Wild Sky Wilderness Act Of 2007

WILD SKY WILDERNESS ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - April 17, 2007)

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of creating the first wilderness area for Washington State in over 20 years. The Wild Sky Wilderness will be unique, protecting 106,000 acres of the most pristine forests and streams in my district, while providing a clean and accessible place to hike, hunt, and fish.

The Wild Sky Wilderness Act has been carefully crafted, and it reflects years of community input. It will protect the peaks, forests and lakes of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, as well as thousands of acres of lower-elevation forest and salmon-bearing streams. Wild Sky will protect more lower-elevation acres than any other wilderness area in Washington State, bringing wilderness closer to our communities and benefiting Washington families and businesses for generations to come.

Congress passed the last national forest wilderness act in 1984 when a bipartisan effort brought a bill to President Ronald Reagan for signature that created, among other areas, the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness. This Wild Sky Wilderness Act has strong bipartisan support as well. This bill has received strong support from local Republican and Democratic legislators, former Republican Governors, and our current Democratic Governor, Christine Gregoire. Additionally, State legislators and the Snohomish County Executive have expressed their support.

The Wild Sky Wilderness Act has local support. The former mayor of the town of Index, the closest local government to the proposed wilderness, has said that ``the Wild Sky Wilderness will be the best thing that ever happened in the valley.'' The cities of Monroe and Snohomish, both located on Highway 2 on the way to the Wild Sky, have passed resolutions of support.

The Wild Sky Wilderness Act has strong business support. REI, Inc., the Nation's largest consumer cooperative with its focus on the outdoor adventure, is an endorser, as are David and Lynn Meier, co-owners of A Stone's Throw Bed and Breakfast and A Cabin in the Sky vacation rental just down the way from the wild Skykomish wilderness. Additionally, the Snohomish County Economic Development Council supports this proposal.

This bill again marks the summit of a 5-year process of inclusiveness and compromise. My staff and the staff of Senator Patty Murray, who is the bill's prime sponsor in the Senate, have worked over the last 5 years to address local concerns. As a result of this community input, the original idea of a 120,000-acre proposal has been whittled down to the 106,000-acre bill that we are voting on today.

The spirit of compromise has been a constant in this bill's development over the last 5 years. This past winter, as an example, massive floods altered the path of the Skykomish River, displacing and destroying parts of the primary road that snakes through the proposed wilderness area. Immediately, Senator Murray and I brought together Snohomish County, the Forest Service and local advocates to responsibly adjust the boundaries of the proposed wilderness to ensure that the road could be repaired and remain open in the future.

The spirit of compromise has earned the support of groups such as the Washington Sea Plane Pilots Association, local tribes, the Wild Steelhead Coalition, the Back Country Horsemen and the Washington Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities. Additionally, my office has received approximately 4,000 letters and e-mails in support of the Wild Sky and a petition with over 10,000 names in support. Over 5 years of collaboration and compromise has resulted in a bill that has gained broad support in the best tradition of past Washington State wilderness areas. It is time to create the next generation of Washington State wilderness.

Finally, I want to thank Chairman Rahall and his staff, Jim Zoia and Rick Healy, for their tremendous help and unwavering support for the Wild Sky Wilderness Act.

Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to submit the following names for the Record. These people conceived, fine-tuned, negotiated, along with many other people, the boundaries of the Wild Sky. Without their tireless effort, we would not be here today, and we owe them our thanks as well.

Mike Town, John Leary, Larry Romans, Tom Uniack, Rick McGuire, Mark Lawler, Harry Romberg, Norm Winn, Don Parks, Charlie Raines, Jon Owen, Michael Carroll, Jill Mckinnie, Brandon Hall, Christian Gunter, Jasper MacSlarrow, Louis Lauter, Doug Clapp, Abbey Levenshus, Charla Newman, Amanda Mahnke, Kim Johnston, Jeff Bjornstad, Jaime Shimek, Karen Waters, John Engber, Rachelle Hein, Cindy Lewis, Christy Gullion, Nalani Askov, Michelle Ackerman, Jennifer Ekstrom, Doug Scott, Bill Arthur, Doug Walker, Bill & Sue Cross, Bob Hubbard, Conway Leovy, Mark Heckert, Kem Hunter, Aaron Reardon, Peter Jackson, Tracy Nagelbush, Brian Bonlender, Michelle Koppes, Dave Sommers, Amit Ronen, Carrie Desmond.

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Finally I would like to thank the late Karen M. Fant, 1949-2006. Throughout her adult life Karen spurred thousands of citizens across the State of Washington to speak up for the protection of wild places and wilderness. Early on Karen recognized the need to bring together and involve local people in efforts to protect wilderness. To do so she cofounded
and directed the Washington Wilderness Coalition. She was instrumental in forming an effective statewide community of wilderness advocates. To those who knew her, she provided never-ending inspiration and enthusiasm to keep working for the goal of protecting wilderness and wildlands in Washington State. Above all, Karen saw the potential and opportunity in everyone to be involved, play an important role, and make a difference.

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