Olympic Peninsula Tribes, Sportsmen teams, enterprise leaders, and native officers cite advantages to native financial system, clear water, and salmon restoration.
Contact: Connie Gallant, Chair, Wild Olympics Marketing campaign: connie@wildolympics.org
Media Sources:
Wild Olympics Media Picture Gallery of The Proposal
Video: Voices from the Wild Olympics
QUILCENE, Wash. (February 11, 2021) Backed by a broad coalition of native supporters, right now U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Consultant Derek Kilmer (D-WA-06) introduced they may reintroduce the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to 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. Consultant Kilmer will reintroduce the laws within the Home of Representatives right now, and Senator Murray will reintroduce it within the Senate later this month. Designed via in depth group enter to guard historical forests, clear water and salmon streams and improve outside recreation with out costing timber jobs, the laws would designate the primary new wilderness within the Olympic Nationwide Forest in over three many years and the first-ever protected wild and scenic rivers on the Olympic Peninsula.
“As we work to make sure that future generations can proceed to benefit from the Olympic Peninsula’s pure magnificence, I’m proud to as soon as once more companion with Consultant Kilmer on the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild Scenic Rivers Act,” Senator Murray mentioned. “We are going to proceed to combat for this proposal on behalf of native Tribes, group leaders, sportsmen, and numerous Olympic Peninsula residents, and I’m dedicated to working within the Senate to make sure this particular place lastly receives the everlasting safety it deserves.”
“As somebody who grew up in Port Angeles, I’ve at all times mentioned that we don’t have to decide on between financial development and defending our surroundings. We will and will do each,” mentioned Consultant Kilmer. “I’m proud to assist this sensible, balanced technique, that may defend the wildest and most pristine locations on the Peninsula whereas making certain we will maintain and develop jobs in our pure useful resource industries and different sectors. I’m grateful for the partnership of Senator Murray and group leaders from throughout the area, together with small enterprise homeowners, landowners, environmental advocates, and tribes, who’ve been devoted to discovering a technique that works for people throughout your complete area.”
Senator Murray and Consultant Kilmer spent years gathering in depth group enter on the Olympic Peninsula to craft the fastidiously balanced laws. It might completely protect historical and mature forests, crucial salmon habitat, and sources of unpolluted ingesting water for native communities, whereas additionally defending and increasing world-class outside recreation alternatives like climbing, tenting, boating, looking, and fishing. No roads could 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 don’t have any influence on present timber jobs, as confirmed in a 2012 Timber Impression Examine by the revered unbiased Forester Derek Churchill.
Aberdeen Forest Merchandise Advisor and Former Timber CEO Roy Nott mentioned 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 give 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 proficient folks new firms require. Wilderness and wild and scenic river protections would assist defend and develop the native jobs that rely upon our skill to compete for expertise in opposition to different areas, and they’d 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 remaining compromise proposal was scaled-back to make sure it could not influence present timber jobs.”
The invoice reintroduction comes within the wake of latest new native endorsements backing the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. The brand new additions introduced the full 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 Elma; 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 assist.
The laws comes at a crucial time through the COVID-19 pandemic as Peninsula residents have turned to native public lands and rivers proper of their backyards for his or her well-being. The reintroduction is a recognition of the restorative worth of nature, particularly throughout an unprecedented well being disaster.
TESTIMONIALS
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 probably 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 elemental 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.”
Quinault Indian Nation President Fawn Sharp: Our Tribe urges swift passage of the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. 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 situations. Sadly, vital investments in restoration might 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.
Quileute Tribal Council Chairman Douglas Woodruff Jr. “The Quileute Tribe helps passage of the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. It represents a well-crafted compromise that gives crucial protections for fish and wild life habitat and water high quality, whereas additionally respecting the treaty rights and administration prerogatives of the Quileute Tribe. Defending the very best remaining habitat is crucial as tribal, state and federal governments and residents all through the Olympic area commit tens of millions of {dollars} and incalculable volunteer hours to restoration actions within the face of declining salmon populations, fishing closures, threats to Orcas, and the impacts of local weather change. The present model of the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act is a major and very important step ahead to “defend the very best,” and the Quileute Tribe urges swift passage of this laws.”
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 situations. Sadly, vital investments in restoration might 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 ideas to guard the lands and waters Nature supplies, in addition to the pure sources she sustains. Subsequently, we do proceed to assist and urge swift passage of the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.”
