November 2022 Newsletter

November 9, 2022

November 2022

Hear About Washington Conservation Issues
Thursday, November 17
7 PM on Zoom, RSVPs Required

Margie Van Cleve, state Sierra Club Conservation Chair, will discuss current priority issues that volunteers are working on. Margie is a long-time volunteer who was on the team that worked on the Wild and Scenic River bill for Washington State.

Come find out about the many environmental conservation issues facing Washington and how you can volunteer to make a difference.

RSVP HERE

North Olympic Group Needs You!

Every year at this time we solicit applications from our members to serve on our Executive Committee. We meet once a month, via Zoom, to address some of the most pressing environmental issues facing Clallam and Jefferson Counties. Throw your hat in the ring--drop us a note telling us about yourself, your environmental interests and background, and any experience you feel is relevant to serving on our board. Self-nominations are due by the end of this month; we'll contact you before our December newsletter which will contain a list of candidates. Terms begin in January.

Submit Applications Here

Help Save Elwha's Legacy Forests

Last month the Port Angeles City Council asked the State Department of Natural Resources to delay plans to log a 166 acres in the Elwha River watershed. The DNR has declined, and the "Aldwell" timber sale is expected to go forward.

City Councilmember LaTrisha Suggs was quoted in the Peninsula Daily News as saying: “You know...the federal government..has spent over $327 million into restoring the Elwha watershed, and it just doesn’t make sense..."

The PDN's article also notes that DNR’s rejection letter reminded the Council that the DNR is required to manage state trust lands "to generate revenues to fund critical public services and infrastructure." This response flies in the face of the recent State Supreme Court case which reminded DNR that a single-minded focus on revenue generation alone was not supported by the State Constitution.

Meanwhile, DNR’s Carbon Offset Project seeks to set aside thousands of acres of forest in western Washington. Including the Aldwell tract in DNR's Carbon Offset Project just makes sense--it protects the federal and tribal investments in restoring the Elwha's salmon runs and it protects the watershed that provides Port Angeles' drinking water.

You can submit comments directly to DNR about its Carbon Project. When you do please tell DNR you would like the Aldwell sale to be included and that you want DNR to prioritize saving all legacy forests.

Comment Here

And, While You're at It...

Legacy forests have many of the same characteristics as "old growth" forests. They are forests that were logged more than 80 years ago. These forests were not artificially planted with a single species in tidy rows and they were allowed to naturally regenerate. They are robust forests with a healthy diversity of plant and animal life. They also efficiently sequester carbon to mitigate the climate crisis.

Unfortunately, this also makes them a primary target for loggers. The Washington Department of Natural Resources needs to hear that we want healthy forests, not more clearcuts. Find out more here and get involved:

Save Legacy Forests

Breach the Lower Snake River Dams

Gov. Jay Inslee and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray have released a draft report to examine whether the benefits provided by the four Lower Snake River Dams can be provided by other means so that breaching of the dams could be part of a comprehensive salmon recovery strategy for the Pacific Northwest.

The report notes that the dams have significantly altered the physical, chemical, hydrological, and biological processes in the Snake River, changing it from free flowing to a series of reservoirs. All Snake River salmon are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The dams significantly limit the ability for salmon to spawn in the main river channel and create slack water conditions that favor other species, many of which prey on salmon. Breaching the dams would have the highest likelihood of removing salmon from ESA listing and maintaining treaty and trust obligations compared to other alternatives.

Keep up the pressure on our elected officials to do the right thing:

Email Your Representatives

Ask Gov. Inslee to Appoint Fish and Wildlife Commissioners Who Will Represent the Values and Interests of All Washingtonians

Three seats on the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission expire in December, and the people Gov. Inslee selects for those seats will determine the direction of state fish and wildlife policy. Many crucial issues hang in the balance, including the future of Washington’s wolves and bears.

A recent poll commissioned by Washington Wildlife First found that 80% of Washingtonians oppose the spring bear hunt, which the Commission voted to end by a narrow margin. But Washington Fish and Wildlife Department Director Kelly Susewind has vowed to revive the hunt—and extremist groups are pushing the Governor to appoint Commissioners who will agree.

The next Commission will decide what happens to Washington’s bears and wolves. Please write or call Governor Inslee’s office today. Respectfully ask him to appoint Commissioners who will vote to end spring bear hunting for good, and who will vote for a rule to protect wolves.

Find Out More and Take Action Here

Support WEAN for Much-Deserved Award

You've heard about their success in stopping covert military training in Washington State Parks, their precedent setting win to protect rare plant species and their habitat, and the protection for the Western Toad habitat. These are just the most recent successful court battles of the Whidbey Environmental Action Network, that has worked for 30 years to protect the environment in and around Whidbey Island. These wins represent thousands of hours of volunteer effort, and we now have a chance to reward that effort.

WEAN is a finalist for a $40,000 grant for non-profit organizations. The group with the most votes wins. Scroll down to the end of the alphabetical listing to find WEAN and get your vote in by the Nov. 13 deadline.

Vote For WEAN Here

Let us know how if you have any suggestions or if you want to volunteer to help protect the Olympic Peninsula's environment. We promise to keep you busy!

The North Olympic Group's website contains a blog that's updated to reflect current environmental issues and events. Members are encouraged to periodically check it out.

North Olympic Group Website

November 2022 Newsletter

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