Spring/Summer 2016
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THE WILD CASCADES THE JOURNAL OF THE NORTH CASCADES CONSERVATION COUNCIL SPRING/SUMMER 2016 visit www.northcascades.org • ncascadesconservation.blogspot.com THE WILD CASCADES • Spring/Summer 2016 1 The NOrTh CascadeS Conservation Council was THE WILD CASCADES Spring/Summer 2016 formed in 1957 “To protect and preserve the North Cascades’ scenic, 3 President’s report — Tom Hammond scientific, recreational, educational, and wilderness values.” Continuing 4 NCCC Actions November 2015 - April 2016 this mission, NCCC keeps government 5 Betty Manning memorial officials, environmental organiza- tions, and the general public informed 6 Alpine Lakes dam projects begin scoping — Karl Forsgaard about issues affecting the Greater Lawsuit closes ATV routes on national forest roads — Karl Forsgaard North Cascades Ecosystem. Action is Time to renew? pursued through administrative, legal, 7 Military to reconsider helicopter training sites in Cascades — Rick and public participation channels to McGuire protect the lands, waters, plants and 8 New board member Scott Crain wildlife. Lands Commissioner Goldmark to step down — Rick McGuire Over the past half century NCCC 9 North Fork Skykomish road to reopen? — Rick McGuire has led or participated in campaigns to create the North Cascades National 10 Celebrating 100 years of national parks the best way I know how — Tom Park Complex, Glacier Peak Wilder- Hammond ness, and other units of the National 13 Alpine Lakes Wilderness celebrates 40 years — Rick McGuire Wilderness System from the W.O. 14 Wild Nearby exhibit opens at Burke Museum Douglas Wilderness north to the Join the NCCC work party October 1 Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness, the Chelan-Saw- 15 The restoration of grizzly bears to the North Cascades — the North Cas- tooth Wilderness, the Wild Sky Wil- cades Ecosystem Grizzly Bear Recovery EIS Team derness and others. Among its most 17 NCCC responds dramatic victories has been working Kennecott mine opposition poster — 50 years ago with British Columbia allies to block the raising of Ross Dam, which would 18 Hunting habitat affects viewing of national park wolves have drowned Big Beaver Valley. 19 North Cascades Institute’s 30th anniversary picnic NCCC is supported by member dues 21 Under the weight of ice — Thom Schroeder and private donations. These contri- 22 About artist Jill Pelto butions support the full range of the 23 Membership application Council’s activities, including publica- tion of The Wild Cascades. As a 501(c) FRONT: Salmon Population Decline by artist Jill Pelto. Read about Jill and her (3) organization, all contributions art on page 22. are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Membership dues for The Wild Cascades one year are: Living Lightly/Student $10; Individual $30; Family $50; Sus- Journal of the North Cascades Conservation Council taining $100. EDITOR: Anne Basye EDITORIAL BOARD: Philip Fenner, Anders Forsgaard, North Cascades Tom Hammond, and Rick McGuire Conservation Council P.O. Box 95980 Printing by Abracadabra Printing | Pat Hutson, Designer University Station The Wild Cascades is published three times a year (Winter, Spring/Summer, Fall). Seattle, WA 98145-2980 Letters, comments, and articles are invited, subject to editorial review. NCCC Website The Wild Cascades Editor www.northcascades.org [email protected] North Cascades Conservation Council PO Box 95980, University Station, Seattle, WA 98145-2980 The Wild Cascades is printed on recycled paper. 2 THE WILD CASCADES • Spring/Summer 2016 NCCC Board Officers PRESIDENT Tom hammond VICE PRESIDENT Founded in 1957 Carolyn McConnell SeATTLe, WAShINGTON TREASURER Tom Brucker THE PRESIDENT’S REPORT SPRING/SUMMER 2016 SECRETARY Marc Bardsley Laura Zalesky passed on May 18th at the age of 92. This issue of The Wild Cascades was essentially in print at the time, so stay tuned to the next issue for Other directors tributes. Laura stands as one of the great conservationists of our time, and it has been an honor to work with her and call her friend. Scott Crain Thanks to Scott Crain for answering our call and joining the board—see page Polly Dyer 8 for a bit of his story. Please join the NCCC in celebrating 100 years of National Parks. As you’ll see Philip Fenner in this edition of The Wild Cascades, and in the next as well, we’ll be paying attention to the centennial anniversary of what has been called “The (United Dave Fluharty States’) Greatest Idea” in Ken Burns’ excellent documentary on our National Parks. Anders Forsgaard Greatest idea indeed: preserving the natural character and ability of the Karl Forsgaard landscape for all living things because such preservation is important. Perhaps the greatest importance of the National Park concept is that it is now world-wide: Ed Henderson nations across the planet have recognized the wisdom of preserving the natural world, and have taken steps to do so. Rick McGuire On a more local scale, the NCCC has met with the National Park service staff twice in the past couple of months to