Olympic Peninsula Tribes, Sportsmen teams, enterprise leaders, and native officers cite advantages to native economic system, clear water, and salmon restoration
Contact: Connie Gallant, Chair, Wild Olympics Marketing campaign: connie@wildolympics.org
Media Assets:
Wild Olympics Media Picture Gallery of The Proposal
Video: Voices from the Wild Olympics
QUILCENE, Wash. (July 22, 2020) –The Wild Olympics Coalition cheered a serious bi-partisan vote in Congress yesterday that helped advance vital public lands and rivers laws ahead, together with the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act sponsored by Senator Patty Murray and Consultant Derek Kilmer (D-WA-06), which handed with a lot of different public land payments as an modification to the Nationwide Protection Authorization Act. The Wild Olympics laws would completely shield 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 means of intensive group enter to guard historical forests and clear water and improve outside recreation, the laws would designate the primary new wilderness within the Olympic Nationwide Forest in almost three a long time and the first-ever protected wild and scenic rivers on the Olympic Peninsula.
The bipartisan vote in favor of the laws included sturdy help from Washington Reps Pramila Jayapal and Adam Smith who supported the modification to the NDAA. The Wild Olympics laws was handed by the Home earlier this February. Given the few legislative days left on this legislative session, the NDAA affords a possibility to advance the invoice in each Homes of congress. The same legislative technique was utilized in 2014 by Senators Murray and Cantwell and Representatives Reichert and DelBene to connect laws to develop Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers within the Alpine Lakes and Ilabott Creek, the final main wilderness & wild and scenic payments for WA, which had been handed within the 2014 NDAA.
“As somebody who grew up on the Olympic Peninsula, I realized first-hand that financial development and environmental safety go hand-in-hand,” stated Consultant Kilmer. “Including this sensible, balanced technique to in the present day’s invoice will assist us shield a few of the most environmentally delicate locations on the Peninsula. It is going to additionally guarantee we will maintain and develop jobs in our pure useful resource industries and different sectors. I’m grateful for the years-long collaboration to create a proposal that works for people 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 intensive group enter on the Olympic Peninsula to craft the fastidiously balanced laws. It could completely protect historical and mature forests, crucial salmon habitat, and sources of fresh ingesting water for native communities, whereas additionally defending and increasing world-class outside recreation alternatives like mountaineering, tenting, boating, searching, 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 impression on present timber jobs, as confirmed in a 2012 Timber Affect Examine by the revered unbiased Forester Derek Churchill.
Aberdeen Forest Merchandise Guide and Former Timber CEO Roy Nott stated in his July tenth testimony earlier than the Home Pure Assets 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 prime quality of living- are what give us a aggressive edge over different areas in attracting and retaining the proficient individuals new corporations require. Wilderness and wild and scenic river protections would assist shield and develop the native jobs that rely on 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 admire that Senator Murray and Rep Kilmer’s last compromise proposal was scaled-back to make sure it might not impression present timber jobs.”
The Home passage comes on a wave of help from over 100 new endorsements rallying behind the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. The brand new additions convey 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 lots of others. Moreover, greater than 12,000 native residents have signed petitions in help.
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 vital 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 side of those new designations is the elevated safety for salmon habitat. And we admire that it expressly acknowledges the basic pursuits and experience of all treaty tribes within the restoration of fish habitat. This is a crucial 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 said within the Northwest Indian Fisheries Fee’s “Treaty Rights at Threat” report, “Salmon restoration is predicated on the essential premise that we will shield what habitat stays whereas we restore beforehand degraded habitat circumstances. Sadly, important investments in restoration is probably not 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 shield 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 one of the best remaining habitat is crucial as tribal, state and federal governments and residents all through the Olympic area commit hundreds of thousands 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 “shield one of the best,” and the Quileute Tribe urges swift passage of this laws.”
