Wild Olympics Bill Rides Wave of New Local Support through House Hearing

New endorsers cite economic growth, clean water, salmon recovery as Representative Kilmer & local business leader testify

QUILCENE, Wash. (July 10, 2019) The Wild Olympics Coalition today cheered a hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands of the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (H.R. 2642). The legislation was introduced by Senator Patty Murray and Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA-06) in May, and would permanently protect more than 126,500 acres of Olympic National Forest as wilderness and 19 rivers and their major tributaries, a total of 464 river miles, as Wild and Scenic Rivers. Designed through extensive community input to protect ancient forests and clean water and enhance outdoor recreation, the legislation would designate the first new wilderness on Olympic National Forest in nearly three decades and the first-ever protected wild and scenic rivers on the Olympic Peninsula. Read more

The study was conducted by Lauren Kuehne, MSc Research Scientist at the University of Washington’s College of the Environment School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. Ms. Kuehne has undertaken one of the only scientific studies of the soundscape on the Olympic Peninsula. Ms. Kuehne “sought to answer two questions: 1) What are the current noise levels and contributions of different aircraft on the Olympic Peninsula soundscape? and 2) How might these levels change with proposed increases in military training and operations?” READ MORE

Forecasts are heading in the wrong direction

The current drought outlook for the Olympic Peninsula just took another step in the wrong direction. In their weekly update of drought conditions across the country, the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) changed its classification for the Olympic Peninsula region from “moderate” to “severe” drought. According to the USDM, a severe drought classification can bring potential impacts of likely crop and pasture damage, water shortages, and water restrictions. In response to current conditions, some communities and water systems on the peninsula have already begun anticipating low water supply. Read more

QUILCENE — Thousands of pristine acres of timberland along Hood Canal have been earmarked for preservation, thanks to $6.3 million from the Legislature. 

The Dabob Bay natural area’s latest expansion spreads some 4,000 acres east and south onto the Toandos Peninsula. The Legislature’s purchase guarantees 900 of those acres will be transferred out of the state Department of Natural Resources’ timber trust and into conservation. The state will begin to pursue other properties within the acreage, which spans from Dabob to Thorndyke Creek, according to Peter Bahls, director of the Northwest Watershed Institute that has fought to preserve the area since 2002.  READ MORE

The bill would move Washington’s presidential primary to March 10, 2020, just one month after New Hampshire’s first in the nation primary. Previously, Washington’s presidential primary has been held on the fourth Tuesday in May.

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