Wild Washington Campaign
The Wilderness Society is pleased to be a leader in the Wild Washington Campaign. This statewide coalition of conservation groups is dedicated to the permanent protection of public wildlands throughout the state. The coalition includes member organizations representing every national forest and every region in Washington. It intends to preserve such national treasures as the Kettle River Range in the Colville National Forest, the Dark Divide of the Gifford Pinchot, the roadless areas of the Olympic National Forest and the Sky Peaks in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie.
The Washington Wilderness Campaign is working closely with the Forest Service and the Congress to pass the 106,000-acre Wild Sky Wilderness Bill in the heart of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
The Wild Sky Wilderness
In the heart of the Skykomish Valley, the Wild Sky region serves as a critical link between the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and the National Park and wilderness lands of the North Cascades. Low-elevation old growth forests remain in the Sky Peaks, Ragged Ridge and Rapid River areas of the Wild Sky. They provide critical habitat for black bears, bald eagles, mountain goats, wolverines, cougars and spotted owls.
Visitors can sit alongside the cool, clean Skykomish River and watch native salmon and trout make their way up the river towards ancient spawning grounds. And every year, many do just that. Tens of thousands of people come to enjoy world class rafting, fishing, rock climbing, and many spectacular miles of hiking trails as well as skiing, snowshoeing, hunting, horse packing and many other forms of recreation. This steady flow of tourism is vital to the economic stability of many small towns throughout the region.
Legislation in Congress
The Wild Sky Wilderness bill enjoys both widespread bipartisan support and local support for protecting this incredible area. More than 100 Sky Valley businesses agree that protection of this wilderness will benefit the future of our local economy. More than 60 current and former Snohomish County elected officials support this bipartisan legislation and thousands of Sky Valley residents wish to preserve this wilderness for their children to experience.
The Wild Sky Wilderness bill passed the U.S. Senate with both Democratic and Republican Senators giving unanimous approval to the proposal. The action marks the third time the Senate has approved the Wild Sky based on its strong local and bipartisan support.
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