Dave Bailey, Previous President of the Gray Wolf Fly Fishing Membership in Sequim, WA & co-founder of Sportsmen for Wild Olympics: “Individuals 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 improvement, industrial clear-cutting and extra highway constructing as soon as extra. That’s dangerous for fish, recreation, and sportsmen. This laws is crucial to protect what we’ve got.”
Casey Weigel, Proprietor & Head Information of Waters West Information Service (Montesano) and member, of Sportsmen for Wild Olympics: “By means of laborious 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 assist households, who love fishing simply as a lot as we do. I assist 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 assist, and the {dollars} they carry into our native financial system would dry up. The Wild Olympics proposal would merely make the present safeguards defending our rivers on 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 assist 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 tens of millions of {dollars} spent making an attempt to assist restore clear water and habitat downstream. However one primary, 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.”
Ashley Nichole Lewis, Unhealthy Ash Fishing Information Service (Tahola) and member, Sportsmen For Wild Olympics: “Conservation for me on the Olympic Peninsula implies that the subsequent era and generations to return can come out right here and expertise the best way that I expertise it and the best way my grandpa skilled it when he fished out right here and that perpetually we at all times have this – what’s wild and what’s the Olympic Peninsula and our tradition right now.”
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 lots of 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 very 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, increase and proceed to learn the financial system and ecology of Washington State. We’re grateful for his or her management.”
James Thomas, President & CEO Thermedia Corp/MasQs (Shelton): “The Wild Olympics laws would assist defend the excellent lifestyle that is a vital motive folks 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 great 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. The truth is, these spectacular public lands had been the ultimate determinant once I selected the Olympic Peninsula as the brand new dwelling for my medical gadget manufacturing firm. Ten 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.”
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 half manner around the globe. In all my travels, nothing impressed me greater than the pure great 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 will probably be a part of the Olympic Peninsula’s proud heritage. However our historical forests and wild rivers are the pure legacy we’ll go away to our kids 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.”
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 deliver to the Olympic Peninsula. With REI and Patagonia’s assist our nook of the world is now attracting guests from throughout. Wild Olympics is our future, for contemporary air, clear water, pristine forests and future generations!”
Michelle Sandoval, Port Townsend Mayor (Port Townsend): “This laws will assist completely defend clear ingesting water for native Peninsula communities. For instance, one of many locations proposed for Wilderness safety is within the Huge Quilcene watershed, which filters the clear, chilly ingesting water for the town of Port Townsend. Defending forests and rivers on federal lands upstream protects our investments in salmon habitat and water high quality downstream. We’re grateful for Consultant Kilmer’s and Senator Murray’s assist in defending Port Townsend’s clear water.”
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 right now. 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.”
State Consultant Steve Tharinger, twenty fourth Legislative District (Sequim): “It’s simple to see and perceive the ecological worth of the Wild Olympics thought, conserving clear and free flowing rivers, however what is typically missed is the financial worth that sustaining locations like Wild Olympics brings by attracting folks to the particular open air of the Olympic area. I wish to thank REI and Patagonia for partaking local people leaders like myself to assist design the map, and for recognizing that encouraging folks to get out and benefit from the particular locations within the Wild Olympics proposal brings financial advantages to the communities I characterize.”
Mark and Desiree’ Dodson, Homeowners Westport Marina Cottages (Westport): “We’re one of many lots of of native Peninsula companies backing Wild Olympics as a result of it could defend & promote the identical priceless pure treasures which are cornerstones of our financial system. Our historical temperate rainforests & wild rivers are iconic one-of-kind outside recreation locations that draw guests & new residents from around the globe.”
Douglas Scott, Proprietor of Unique Hikes and The Out of doors Society (Hood Canal): “Outdoors 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 massive cities, our glacial-fed rivers, stuffed with salmon and surrounded by majestic eagles continuously encourage tens of millions of locals and guests to the area. Annually, over 4 million outside recreation lovers head to the area, hoping to discover a slice of pure magnificence in pristine forests and impossibly attractive river valleys. As an creator, 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 assist outside lovers from all walks of life, passing the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act will assist be sure that much more of the beautiful surroundings will probably 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.”
Contact: Connie Gallant, Chair, Wild Olympics Marketing campaign / connie@wildolympics.org
Wild Olympics Marketing campaign; PO Field 214, Quilcene, WA 98376
