(Washington,
D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Congressman Dave Reichert
(R-WA8) reintroduced their Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Pratt and
Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act. This legislation would expand the
Alpine Lakes Wilderness and designate both the Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie
Rivers as Wild and Scenic.
“I
am proud to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation with Congressman Reichert
to protect and expand the Alpine Lakes Wilderness,” said Senator
Patty Muray. “I am committed to making sure that this pristine
environment is preserved as a legacy and natural resource for generations to
come. I appreciate Congressman Reichert’s work on this in the House, and I am
going to push hard to pass this bill in the Senate.”
“Americans
can find common ground in protecting what is most valuable to us – the
naturally beautiful terrain and wildlife that helped shape the history and
people of the American West,” said Representative Reichert. “We
have an inherent responsibility to do our part to preserve for the resources
with which we’ve been blessed.
“That’s
why I’m excited Senator Patty Murray is joining me in this continued bipartisan
effort to preserve an extraordinary wilderness in Washington, not far from our
own backyards. We came close last year when my bill passed in the House,
but Senator Murray and I have renewed our vow to work hard to move this
proposal through the 112th Congress and see it signed into law. Only then
will we properly honor the volunteers, stakeholders, and residents who have
shown us how important and necessary these protections are to people throughout
our region. Until then, I am committed to working with Senator Murray,
the entire Washington State delegation, and our communities to protect this
legacy for the benefit of current and future generations.”
Senator
Maria Cantwell is a co-sponsor of this legislation in the Senate, and
Congressmen Inslee, McDermott, Smith and Dicks are co-sponsors in the House.
The
existing Alpine Lakes Wilderness was designated by Congress in 1976 by the late
Congressman Lloyd Meeds and is one of the most visited wilderness areas in the
country. It is one of the closest blocks of wild forests to an urban center in
the country and provides diverse recreational opportunities. Key elements of
the new Alpine Lakes legislation include:
-
Providing the protection of the Wilderness Act of 1964
for the lower elevation lands, which will bring a richer diversity of
ecosystems, including deeply forested valleys, into the wilderness area
and increase its overall biodiversity. The addition of these lower
elevation lands also has the direct effect of protecting a broader array
of outdoor recreational opportunities easily accessible for wilderness
enthusiasts. - Designating the Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers
as Wild and Scenic, which would permanently protect the rivers’
free-flowing character, water quality and outstanding recreation,
fisheries, wildlife, geological and ecological values. This designation
provides for many recreational activities including unique backcountry
hiking, kayaking, and white water rafting that is unheard of so close to a
major urban center
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