Washington Wild is a founding member of the Wild Olympics Campaign. This Campaign is working to designate the first new Wilderness areas on Olympic National Forest in 30 years and the region’s the first ever Wild & Scenic River designations. These natural treasures are critical to help restore Hood Canal and Puget Sound, and provide resilient habitat strongholds for fish and wildlife stressed by climate change, especially our threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead runs. These ancient forests and wandering rivers draw tens of thousands of visitors every year, provide local communities with clean water, and offer outdoor recreation such as hiking, hunting and fishing. Explore Destination Wild Olympics with the recreation map linked below.
Link to Recreation Map
The Wild Olympics Campaign is building support for permanent protection. After three years of extensive public process, stakeholder input and addressed issues, Senator Patty Murray and Congressman Norm Dicks introduced the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Act on June 21, 2012. On March 1, 2017 the legislation was reintroduced into
Quinault Nature Trail by Tom O’Keefe
Congress by Senator Patty Murray and Congressman Derek Kilmer. If passed, the bill would designate the first new Wilderness areas on Olympic National Forest in three decades and the first ever Wild & Scenic River designations. To learn more about the campaign, visit the Wild Olympics Campaign website .
Protecting Wild Forests and Rivers We Love for Clean Water and Salmon We Need
Legislation
Local Support
Fact Sheets
Media List
Some links may no longer be available.
06/09/15 – Seattle P.I. – The Wild Olympics: The next step in a half-century of preserving wild Washington? 06/06/15 – Mason Web TV – Murray & Kilmer Renew Wild Olympics Push 06/05/15 – Peninsula Daily News – Murray, Kilmer reintroduce Wild Olympics wilderness bill 06/05/15 – Spokesman Review – Wild Olympics Wilderness bill introduced in Senate 06/05/15 – Port Townsend Leader – Wild Olympics and Scenic Rivers act introduced by Murray, Kilmer 06/05/15 – KMAS Radio – Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act introduced in Congress 06/04/15 – KONP- Kilmer and Murray introduce Wild Olympics Act 06/04/15 – Oregonian – Wild Olympics, scenic rivers act introduced in Congress 06/04/15 – The Daily World – Murray and Kilmer renew push for Wild Olympics bill 06/04/15 – Kitsap Sun – Kilmer, Murray Olympic Peninsula act 06/04/15 – Yakima Herald – Washington congressional members offer Olympic Peninsula act 09/01/14 – Bainbridge island Review – WORKING FOR THE WILDERNESS: Bainbridge-based photographer lends a lens to a worthy cause 08/26/14 – Port Townsend Leader – Wild Olympics proponents gather in Quil 08/22/14 – Seattle Post Intelligencer – Keeping the Olympics wild: It’s good for the economy 08/22/14 – Washington News Service – Lawmakers, Locals Tout Practical Aspects of Wild Olympics Bill 08/21/14 Kitsap Sun – Kilmer backing Wild Olympics legislation 08/21/14 – Peninsula Daily News – Wild Olympics legislation touted by lawmakers during 07/16/14 – Port Townsend Leader – Wild Olympics stars on PBS 06/25/14 – Kitsap Sun – Wild Olympics campaign featured on PBS series 06/23/14 – Peninsula Daily News – Wild Olympics legislation an investment in environmental, economic future, proponent tells Jefferson County chamber 05/30/14 – The Vidette OPED – Stop giving away our public assets Feb 2014 – The Reel News (Editorial) – Wild Olympics 02/27/14 – Tacoma News Tribune (letter-to-the-editor) – WILDERNESS: Build on legacy of preservation 02/25/14 – Bainbridge Island Review (letter-to-the-editor) – Wilderness bill is a big accomplishment 02/06/14 – The Columbian EDITORIAL – Olympics Bill Finds Balance 02/05/14 – KXRO News Radio (Aberdeen) – Wild Olympics have Olympic Peninsula hunting and fishing support 02/05/14 – KBKW Radio (Aberdeen) – Sportsmen for Wild Olympics announce new endorsements & video 02/03/14 – Kitsap Sun Trails & Tides Blog – VIDEO: Sportsmen for Wild Olympics 02/03/14 – Tacoma News Tribune (letter-to-the-editor) – We can save the Wild Olympics 02/01/14 – Port O’ Call News OPED (Connie Gallant) – Wild Olympics for Our Future 01/31/14 – Seattle Times EDITORIAL – Time to catch up to Oregon in protecting rivers 01/29/14 – Peninsula Daily News (letter-to-the-editor) – Wild Olympics 01/29/14 – Port Townsend Leader (letter-to-the-editor) – Thanks, Rep. Kilmer, for supporting Wild Olympics 01/28/14 – Seattle Times EDITORIAL – Protect Olympic Peninsula rivers under the Wild Olympics bill 01/28/14 – The Olympian EDITORIAL – Improved bill would save Olympic wilderness 01/28/14 – Bellingham Herald EDITORIAL – Improved bill would save Olympic wilderness 01/27/14 – Kitsap Sun (letter-to-the-editor) – Wild Olympics bill good for generations 01/25/14 – Bainbridge Island Review – Environmental concerns rise to the top at Kilmer roundtable 01/22/14 – Port Townsend Leader – New Wild Olympics proposal is applauded, lambasted 01/21/14 – Everett Herald EDITORIAL – To save our last, best places 01/20/14 – Seattle Times – Bill would expand wilderness area at Olympic National Forest 01/18/14 – The Michael Howe Show (Radio) – Congressman Derek Kilmer – Wild Olympics / Econ Development 01/17/14 – Kitsap Sun – Wild Olympics legislation revived in Congress 01/17/14 – KXRO Radio – Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2014 01/17/14 – Seattle PI – Protect Olympics’ wild places: Murray, Kilmer 01/17/14 – Tacoma News Tribune (Letter-to-the-Editor) – OUTDOORS: Bill vital for Olympic Peninsula 01/17/14 – KBKW Radio – Coalition cheers Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2014 01/17/14 – Olympic Peninsaul Environmental News – Wild Olympics Campaign hails bill to protect peninsula’s ancient forests & rivers 01/17/14 – KUOW NPR – Legislation Revived To Protect 126,000 Acres Of Olympic Peninsula 01/16/14 – Peninsula Daily News – In his own words, Kilmer explains why he’s backing wilderness legislation 01/16/14 – Peninsula Daily News – Kilmer, Murray to introduce new version of Wild Olympics bill today 07/26/2013 – Grays Harbor Vidette EDITORIAL – Wild Olympics is Good for Business 07/15/2013 – Kitsap Sun Trails & Tides Blog – Wild Olympics Campaign Gets Local Business Backing 07/13/2013 – Peninsula Daily News – 100-Plus Businesses, CEOs Support Wild Olympics Campaign 07/12/2013 – KBKW – Wild Olympics Campaign Support Growing in Western Washington 07/12/2013 – KXRO Newsradio – Wild Olympics Campaign Says More Local Businesses are Supportive 6/08/2013 – The Vidette – Congressman Kilmer Fields Questions at Packed Town Hall 5/30/2013 – Kitsap Sun – Kilmer Resurrects the Congressional Town Hall 5/30/2013 – Peninsula Daily News – Kilmer’s Wild Olympics Stance Unchanged 4/19/2013 – Peninsula Daily News (Letter to the Editor) – Plant Trees 4/16/2013 – Seattle Times (Letter to the Editor) – Proposal could actually improve local economies 2/21/2013 – Seattle Times (Letter to the Editor) – Natural Beauty Should be Protected 2/17/2013 – Peninsula Daily News (Letter to the Editor) – Wild Olympics 2/12/2013 – Tacoma News Tribune – Sen. Murray to reintroduce Wil Olympics bill 2/11/2013 – Peninsula Daily News – Sen. Murray to resurrect Wild Olympics bill; Kilmer holding off on taking a stand 1/05/2013 – Seattle Times, (Editorial) – Norm Dicks championed Washington state’s aerospace, environment 12/28/2012 – Seattle Times, (Op-Ed, Ralph Munro) – Protect the Olympic Peninsula with the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 11/2/2012 – Peninsula Daily News, (Article) – Wild Olympics Says Plan Won’t Cut Jobs; Loggers Disagree 10/31/2012 – Tacoma News Tribune, (Article) – Study of Wilderness Plan for Olympic Peninsula sees no Effect on Logging; Driscoll Responds 10/31/2012 – KXRO Newsradio, (Article) – Wild Olympics Report Shows No Impact to Current Timber Jobs 10/31/2012 – The Talk of Grays Harbor 94.7FM, (Article) – Wild Olympics-Commisioned Report Says Wild Olympics Will Not Affect Timber Jobs 10/30/2012 – South Beach Bulletin, (Article) – More Fishing Interests Show Support for Wild Olympics 10/26/2012 – Peninsula Daily News, (Briefly) – Support Grows 10/24/2012 – Sequim Gazette, (Article) – Sequim Officials Sign On with Wild Olympics 10/22/2012 – The Talk of Grays Harbor 94.7FM, (Article) – Fishing