discuss grizzly bear recovery, helicopter Thom Peters use in Wilderness and our upcoming work party. You’re invited to join us on Thom Schroeder October 1—we will be removing invasive plants and planting natives at Diablo overlook, or (if bad weather) working in the Miller Greenhouse at the ranger station in Marblemount. See details on page 11 and RSVP. We thank the staff of Advisors North Cascades National Park for taking the time to meet with us. On a personal scale, I have been fortunate enough to visit North Cascades Charles Ehlert National Park twice and Olympic National Park once in the past several weeks, where my brother and I saw dozens of California gray whales cavorting within Kevin Geraghty a hundred meters of the beach over the course of four days—morning noon and night! We are fortunate to live in a place surrounded by natural wonders Fayette Krause and beauty, and in a nation that recognizes the importance of Wilderness preser- Dave LeBlanc vation: not for the sake of human gain, but to support all life forms. The North Cascades Conservation Council was formed in 1957 with the spe- cific mission of getting a National Park created in our North Cascades. Subsequent to realizing this goal with the signing of the law in 1968, the board of the NCCC considered disbanding the organization a number of times from the late 1960s through the present. At each consideration, we’ve asked ourselves if we provide value to the preservation of Wilderness and wilderness character in the North Cascades, and each time the answer has been and continues to be a resounding “Yes!” There is a need for all-volunteer advocates, and the board and I thank each and every member for your continued support. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 visit www.northcascades.org • ncascadesconservation.blogspot.com THE WILD CASCADES • Spring/Summer 2016 3 EXPANDING, PROMOTING ESTABLISHING, ENVIRONMENTALLY AND PROTECTING SOUND RECREATION NCCC WILDERNESS AREAS IN WILD AREAS Why it matters: federal land designation Why it matters: balancing access with Actions as Wilderness and Park is the gold economics and Wilderness preservation, standard of ecosystem protection, we evaluate motorized use and places precluding most damaging industrial and where it needs to be limited to reduce commercial exploitation. land impacts and recurring road repair November 2015 costs. to april 2016 Attended public meeting of the Icicle Work Group, a Chelan County Participated in a discussion panel Department of Natural Resources at the University of Washington Advocacy carried out by and Ecology effort to increase irri- Film Club/Scarecrow video presen- gation water storage in eight lakes tation of Chasing Ice, a film about dedicated NCCC volunteers in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. climate change and the retreat of glaciers. in the last six months to Met with staff of the North Cas- cades National Park to discuss Presented a lecture at the Univer- protect and preserve the issues of joint concern and organi- sity of Washington at bothell on zational relationships. the retreat and measurement of North Cascades lands, North Cascade Glaciers. Joined Wilderness Watch in signing waters, plants, and wildlife. joint letter to all members of Con- Submitted comments to the Dar- gress opposing amendment to the rington Collaborative supporting Wilderness Act to allow bicycles in some elements of their proposals congressionally designated Wilder- and opposing others. ness. Published an article on the retreat and measurement of North Cas- cade Glaciers in The Mountaineer magazine. 4 THE WILD CASCADES • Spring/Summer 2016 PROTECTING ANCIENT FORESTS AND PROTECTING WILDLIFE PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE FOREST AND HABITAT MANAGEMENT Why it matters: from microscopic fungi to top predators, the wilderness ecosystem’s Why it matters: like real estate, they’re just not making ancient forest anymore. We living members are interdependent, so seek to restore watersheds and fisheries damaged from decades of heavy logging and keeping viable populations of each species road building and protect significant forests from degradation. is essential to preserve the ecosystem for future generations. Signed joint letter commenting on ATM issued under the Sustainable the scope of the environmental Roads Strategy. NCCC advocated Signed joint letter to the WA State impact to be evaluated, project keeping open and maintaining only Department of Ecology opposing area of 65,000 acres, 6,700 acres to the mileage of roads with the avail- revision of the instream flow rule be thinned, of the proposed South able budget. for Snohomish Public Utility’s pro- Fork Stillaguamish vegetation Man- posed Sunset Falls hydroelectric Signed joint letter to the U.S. Sen- agement Project. plant on the Skykomish River. ate opposing inclusion of Senate Submitted scoping comments on bill S-1694 (promoting the Yakima Signed joint letter to the WA State the proposed Greenwater River Integrated Plan) to the Energy om- congressional delegation support- Access Travel Management (ATM) nibus bill.