Earth Share of Washington

Patience Rewards Wild Sky Wilderness Supporters

By Tom Uniack, Washington Wilderness Coalition

On Tuesday, April 29 the U.S. House passed a package of bills that included designation of the Wild Sky Wilderness.  The bill now goes to President Bush for his signature. (Editor's update)

My grandfather always told me, "Good things come to those who wait."  For the thousands of local stakeholders, elected officials and Washington citizens who have been working for the better part of the last decade on the proposed Wild Sky Wilderness, those words are taking shape.

Wild Sky is the result of almost nine years of work by Senator Murray (D-WA), Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA02), and advocates across Washington State.  Murray and Larsen first introduced the bill in 2002.

"Turning the dream of Wild Sky into reality has been a

long, hard climb, but with Senate approval today, we are just steps away from our goal," Senator Murray said.  "Wild Sky will give more than 2.4 million people from Snohomish, King, and Skagit counties easy access to hiking and camping in pristine wilderness for generations to come.  It will preserve a unique environment, and it will give nearby towns an economic boost." The bill now goes to the President for approval.

The Wild Sky Wilderness Act would protect 106,000 acres of forests, rivers, valleys and mountains in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.  Much of this area is in low elevation forest, allowing easy access for recreationists and protection of vital habitat for wildlife.  Permanent protection of this diverse landscape is important to ensure the ecological future of fish and wildlife throughout the region, to safeguard world-class recreational opportunities, and to bolster the economies of local communities.

For more information on the Wild Sky Wilderness proposal click here or read an article from the Seattle Times

Historic Agreement Signed to Restore Manastash Creek

By David Gorton, Washington Environmental Council

In December 2007, a wide range of interests signed an agreement to restore Manastash Creek a tributary to the Yakima River near Ellensburg. After six years of negotiations farmers, environmentalists, tribal staff, state agencies and others have signed an agreement that will lead to both a restoration of the creek as well as provide the water needed by local farmers.

A big part of this story is how far the negotiators have come -- six years ago, on farms outside Ellensburg the tension was palpable. The potential of a looming law suit was real. Yet, the desire to get to better place was felt by all. And over time the adversaries put down their guard, sat down to talk, and slowly built trust.

"It is with a mixture of relief and great pride that the Manastash Steering Committee will announce and sign an historic agreement," said John Arum of Washington Environmental Council. "We hope it can serve as a model for successful resolution of water conflict throughout the state."

The agreement will maintain the irrigation needs for local farmers while improving instream flow, screening irrigation diversions, and removing barriers to fish passage.  In all, it will open up 30-miles of formerly inaccessible high-quality habitat in the Wenatchee National Forest.  As climate change reduces the water available to Washingtonians, agreements like this one are crucial to protecting streams and fish as well as safeguarding working agricultural lands.

It's hard to put it better than the Yakima Herald-Republic, which said of the agreement, "What grew from those early, uncertain days is now seen as a model for resolving the complicated and contentious fish and irrigation issues that exist throughout the state and the region."

Snow, Sleet & Sun: Hundreds Celebrate Earth Day 2008

Volunteers Step Up To Save Our Sound!
By Mike Sato, People For Puget Sound

Puget Sound is healthier today, thanks to the efforts of hundreds of volunteers who volunteered at 8 restoration sites along Seattle's Duwamish River, at the Swinomish Community near LaConner, and at the Union Slough restoration site near Marysville.

The volunteers weeded out invasive plants, planted native plants, mulched and cleaned up trash as Puget Sound Earth Day 2008 unfolded April 19 under skies of snow, sleet and sun.

At Codiga Park, one of 8 Duwamish Alive! work sites where about 200 volunteers gathered to weed, plant and mulch, the 27-member Duwamish Alive! Coalition received the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coastal America Award for outstanding national volunteer conservation service.

The presentation included Ron Sims, King County Executive, Virginia K. Tippie, Director of Coastal America, and Timothy R.E. Keeney, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. Kathy Fletcher, Executive Director of People for Puget Sound, accepted the award for the 27 partners, many of whom were on hand to collect their commemorative plaques.