Support Rolls In for Wild Olympics 10/7/2012 – The Daily World, (Article) – 6th District Candidates Stake out Different Ground on Wild Olympics 10/3/2012 – Peninsula Daily News, (Article) – Port Angeles Council Hears About Wild Olympics Proposal 10/3/2012 – Sequim Gazette, (Op-ED, Karr) – Protecting Our Wild Olympics Makes Sense 10/3/2012 – Tacoma News Tribune, (LTE, Tsakonas) – WILDERNESS: Support WIld and Scenic Designations 9/27/2012 – Peninsula Daily News, (Article) – Chances dim in Congress for ‘Wild Olympics’ Bill this Year 9/26/2012 – Peninsula Daily News, (Article) – Chapman, Roth Debate Wilderness Plan 9/26/2012 – Bellingham Herald (Op-Ed, Ruckelshaus) – Preserving Wilderness Areas Vital to Maintaining Health of Puget Sound 9/26/2012 – Tacoma News Tribune, (Op-Ed, Ruckelshaus) – Preserving Wilderness Areas Vital to Maintaining Health of Puget Sound 8/23/2012 – Shelton-Mason County Journal (Article) – Murray, Dicks visit Mason County; hype Wild Olympics plan 8/22/2012 – Sequim Gazette, (Article) – Dicks, Murray Pitch Thier Wild Olympics Bill 8/19/2012 – Peninsula Daily News, (Article) – Wild Olympics Legislation Topic of Tour by Dicks, Murray 8/17/2012 – The Daily World, (Article) – Dicks, Murray Tout Their Wild Olympics Plan 8/15/2012 – Port Townsend Leade, (Article) – Wild Olympics, Scenic River Proposal Draws Attention 8/10/2012 – Peninsula Daily News, (LTE, Hover-Kramer) – Wild Olympics 8/09/2012 – The Daily World, (LTE, DeLaurier) – Wild Olympics bill creates opportunities 8/07/2012 – Peninsula Daily News, (Op-Ed, Gallant) – THE WILD OLYMPICS EFFORT: New legislation will create a legacy for generations 8/01/2012 – PT Leader, (Article) – Dems Thank Norm Dicks for 36 Years 7/31/2012 – The Daily World, (Op-Ed, Rakevich) – Wild Olympics Plan is a Good Compromise 7/21/2012 – The Daily World, (LTE, Armstrong) – Thanks for your position 6/29/2012 – The Daily World, (Article) – Peninsula Leaders endorse inclusive Wild Olympics process in News Ad Campaign 6/27/2012 – The Columbian, (Editorial) -In Our View: Wild & Scenic Compromise 6/27/2012 – Peninsula Daily News, (LTE, Porter-Solberg) – Wild Olympics 6/26/2012 – KXRO Newsradio, (Article) – City of Hoquiam willing to consider a revised Wild Olympics plan 6/24/2012 – The Daily World, (LTE, Major) – Wild and Scenic Status has Tangible Benefits 6/22/2012 – Public News Service, (Article) – Peninsula Business “Props” for Wild Olympics Bill 6/22/2012 – KONP Port Angeles, (Article) – “Wild Olympics” legislation officially proposed 6/22/2012 – The Talk of Grays Harbor 94.7FM, (Article) – Peninsula Businesses Backing Wild Olympics 6/21/2012 – Peninsula Daily News, (Article) – Wild Olympics poll shows strong support for proposal 6/21/2012 – Peninsula Daily News, (Article) – Dicks, Murray submit wilderness legislation 6/21/2012 – The Daily World, (Article) – Murray and Dicks introduce Wild Olympics bill 6/21/2012 – The Vidette, (Article) – Poll: Voters support Wild Olympics 6/21/2012 – The Seattle Times, (Article) – 126K acres of Olympic Peninsula would be protected by new bill 6/21/2012 – Seattle PI, (Article) – Protection plan for “Wild Olympics”: Dicks, Murray 6/20/2012 – The Daily World, (LTE, Stiller) – Cosmopolis council was short-sighted 6/18/2012 – KXRO News, (Article) – New poll shows majority support for Wild Olympics 6/12/2012 – The Daily World, (LTE, Spalding) – Let’s get together on Wild Olympics 5/07/2012 – The Seattle Times, (LTE, Schaaf) – Timber wars 5/05/2012 – Peninsula Daily News, (Article) – Concession made in Wild Olympics wilderness plan 4/22/2012 – The Daily World, (LTE, Wadsworth) – A great opportunity for both sides 2/15/2012 – The Kitsap Sun, (LTE, Pernitz) – Protecting our forests and rivers 2/03/2012 – The Kitsap Sun, (Guest Opinion, Taylor) – Olympic Peninsula forests, rivers need protection 2/03/2012 – Peninsula Daily News, (LTE, Rosenthal) – Wild Olympics 1/26/2012 – The Daily World, (LTE, Good) – Draft Proposal Protects Olympic Watershed Areas 1/19/2012 – The Daily World, (LTE, Strong) – This is our chance to show some foresight To read more news articles, please click here .
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