Olympic Peninsula Tribes, Sportsmen teams, enterprise leaders, and native officers cite advantages to native financial system, clear water, and salmon restoration as invoice advances farther in Senate than ever earlier than.
Contact: Connie Gallant, Chair, Wild Olympics Marketing campaign: [email protected]
Media Sources:
Wild Olympics Media Picture Gallery of The Proposal
Video: Voices from the Wild Olympics
QUILCENE, Wash. (Dec 14th, 2023) – Right now the Wild Olympics Coalition cheered a serious milestone for the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act sponsored by Senator Patty Murray and Consultant Derek Kilmer (D-WA-06) because it was voted out of the total Senate Power and Pure Sources Committee for the primary time within the invoice’s historical past. With a robust basis of broad native help and the steadfast efforts of the 2 Congressional leaders, the invoice has made regular progress every successive Congress. Final yr the invoice handed the Home with bipartisan help and superior farther than ever earlier than within the Senate. Right now’s Committee vote completes a key step within the Congressional course of in direction of it changing into regulation. The Wild Olympics laws would completely defend greater than 126,500 acres of Olympic Nationwide Forest as wilderness and 19 rivers and their main tributaries – a complete of 464 river miles – as Wild and Scenic Rivers. Designed by way of in depth group enter to guard historical forests and salmon streams and improve outside recreation, the laws would designate the primary new wilderness within the Olympic Nationwide Forest in practically 4 a long time and the first-ever protected wild and scenic rivers on the Olympic Peninsula.
“The Olympic Peninsula is residence to a few of the most breathtaking landscapes anddiverse ecosystems in the whole nation, and we now have to struggle to do every part we will to guard them,” stated Senator Murray. “Our invoice would protect the sweetness and the wealthy pure assets that make the Wild Olympics so treasured to individuals from all walks of life, and make sure that future generations have the chance to expertise the Wild Olympics as we do in the present day. It took years of effort and collaboration amongst advocates, sportsmen,Tribes, native leaders, and so many others to get to the place we’re in the present day—passing Wild Olympics by way of Committee is a large win,and our job now’s to maintain up the momentum and get this invoice to President Biden’s desk.”
“As somebody who grew up on the Olympic Peninsula, I realized firsthand that financial development and environmental safety go hand in hand,” stated Rep. Kilmer. “I’m heartened to see the Senate Power and Pure Sources Committee contemplate this sensible, balanced technique that can defend the wildest and most pristine locations on the Olympic Peninsula whereas guaranteeing we will preserve and develop jobs in our pure useful resource industries and different sectors. And I’m grateful for the years-long collaboration to create a proposal that works for folk throughout the group – together with Tribes, sportsmen, conservation teams, timber communities, enterprise leaders, shellfish growers, and everybody in between.”
Senator Murray and Consultant Kilmer spent years gathering in depth group enter on the Olympic Peninsula to craft the fastidiously balanced laws. It could completely protect historical and mature forests, essential salmon habitat, and sources of unpolluted ingesting water for native communities, whereas additionally defending and increasing world-class outside recreation alternatives like mountain climbing, tenting, boating, looking, and fishing. No roads can be closed, and trailhead entry wouldn’t be affected.
Senator Murray and Consultant Kilmer labored extensively with native and regional timber pursuits to take away any presently viable timber base from the proposal to make sure the laws would haven’t any impression on current timber jobs, as confirmed in a 2012 Timber Influence Examine by the revered unbiased Forester Derek Churchill.
Aberdeen Forest Merchandise Marketing consultant and Former Timber CEO Roy Nott stated in his July tenth 2019 testimony earlier than the Home Pure Sources Committee, “My very own expertise as a CEO and Entrepreneur is that our space’s pure treasures- which offer world-class outside recreation, clear water and our space’s top quality of living- are what give us a aggressive edge over different areas in attracting and retaining the gifted individuals new corporations require. Wilderness and wild and scenic river protections would assist defend and develop the native jobs that rely upon our capability to compete for expertise in opposition to different areas, and they might improve our recruitment efforts as we work to develop new companies sooner or later. And as a former Timber Trade Govt, I recognize that Senator Murray and Rep Kilmer’s closing compromise proposal was scaled-back to make sure it will not impression present timber jobs.”
The invoice’s progress in Congress comes on a latest wave of help and new native endorsements rallying behind the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. The brand new additions carry the whole variety of native Olympic Peninsula & Hood Canal area endorsements to greater than 800 endorsers, together with the Quinault, Quileute, Elwha and Jamestown S’Klallam Tribes; over 30 native sportsmen organizations and fishing guides; the mayors of Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Ocean Shores and different native elected officers; companies and CEOs; farms and religion leaders; conservation and outside recreation teams; and plenty of others. Moreover, greater than 12,000 native residents have signed petitions in help.