An estimated 800 volunteers turned out this year at the 8 sites during Duwamish Alive! At Codiga Park, volunteers came from Highline Community College, Boeing, Starbucks, Nova High School, O'Dea High School, Everett High School, Puget Sound Business Travel Association, City of Seattle, Washington Department of Ecology, Rainier Scholars, Boeing Employees Credit Union, and Arnold Air Society.

In the first two years of Duwamish Alive! Earth Day cleanups, over 1700 volunteers removed over 2 acres of invasive weeds, spread over 180 cubic yards of mulch (about 18 dump truck loads), planted more than 1,000 plants, and removed 325 pounds of garbage at 11 sites.

Continuing through Earth Month and beyond is the "10 Simple Things To Save Our Sound" pledge drive for Sound Citizens to do their part to Save Our Sound-"Click here":http://pugetsound.org/primary/act/citizen/simplethings

Volunteer Opportunities

Ongoing

Audubon Washington
Audubon needs people for Mailing Parties, Conservation Callers Brigade and Administrative Assistance.  Volunteer Night! Tuesdays from 3-5pm. Click here to learn more

Washington Trails Association - Trail Work
This month WTA hosts more than 20 trail work parties. To find a work party in your neck of the woods, visit the WTA website and signup today!

Futurewise
Futurewise is searching for volunteers to help with office work, MS Access, taking photos, and legal assistance.  If you can help contact them via their website

People for Puget Sound - Shoreline Restoration
Join People for Puget Sound in shoreline restoration events throughout the month all along the sound. Get muddy, make friends, do good. Click here for a schedule

Volunteer with Sightline
Information about volunteering with Sightline, plus descriptions of current volunteer projects is located here

May 3

Lincoln Park volunteer work party - EarthCorps
10am - 2pm. Join EarthCorps, MudUp and the Green Seattle Partnership as they work to make Lincoln Park healthy! Contact Chris LaPointe at (206) 322-9296, ext. 217 or email chris@earthcorps.org.

May 7

Easy Current News Mailing Party - Washington Water Trails Association
Pizza, drinks, new friends, fun, and collating, folding and putting mailing labels on the Spring edition of Easy Current News. Contact volunteer@wwta.org or call 206.545.9161

May 10

Licton Springs Work Party - EarthCorps
10am-2pm. Join EarthCorps, Friends of Licton Springs, Global Visionaries and Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation in an effort to restore this amazing north Seattle Park. Contact Chris LaPointe at (206) 322-9296, ext. 217 or email chris@earthcorps.org.

6th Annual Lake Union Sweep - Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
Please join PSA in cleaning up Lake Union and surrounding shorelines. Contact: (206)297-7002 or email volunteer@pugetsoundkeeper.org.
 
Ravenna Park Restoration Work Party- Earth Corps
10am-2pm. Join EarthCorps and the Green Seattle Partnership and Seattle Parks and Recreation as they work to keep the Park healthy! Contact Chris LaPointe at (206) 322-9296, ext. 217 or email chris@earthcorps.org.

Clover Creek Restoration- Cascade Land Conservancy
10am-1pm. Volunteers will participate in an on-going restoration project to improve stream-side habitat. Contact stacyc@cascadeland.org.

May 17

West Duwamish Greenbelt - EarthCorps
10am-2pm. Join EarthCorps, the Green Seattle Partnership and the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation to restore the largest contiguous greenbelt in Seattle. Contact Chris LaPointe at (206) 322-9296, ext. 217 or email chris@earthcorps.org

May 29

Work Party - Bicycle Alliance of Washington
1pm-8pm. The easiest way to get involved is to go to their monthly volunteer work party. Click here for more info

May 31

SE 53rd Open Space Work Party - EarthCorps
Saturday, May 31, 2008. 10:00am - 2:00pm. Join EarthCorps, Mercer Island Parks and Recreation and community members for urban forest restoration. Contact Lina Anne Rose at (206) 322-9296, ext. 225 or email lina@earthcorps.org