2022 Conservation Accomplishments
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Mining Halted!
WA Wild had an incredible start to 2022; on January 19th we celebrated the announcement that an agreement between the British Columbia Government and Imperial Metals ended future mining threats in the Skagit Headwaters. WA Wild’s leadership catalyzed extensive media coverage and civic engagement harnessed by an international coalition of 380+ to facilitate an unprecedented regional, cross-border dialogue.
Wild Olympics Passes US House
On July 18th, the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act passed as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. The House passage marked a new wave of support for the legislation which would add 126,000 acres of Wilderness and designate more than 460 miles of river as Wild and Scenic on the Olympic Peninsula. As a founding member of the Wild Olympics Campaign, Washington Wild has been instrumental in building a diverse coalition and garnering broad support for the bill.
Washington Brewshed® Turns 10!
Washington Brewshed® Turns 10!From its founding a decade ago to today, the Brewshed® Alliance and the excitement around the community has grown so much. From Blaine to Vancouver, Rochester to Spokane Valley, the Brewshed® is now nearly 90 members strong! Among those members, we added 11 new brewing industry partners in 2022 alone.
Photo: Chris Chappell
Save the Snake River Lager
Released on October 4th at Stoup Brewing, Save the Snake River Lager sent a powerful message to our NW elected officials: Now is the time to support salmon and steelhead recovery with a comprehensive plan to remove the four Lower Snake River dams. Our biggest Brewshed® collaboration yet, this crisp, refreshing lager dry hopped with Strata hops features 50 brewing industry businesses across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
Photo: Mike Maniglia
Indigenous Climate Oral History Project
Through an exciting partnership between This Is Indian Country and WA Wild, funded by a $100,000 BECU Foundation Green Equity Initiative grant, the Indigenous Climate Impacts Oral History Project will capture traditional knowledge and insight from local tribal elders regarding the climate crisis. The observations and stories passed down through generations of Indigenous Peoples provide the most in-depth and qualitative history of this existential threat. The series of 15 videos will be freely distributed throughout the state and also provide the basis for a new full-length feature video with a corresponding curriculum for educators.
Photo: Howie Garber
WA Wild Leads Local Effort in Support of Reinstating Alaska Roadless Rule
When the Biden Administration opened a 60-day comment period to collect public input on a proposal to restore National Forest Roadless Area protections in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, WA Wild led the statewide effort in support. Our grassroots action alert generated over 530 comments in addition to a joint comment letter coordinated by WA Wild which garnered 223 signatures from local stakeholders, including over 100 local state, county, and municipal elected officials. On January 25, 2023 the Biden Administration officially overturned a decision made during the Trump Administration in 2019 which repealed long-standing protections for 9 million acres under the 2001 Roadless Rule, a federal safeguard that restricts logging and roadbuilding in pristine old-growth forests.
Photo: Kyle McCrohan
WA Wild Submits First-Ever Outstanding Resource Water Nomination in WA
The Clean Water Act recognizes the unique value of waterways of exceptional water quality and provides an opportunity for states to identify waterways as Outstanding Resource Waters. Although Washington has an abundance of high-quality waters in need of protection, to date, Ecology has not designated a single ORW. WA Wild believes that needs to change, so we coordinated a series of letters to nominate the Cascade River (Skagit County), Green River (Skamania and Lewis counties), and Napeequa River (Chelan County). Upon review, WA Wild’s nominees were deemed eligible, and Ecology will consider official ORW designation later this year.
WORKING TO PROTECT WASHINGTON’S WILD PLACES ALL YEAR LONG
JANUARY
As a Conservation Alliance grantee, WA Wild nominated our corporate partner Grayl to receive the Outstanding Partnership Award, which they won!
FEBRUARY
As a member of a coalition opposing mining since 2006, we cheered as our partners Cascade Forest Conservancy, Earthrise Law Center, and the Western Mining Action Project won a lawsuit halting the latest mining threat in the Green River Valley.
MARCH
In recognition of the extinction crisis facing local salmon populations, WA Wild coordinated a letter signed by more than 229 food professionals—including 42 Brewshed® Alliance members—calling for a comprehensive plan to restore the Lower Snake River.
APRIL
Kicking off with an Earth Day celebration, Schilling launched the “Keep It Wild” campaign in support of our work. At the end of the campaign, none other than the local legend himself, the PNW Sasquatch, presented WA Wild with $10,000 in proceeds.
MAY
Coordinated a letter to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board in support of proposed funding for an access site in the North Fork Nooksack River to promote safe and responsible recreation and enhance ecological restoration, to the benefit of the local economy.
JUNE
Following the release of Sen. Murray and Gov. Inslee’s draft report regarding salmon recovery, WA Wild sent out an action alert that generated 239 letters in support of Lower Snake River dam removal during the public comment period.
JULY
Dedicated to bringing folks together over delicious coffee and a shared love of the outdoors, Campfire Coffee reached out with a partnership idea to create our very own blend! Beyond fueling our summer adventures, 50% of sales from each bag of Wild and Scenic blend was generously donated to WA Wild’s mission.
AUGUST
On August 16th, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. The largest climate legislation in US history, this bill was only made possible through the tireless advocacy of grassroots environmental justice and conservation organizations demanding climate action.
SEPTEMBER
With over 300 photos submitted, this year’s photo contest took us on a breathtaking journey all across Washington State! It also marked a new partnership with Glazer’s Cameras, lending their expertise during the judging process and helping us build incredible prize packs for each category winner.
OCTOBER
After being held virtually for two years, 2022’s Wild Night Out marked a return to in-person celebrations, raising more than $75,000 to protect our wild lands and waters.
NOVEMBER
In support of the continued success of the Trust Land Transfer (TLT) program, WA Wild coordinated a letter of 68 signees strongly urging Governor Inslee to fully fund the TLT in the 2023 budget.
DECEMBER
With our coalition of supporters swelling to 144, WA Wild coordinated another series of comment letters urging Ecology to designate Washington’s first Outstanding Resource Waters for protection under the federal Clean Water Act.
