Skykomish land may received federal protection: First federally protected wilderness in Washington since early 80s

Skykomish land may receive federal protection

from King 5.com www.king5.com/localnews/environmental.html.StoryID=22228

Index, WA - A bill to create the first new, federally protected wilderness in Washington since the early 1980s will be introduced in Congress before the end of the year.

Skykomish, Washington - July 3, 2001 - An area of jagged mountain peaks surrounded by clear, blue lakes – all just 60 miles from Seattle – has been dubbed “Skykomish Wild Country” and Senator Patty Murray and Congressman Rick Larson want it designated as wilderness.

It’s an efforts to protect as much as 110,000 acres of forest near the headwaters of the Skykomish River.

Senator Patty Murray and Representative Rick Larsen endorsed the idea in a visit to the area near Index Monday. They want wilderness protection for two areas – one that includes old-growth forest and the other consisting of second-growth trees.

“It is my intention, and Congressman Larsen as well, to at least introduce legislation and get the ball rolling,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.

"I think we have a chance to push through a bipartisan bill this year. If it gets signed, that's up to the President to decide what he wants to do,” said Rep. Rick Larsen D-2nd District.

The boundaries of the proposed wilderness area have yet to be determined, but the goal is to protect large pieces of lowland forest left out of other wilderness legislation because the timber was deemed too valuable.

Indeed, the timber industry is likely to fight this effort as well.

"When you create a wilderness, you create a very single specific use for that land. Is that the best use for that land? I'm here to tell you that may not be true,” said Bob Dick, timber industry representative.

The Wilderness Act bans not only logging, but all mechanized uses, including mountain bikes. The Forest Service won’t use motorized equipment to maintain trails and may let fires simply burn themselves out. Some wilderness areas require permits for hiking and camping to keep crowds out of the back country.

Advocates say it’s the best way to permanently protect places like the Skykomish Wild Country.

Once Congress designates a wilderness, it takes another act of Congress to overturn it.

Washington has about 4 million acres of federally designated wilderness. The Skykomish Wild Country Wilderness would add another 100,000.

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