TESTIMONIALS
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe Chairman Ron Allen: “As acknowledged within the Northwest Indian Fisheries Fee’s “Treaty Rights at Danger” report, “Salmon restoration relies on the essential premise that we will defend what habitat stays whereas we restore beforehand degraded habitat circumstances. Sadly, vital investments in restoration will not be realized as a result of the speed of habitat loss continues to outpace restoration. The ensuing internet decline in habitat demonstrates the federal authorities’s failure to guard the Tribes’ treaty-reserved rights.” In an period the place we’re witnessing unprecedented rollbacks of environmental safeguards on federal public lands, the Wild Olympics laws would completely defend a few of the healthiest, intact salmon habitat left on the Peninsula. It’s our heritage and cultural rules to guard the lands and waters Nature supplies, in addition to the pure assets she sustains. Subsequently, we do proceed to help and urge swift passage of the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.”
Decrease Elwha Klallam Tribe Chairwoman, Frances Charles: “The Decrease Elwha Klallam Tribe (“Decrease Elwha”) strongly helps the proposed Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and appreciates Sen. Murray’s and Rep. Kilmer’s sponsorship of this essential laws. We imagine that it represents a good compromise between doubtlessly competing pursuits of preservation, financial use, and recreation. This laws creates 126,600 acres of latest wilderness and nineteen new wild and scenic rivers designations within the Olympic Nationwide Forest, the Olympic Nationwide Park and Washington State Division of Pure Useful resource-managed land. For Decrease Elwha, crucial facet of those new designations is the elevated safety for salmon habitat. And we recognize that it expressly acknowledges the basic pursuits and experience of all treaty tribes within the restoration of fish habitat. This is a vital complement to our ongoing successes, together with our federal and State companions, in restoring Elwha River fisheries within the aftermath of dam removing.”
Invoice Taylor, President of Taylor Shellfish Farms (Shelton): “Senator Murray and Consultant Kilmer’s Wild Olympics laws will assist defend our state’s shellfish trade, together with a whole lot of shellfishing jobs in Hood Canal alone – and plenty of extra in associated industries like processing, delivery, and gross sales. It protects the rivers and streams important to the well being of our hatcheries and to the well being and restoration of Puget Sound. Our oyster beds rely upon the clear, chilly, silt-free water that drains off Olympic Nationwide Forest into Hood Canal. Defending these watersheds permits our trade to develop, broaden and proceed to learn the financial system and ecology of Washington State. We’re grateful for his or her management.”
Ashley Nichole Lewis, Dangerous Ash Outdoor (Tahola), Sportsmen For Wild Olympics and Member of the Quinault Indian Nation: “Wild Olympics protects the Olympic Peninsula’s historical forests, free-flowing rivers and salmon streams for the long run,” Nichole Lewis burdened. “It should defend fishing, boating and looking entry with out closing any roads, nevertheless it additionally completely protects a few of the final wholesome upstream salmon and steelhead habitat left on the peninsula.”
State Consultant Steve Tharinger, twenty fourth Legislative District (Sequim): “It’s straightforward to see and perceive the ecological worth of the Wild Olympics thought, conserving clear and free-flowing rivers, however what is usually missed is the financial worth that sustaining locations like Wild Olympics brings by attracting individuals to the particular open air of the Olympic area. I wish to thank REI and Patagonia for partaking area people leaders like myself to assist design the map, and for recognizing that encouraging individuals to get out and benefit from the particular locations within the Wild Olympics proposal brings financial advantages to the communities I signify.”
Fred Rakevich, Retired logger and 49- yr veteran of the timber trade (Elma): “I’m a retired logger who labored for 50 years within the timber trade. I’ve additionally fished and kayaked many of the main rivers within the Olympics. I used to be born and raised in Grays Harbor, however have traveled midway world wide. In all my travels, nothing impressed me greater than the pure fantastic thing about the Olympic Mountain Vary and the clear operating waters that start their journey flowing towards the lands under. Timber is and at all times shall be a part of the Olympic Peninsula’s proud heritage. However our historical forests and wild rivers are the pure legacies we are going to depart to our youngsters and grandchildren. Senator Murray and Consultant Kilmer’s invoice protects our pure heritage whereas respecting our timber heritage. I thank them for his or her considerate management, and future generations will thank them too.”
James Thomas, President & CEO Thermedia Corp/MasQs (Shelton): “The Wild Olympics laws would assist defend the excellent lifestyle that is a vital purpose individuals select to reside, work and play right here in Mason County with the beautiful backdrop of the Olympic Mountains in our yard. The traditional forests, wild rivers, and scenic fantastic thing about the Olympics are the inspiration of our excessive “High quality of Life” that pulls guests, entrepreneurs, new residents, and funding in our communities, strengthening our native financial system. In reality, these spectacular public lands have been the ultimate determinant once I selected the Olympic Peninsula as the brand new residence for my medical system manufacturing firm. Years later my coronary heart nonetheless sings once I spherical a nook or high a hill and the Olympics come into sight. I applaud Senator Murray and Consultant Kilmer for working to guard the Peninsula’s financial future.”
