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The Wild Cascades

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The Wild Cascades THE WILD CASCADES THE JOURNAL OF THE NORTH CASCADES CONSERVATION COUNCIL WINTER 1997-1998 he North Cascades Conservation TCouncil was formed in 1957 "To pro­ tect-and preserve the North Cascades' scenic, scientific, recreational, educa­ THE WILD CASCADES Winter 1997-1998 tional, and wilderness values." Continu­ ing this mission, NCCC keeps govern­ ment officials, environmental organiza­ In This Issue tions, and the general public informed about issues affecting the Greater North 3 The President's Report — MARC BARDSLEY Cascades Ecosystem. Action is pursued through legislative, legal, and public par­ ticipation channels to protect the lands, 4 North Cascades Threatened by New Private Growth and waters, plants and wildlife. Petty Politics — CAROLYN MCCONNELL Over the past third of a century the NCCC has led or participated in cam­ 5 Logging Threatens North Fork Skykomish — RICK paigns to create the North Cascades Na­ MCGUIRE tional Park Complex, Glacier Peak Wil­ derness, and other units of the National 6 Feet vs. Motorcycles — HARVEY MANNING Wilderness System from the WO. Dou­ glas Wilderness north to the Alpine Lakes 11 MVCC vs. Arrowleaf (Proposed Development in the Wilderness, the Henry M. Jackson Wil­ derness, the Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness Methow) and others. Among its most dramatic vic­ tories has been working with British Co­ 12 RR&CG Railroads & Clearcuts Campaign lumbia allies to block the raising of Ross Dam, which would have drowned Big 13 Roads in the (Roadless Areas) Forest: A Damage Primer Beaver Valley. — ABE RINGEL MEMBERSHIP 14 Grazing in the Pasayten: Its Impact on the Land and The NCCC is supported by member People (Part One, USFS Management History) —MARK dues and private donations. These sup­ GLYDE AND KEVIN HERRICK port publication of The Wild Cascades and lobbying activities. (NCCC is a non-tax- 18 . Washington Wilderness .— HARVEY MANNING deductible 501 (c)4 organization.) Mem­ bership dues for one year are: $10 -low income/student; $20 - regular; $25 - fam­ ily; $50.00 - Contributing; $100 - patron; Cover Photo: $1000 - Sustaining. A one-time life mem­ LAKE CHELAN bership dues payment is $500. Looking uptake toward Stehekin — LARRY HANSEN PHOTO The North Cascades Foundation sup­ The Wild Cascades ports the NCCC's nonpolitical efforts. Donations are tax-deductible as a 501(c)3 Journal of the North Cascades Conservation Council organization. Please make your check(s) EDITOR: Betty Manning out to the organization of your choice. The Foundation can be reached through Printing by EcoGraphics NCCC mailing address: The Wild Cascades is published three times a year (Spring, Summer/Fall, Winter). NCCC members receive this journal. Address letters, comments, send articles to: North Cascades Conservation Council The Wild Cascades Editor P.O. Box 95980 North Cascades Conservation Council University Station University Station Seattle, WA 98145-1980 Seattle, WA 98145-1980 * The Wild Cascades \s printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink. 2 THE WILD CASCADES • Winter 1997-1998 NCCC Board President Marc Bardsley Founded in 1957 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON Board Chairman Patrick Goldsworthy Vice President Charles Ehlert 7& P/i&hJ&ht'* fty&tt Winter, 1997-1998 Treasurer Tom Brucker In the last issue of this publication I brought up the trail park permit fee situation. It seems that my paranoia on this issue was not entirely unfounded. A Secretary long list of USFS projects have recently surfaced which generally propose major Phil Zalesky construction in Legislated Wilderness Areas. The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is proposing to replace two bridges in the Suiattle area and supply material for trail construction near Scenic Lake in the Bruce Barnbaum Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area with chain saws. The Wenatchee National Forest also has a list of projects to expedite with non-conforming tools. Dave Brower Replacement of bridges and other structures with use of helicopters and trail maintenance with chain saws now seems to be the preferred choice. A case can Polly Dyer certainly be made that use of material from outside the Wilderness boundaries may be less damaging to the environment and that chain saw use may be cheaper and Dave Fluharty safer in some instances. In fact some proposed bridge structures could probably not be built as designed without mechanical help. And helicopters for humanitarian Kevin Herrick reasons such as rescues seem reasonable. The point that seems to be overlooked, however, is that an occasional exception to the Wilderness Act principles may be Peter Hurley justified but an almost routine acceptance of powered devices for whatever reason may alter the essence of these areas. Conway Leovy The old story about losing the tent after the camel gets his nose in the door is certainly something to consider. Some people may feel that maximizing recreation Harvey Manning in the Wilderness Areas is why we fought for them in the first place. I doubt if most of our members would agree with