington Wild works hard to protect and defend wild lands and rivers in order to keep them safe and thriving and address the increasing impacts of climate change. As a young woman in my twenties, I appreciate that Washington Wild understands the importance of these issues and their impacts on my generation.”
“When the Swinomish Tribe partnered with Washington Wild, we knew it was going to be a good fit to oppose this mining in the headwaters of the Skagit River which is the only one in the lower 48 that still has every species of wild salmon.”
“Washington Wild sees the forest for the trees—and the salmon and the orcas. To defend our wildest places means making sure that all of the pieces to the ecosystem puzzle are in place. I was honored to team up with Washington Wild for an outreach event to protect the Tongass National Forest in Alaska, the land of salmon in the trees and a place near and dear to my heart.”
“Supporting and partnering with an organization like Washington Wild gives us the opportunity to educate and equip both our audiences with the knowledge of what to expect in our wild places, and just as important, how to protect them. So when you are backpacking in the Wild Sky Wilderness, climbing in the North Cascades, or enjoying a tasty craft beer, think about what went into keeping those places wild for all of us and where that clean water came from.”
“Our forests hold greenhouse gases from being released into the atmosphere and protect the sources of clean water for drinking, salmon and orca whales. Anything so essential to life must be close to the heart of God. Washington Wild is our local organization here in Washington bringing together conservationists, recreationists, local businesses, elected officials, Tribes, and faith leaders to protect our wild places for current and future generations.”
“Working in British Columbia, I was first introduced to Washington Wild through their impactful leadership of an international coalition of more than 140 stakeholders to oppose the proposed logging and mining in the Canadian Headwaters of the Skagit River. Logging was prevented in several wilderness valleys, setting us up for more successes in the future. They are powerful advocates for protecting downstream values in Washington State and a pleasure to work with here in BC. “
“Trout Unlimited has led the fight for protecting salmon habitat from the impacts of suction dredge mining in the state legislature for years. We finally passed the legislation this year and Washington Wild was a big reason why. Their ability to gather diverse stakeholders from around the state and help us with a sustained effort to highlight this issue in local news made a big difference.”
“We are firm believers that healthy hops require clean water and want to ensure this resource is managed effectively to continue supplying the world with quality hops. Our ‘Hops N Water’ virtual event with Washington Wild was a great way to share our sustainable water practices as a complement to their ‘Clean Water For All’ campaign.”
“As a member of Washington Wild’s Brewshed Alliance, we have been working with Washington Wild to highlight the importance of protecting upper watersheds which provide clean quality water for fish, wildlife, residents, and better-tasting beer.”
“Washington Wild’s persistent and strategic advocacy effort leading our international coalition of stakeholders was critical in garnering significant attention from federal and state policy-makers; ultimately securing a ban on logging and a hold on an exploratory mining permit in the Upper Skagit Watershed in British Columbia.”
“As a commercial fisherman, I understand that my family, my community and my customers rely on a sustainable salmon fishery rooted in protected streams, forests and oceans. It has been rewarding to work with Washington Wild and the group of stakeholders they bring together on conservation issues.”
“Partnering with local environmental organizations and supporting their mission has always been a priority for Patagonia. It has been rewarding working with Washington Wild and amplifying their voice to our network and all those in our community who want to keep Washington green and wild for generations to come.”
“Representing a diverse congressional district on the Olympic Peninsula, I am looking for balanced and pragmatic solutions. Through their work on the Olympic Forest Collaborative, supporting the Wild Olympics legislation or supporting Legay Roads and Trails Funding, Washington Wild has been great to work with on a number of issues in my district.”
“Lighthouse Roasters recognizes the importance of healthy watersheds and their impact on our local community and economy. Building quality relationships around conservation efforts in Washington is important to us which is why we support Washington Wild and their dedication to building coalitions and trust in our community.”
“As my friends in Washington Wild have come to realize, one of the keys to success in these efforts is respect for tribal governments and treaty-protected rights. They know there is no cookie-cutter approach to working with varying tribes, that it is important to seek tribal support and positive tribal relations on a watershed-to-watershed basis and to respect tribal decisions, whatever they may be. “
“Climbers are natural allies of Wilderness advocates but, sometimes, the two communities differ when it comes to matters of public access. Here in Washington State, Washington Wild builds the type of coalitions that bring recreationists and conservationists together to support balanced and successful protections on the landscape like the recent Wild Sky Wilderness and Alpine Lakes Additions.”
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