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe Chairman Ron Allen: “As said within the Northwest Indian Fisheries Fee’s “Treaty Rights at Threat” report, “Salmon restoration is predicated on the essential premise that we will shield what habitat stays whereas we restore beforehand degraded habitat circumstances. Sadly, important investments in restoration is probably not 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 shield 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 sources she sustains. Due to this fact, we do proceed to help and urge swift passage of the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.”
Aberdeen Forest Merchandise Guide & Former Timber CEO Roy Nott: “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 prime quality of living- are what give us a aggressive edge over different areas in attracting and retaining the proficient individuals new corporations require. Wilderness and wild and scenic river protections would assist shield and develop the native jobs that rely on 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 admire that Senator Murray and Rep Kilmer’s last compromise proposal was scaled-back to make sure it might not impression present timber jobs.”
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 protected. Sadly, that’s the furthest factor from the reality. There are decided threats underway by Congress and the Administration 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 dangerous for fish, sport, and sportsmen. This laws is crucial to protect what now we have.”
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 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 create into our native economic 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 help it, as a result of my household works within the timber trade. There are numerous challenges going through our rivers and salmon, with a lot of debate and hundreds of thousands of {dollars} spent making an attempt to assist restore clear water and habitat downstream. However one primary, easy piece of the muse we will put in place now that gained’t price any of us something, is to completely shield 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 signifies that the following technology and generations to come back can come out right here and expertise the way in which that I expertise it and the way in which 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 in the present day.”
Invoice Taylor, President of Taylor Shellfish Farms (Shelton): “Senator Murray and Consultant Kilmer’s Wild Olympics laws will assist shield our state’s shellfish trade, together with a whole lot of shellfishing jobs in Hood Canal alone – and lots 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 on the clear, chilly, silt-free water that drains off Olympic Nationwide Forest into Hood Canal. Defending these watersheds permits our trade to develop, develop and proceed to profit the economic 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 shield the excellent lifestyle that is a crucial motive individuals select to stay, 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 muse of our excessive “High quality of Life” that draws guests, entrepreneurs, new residents and funding in our communities, strengthening our native economic system. In actual fact, these spectacular public lands had been the ultimate determinant once I selected the Olympic Peninsula as the brand new house for my medical system 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- 12 months 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 approach all over the world. 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 beneath. 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 legacy 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.”
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 convey 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!”
Sarah Muszynski, Proprietor, Blue Horizons Paddlesports (Lake Cushman): “As an out of doors recreation enterprise proprietor and an avid outdoorsman, my livelihood and life-style rely on clear, free-flowing rivers. Guests to Olympic Nationwide Park and companies like mine yearly contribute $220 million in native financial advantages and help 2,708 jobs. This financial profit relies on entry to the prime quality pure sources the Olympic Peninsula is understood for and safety of these sources. Guests from all over the world come to expertise the place we name house. Defending these sources is an funding in our area’s financial future, and the sensible factor to do.”
Michelle Sandoval, Port Townsend Mayor (Port Townsend): “This laws will assist completely shield 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 shield and promote the identical spectacular public lands and prime quality of life which might be serving to to drive development and create native jobs in actual property, building and lots of different sectors of our economic system in the present day. Our historical forests, salmon, rivers and superb landscapes are the north Olympic Peninsula’s aggressive financial benefit over different areas. We should 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 straightforward to see and perceive the ecological worth of the Wild Olympics concept, conserving clear and free flowing rivers, however what is typically missed is the financial worth that sustaining locations like Wild Olympics brings by attracting individuals to the particular outdoor 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.”
Mark and Desiree’ Dodson, House owners Westport Marina Cottages (Westport): “We’re one of many a whole lot of native Peninsula companies backing Wild Olympics as a result of it might shield & promote the identical priceless pure treasures which might be cornerstones of our economic system. Our historical temperate rainforests & wild rivers are iconic one-of-kind outside recreation locations that draw guests & new residents from all over the world.”
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 large cities, our glacial-fed rivers, filled with salmon and surrounded by majestic eagles continually encourage hundreds of thousands 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 help outside lovers 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 Assist 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