that attitude. I generally support the opinion that Betty Manning we need to keep people familiar with areas to become advocates for their preserva­ tion but that is different from building amenities to accommodate ever increasing Carolyn McConnell numbers. As a minimum, I propose that persons interested in Wilderness Area integrity write to the various USFS officials involved and ask for an environmental Jim McConnell assessment of their actions which introduce non-conforming uses in legislated wilderness areas. And when you buy your trail-park permit this year, think about Rick McGuire how the money gets spent. Ken Wilcox Hazel Wolf Laura Zalesky Winter 1997-1998 • THE WILD CASCADES \ 3 North Cascades Threatened by New Private Growth and Petty Politics CAROLYN MCCONNELL Stehekin, WA. — As the North of urbanization would be held at bay and a threatening the native ecosystem. Cascades National Park Complex nears its simple life in harmony with nature was The strip remains open because a small 30th anniversary, the spectacular wildness possible. However, since 1968, Stehekin's but vocal group of private pilots know how for whose sake the nation created the park year-round population has tripled, and the to put pressure on park bureaucrats. A is being threatened by petty park politics, number of private homes has quadrupled, previous park superintendent suggested and new private growth. National Park most of them expensive second homes. that the strip be closed, only to be over­ Service trees are being cut, gravel is being Meanwhile, residents cut more and more ruled by the regional Park Service director. mined, a dangerous landing strip remains trees from National Park Service land to Now, even though they have watched plane open, and a river is being diverted to heat their homes, and private pilots crashes, a forest fire, and the expenditure support private development in North continue to use a dangerous airstrip which of tax dollars to control weeds from the Cascades Park Service areas. This desecra­ has claimed the lives of five people. A strip, North Cascades National Park tion must stop. The National Park Service private land owner is blackmailing the Park Superintendent William Paleck and must not be turned aside from its mission Service into trading valuable land to him Regional Director John Reynolds (himself a to protect the natural heritage of the under his threat to build condominiums on former North Cascades superintendent) people of the United States. a steep slope at the spectacular head of have failed to lift a finger. Superintendent Lake Chelan. Paleck and Director Reynolds appear to be What Is Going On more willing to swing with the passing in the North Cascades? Why Is This Happening? political winds than to make a good The work of the National Park Service Short term political interests are decision. turning the National Park Service away is done by good rangers who are dedicated • Stehekin River Manipulated: from its mission to protect the North to protecting our nation's national parks, National park areas are among the few Cascades. Bureaucrats intent on protecting but bureaucrats and special private interests places where rivers still run free. Yet in the their careers and pleasing senators are are keeping the rangers from doing their North Cascades petty politics are papering letting special interests tewtite Congress' jobs. over good science and forcing park rangers intent in establishing the North Cascades Most threatened is the southwestern to pour tax money into eroding waters to National Park Complex. edge of the park: the Stehekin valley, a cleft keep roads where they are instead of between towering mountains and 55-mile- Examples of the Threat to the closing them or moving them to higher long Lake Chelan, where the sagebrush North Cascades: ground. On the Stehekin River, whose steppe of Eastern Washington meets the entire length runs through the North • Dangerous Airstrip: deep forests of Western Washington. The Cascades National Park Complex, there are A dangerous emergency airstrip no Stehekin valley holds over 40 different at least 30 pieces of bank protection. Some longer needed by the state Department of habitat types in less than 8 square miles. of these were placed by the Patk Service, Natural Resources for fire fighting is seeing Almost every species found in the North while others were installed by private increased recreational use by private pilots. Cascades uses the valley either seasonally landowners — some legally, others illegally. This is a disastrous scar on the North or permanently, and the valley supports as When major floods destroyed large sections Cascades National Park Complex. Five many as 138 species of terrestrial verte­ of the Stehekin Road, including the portion people have died here so far, and though brates. Unreachable by road, this valley is with Park-designated wilderness, the Park luckily no one has died in the three crashes unique and special, one of the most Service refused to reconsider its policy in the airsttip has seen in the last three years, beautiful places in the United States and for light of the new circumstances, and insisted luck is running out.
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