2016 Washington Wild Conservation Accomplishments

Wild Olympics Legislation Receives First Congressional Hearing

Photo Courtesy of Anthony Mohr

In April, the Wild Olympics legislation had its first congressional hearing by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. In advance of the hearing, the Wild Olympics Campaign announced an additional 100 elected officials, local businesses and other stakeholder endorsements, bringing the total to 550. The hearing is a key congressional benchmark…..Read the full article

Two New Trails Added in Wild Sky Country

In October, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) announced a decision to add two new trails in or adjacent to the Wild Sky Wilderness Area. The Frog Mountain and Alpine Falls trails would provide additional recreational opportunities near Skykomish. In September 2014 Washington Wild coordinated a letter to the USFS with 12 other… Read the full article

Proposed Dam on North Fork Snoqualmie River Withdrawn

Photo Courtesy of American Whitewater

An energy developer withdrew its application for the Black Canyon Hydropower Project, which would have constructed a new dam on the North Fork Snoqualmie River on national forest land. The dam would have severely impacted native rainbow and cutthroat trout, posed a risk… Read the full article.

“Quiet recreation” on WA BLM lands generates millions of dollars

A new study in March found that local Washington communities near federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management benefited from millions of dollars in spending in 2014 as the result of visitors who came to enjoy non-motorized recreation, such as hiking, hunting and camping, or “Quiet Recreation.” WA Wild is leading efforts to support meaningful… Read the full article.

Award Winner Daniel J. Evans Speaks on WA Wilderness Legacy

Former WA Governor and U.S. Senator Daniel J. Evans received the WA Wild 2016 Conservation Voices award for his decades of leadership and advocacy for Wilderness areas statewide. In December, he received an even greater honor when Congress passed a bill…Read the full article.

Governor Inslee Announces New Grant for Darrington Collaborative Stewardship Projects

WA Governor Jay Inslee announced a $20,000 grant from the state Department of Commerce to support the Darrington Collaborative’s work to restore critical habitat, improve water quality and create local jobs. WA Wild is a founding member of the collaborative which focuses on restoration thinning, aquatic restoration and STEM education projects near the scenic… Read the full article..

Army Rethinks Combat Helicopter Training Proposal

Army helicopters take off on a training exercise. Photo courtesy of Army.gov.

In April, after hearing from more than 2,000 individual and organizational stakeholders, the U.S. Army announced that they were going to reassess proposed landing sites within Wilderness areas and near popular trails as part of their controversial proposal to allow combat helicopter training on public lands in the North Cascades. Washington Wild coordinated… Read the full article.

1,000th Culvert Replaced with Watershed Restoration Funding

Photo Courtesy of WWRI

Conservation, recreation, tribes and members of Congress celebrated the 1,000th Culvert replaced by Legacy Roads and Trails funding. As a founding member of the Washington Watershed Restoration Initiative, WA Wild helped secure more than $400 million…Read the full article.

Legislation Introduced to Protect Methow Valley from Mining Threats

Photo Courtesy of Hannah Dewey

In May, a coalition of conservation and recreation organizations including Washington Wild cheered the introduction of the Methow Headwaters Protection Act of 2016 by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA). The legislation would protect 340,000 acres of National Forest in the Methow Valley from… Read the full article

BREWSHED® Alliance Continues to Grow in 2016

The Brewshed^® Alliance (2012) is an outreach initiative of WA Wild to help people make the Brewshed® connection: protected water makes superior downstream beer. In 2016 the Brewshed Alliance hosted over 30 events, raised almost $20,000 and added ten new Brewery Partners!  Events are held throughout the year, including pub crawls, the annual Brewshed® Beer Fest, Happy Hours, and other events.