Casey Weigel, Proprietor & Head Information of Waters West Information Service (Montesano) and member, of Sportsmen for Wild Olympics: “By means of arduous work and our ardour for our rivers and fishing, my spouse and I’ve grown our small enterprise sufficient to have the ability to assist 3 different year-round and seasonal native guides help households, who love fishing simply as a lot as we do. I help the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild & Scenic Rivers Act as a result of our rivers and our salmon are our lifeblood and, with out them, companies like ours, the native jobs they help, and the {dollars} they bring about into our native financial system would dry up. The Wild Olympics proposal would merely make the present safeguards defending our rivers on the Olympic Nationwide Forest everlasting. That’s all it does. It doesn’t change entry or price timber jobs. And if it did, I wouldn’t help it, as a result of my household works within the timber trade. There are lots of challenges going through our rivers and salmon, with plenty of debate and hundreds of thousands of {dollars} spent attempting to assist restore clear water and habitat downstream. However one fundamental, easy piece of the inspiration we will put in place now that gained’t price any of us something, is to completely defend the wholesome habitat on the federal lands upstream in opposition to any misguided makes an attempt to develop them sooner or later. That’s why I’m a proud supporter of the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. For Our Future.”
State Consultant Mike Chapman, twenty fourth Legislative District (Port Angeles): “I’ve been very excited in regards to the financial & leisure alternatives Wild Olympics will carry to the Olympic Peninsula. With REI and Patagonia’s help, our nook of the world is now attracting guests from throughout. Wild Olympics is our future, for recent air, clear water, pristine forests, and future generations!”
Harriet Reyenga, Impartial realtor for Windermere Actual Property (Port Angeles): “The Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild & Scenic Rivers Act will defend and promote the identical spectacular public lands and top quality of life which are serving to to drive development and create native jobs in actual property, building, and plenty of different sectors of our financial system in the present day. Our historical forests, salmon, rivers, and wonderful landscapes are the north Olympic Peninsula’s aggressive financial benefit over different areas. We must always do all we will to guard and promote these pure treasures. The Wild Olympics laws will do each.”
Dave Bailey, Previous President of the Gray Wolf Fly Fishing Membership in Sequim, WA & co-founder of Sportsmen for Wild Olympics: “Folks suppose that as a result of our salmon streams on Olympic Nationwide Forest seem as they’ve at all times been, that they’re secure. Sadly, that’s the furthest factor from the reality. There are decided threats underway to roll again present safeguards and open these delicate spawning streams to small hydropower growth, industrial clear-cutting and extra highway constructing as soon as extra. That’s unhealthy for fish, sport, and sportsmen. This laws is essential to protect what we now have.”
Douglas Scott, Proprietor of Unique Hikes and The Outside Society (Hood Canal): “Exterior my door, the river, forests and mountains of the Olympic Peninsula beckon me to hike and climb. Within the Northwest nook of the contiguous United States, removed from the hustle and bustle of the large cities, our glacial-fed rivers, filled with salmon and surrounded by majestic eagles always encourage hundreds of thousands of locals and guests to the area. Every year, over 4 million outside recreation fans head to the area, hoping to discover a slice of pure magnificence in pristine forests and impossibly beautiful river valleys. As an writer, tour information and advocate for the Olympic Peninsula, I’ve witnessed the significance of nature and outside recreation within the Pacific Northwest. Because of the help outside fans from all walks of life, passing the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act will assist make sure that much more of the beautiful surroundings shall be protected and accessible for all. I’m proud to Help the Wild Olympics. Come go to and fall in love with the fantastic thing about rainforests, wild rivers, and breathtaking adventures and you’ll too.”
Republican Former Washington U.S. Senator and Washington Governor Daniel J. Evans: “The Olympic Peninsula is my favourite panorama within the state and I’m pleased to help the efforts of the Wild Olympics Marketing campaign. Their native outreach efforts have resulted in laws that might add to the Wilderness areas on Olympic Nationwide Forest designated 30 years in the past and defend the primary ever Wild & Scenic Rivers on the Olympic Peninsula. The Wild Olympics invoice has additionally taken nice care to protect and improve leisure entry to the areas it’s defending. By not impacting entry roads or trailheads, it’ll retain entry and spotlight these wild locations to people who’re prone to be lively supporters of defending the wilderness expertise.”
Republican Former Washington Secretary of State Ralph Munro: “The laws is a marvel of civic involvement, compromise and lodging. In an unprecedented nod to native communities, the lawmakers performed their multiyear public course of virtually solely throughout the 4 counties of the peninsula, giving on a regular basis residents a serious voice in shaping the laws. The inclusive course of introduced former adversaries collectively. Backed by each conservationists and representatives of the timber trade, the plan supplies everlasting, sturdy safety for historical forests and rivers whereas guaranteeing no timber jobs are misplaced. It impacts solely areas on Olympic Nationwide Forest already off-limits to logging beneath present Forest Service guidelines, making these safeguards everlasting.”
Contact: Connie Gallant, Chair, Wild Olympics Marketing campaign / [email protected]
Wild Olympics Marketing campaign / PO Field 214, Quilcene, WA 98376
