The Journal of the North Cascades Conservation Council Summer/Fall 2010
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The Wild CasCades The Journal of The norTh CasCades ConservaTion CounCil Summer/fall 2010 visit www.northcascades.org • americanalps.blogspot.com/ The Wild CasCades • Summer/Fall 2010 1 The North CasCades ConservaTion COuncil was The Wild CASCades summer/Fall 2010 formed in 1957 “To protect and preserve the North Cascades’ scenic, in This issue scientific, recreational, educational, and wilderness values.” Continuing this mission, NCCC keeps government 3 President’s Report — Marc Bardsley officials, environmental organizations, 4 a special contribution to the NCCC would help and the general public informed about saving the Cascades with social media — Philip Fenner issues affecting the Greater North 5 Forest service proposes illabot road decommissioning — rick Cascades ecosystem. action is pursued McGuire through legislative, legal, and public participation channels to protect the Viewpoint: into the wilds with iceaxe, cellphone and GPs — John S. edwards lands, waters, plants and wildlife. 6 American alps Biodiversity Report released — Jim davis over the past half century the NCCC 7 Researching biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics in our ameri- has led or participated in campaigns can alps — Phillip Zalesky to create the North Cascades National Park Complex, Glacier Peak Wilder- 8 More news from Reiter Forest — Karl Forsgaard ness, and other units of the National 10 Finney aMa Plan disappoints — rick McGuire Wilderness System from the W.o. 12 Margaret Miller returns to Cascade Pass — Tom hammond douglas Wilderness north to the 14 Joe Miller — american hero — Tom hammond alpine lakes Wilderness, the henry M. Jackson Wilderness, the Chelan-Saw- 15 Suggested Revegetation Practices — Margaret M. Miller and Joseph tooth Wilderness, the Wild Sky Wil- W. Miller, prepared for the National Park Service June, 1977 derness and others. among its most 18 Bumping lake ancient forest — One of a kind — Brock evans dramatic victories has been working 19 North Cascades Glacier Climate Project — Tom hammond with British Columbia allies to block 20 Stehekin road tour with senator Cantwell — Jim davis the raising of ross dam, which would have drowned Big Beaver Valley. 21 PCT border crossing warning — richard M. Graham, Jr., U.S. Border Patrol The NCCC is supported by member 22 Books and video available dues and private donations. These contributions support the full range 23 NCCC membership application of the Council’s activities, including publication of The Wild Cascades. as Cover: Polly Dyer, left, and Margaret Miller prior to their historic hike to Cas- a 501(c)(3) organization, all contribu- cade Pass. — Tom Hammond pHoTo tions are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Membership dues for one year are: living lightly/ The Wild Cascades Student $10; individual $30; Family $50; Sustaining $100; other, $______. Journal of the North Cascades Conservation Council ediTor: Betty Manning North Cascades ediTorial Board: John edwards, Philip Fenner, Tom hammond, Conservation Council and rick McGuire P.O. Box 95980 university station Printing by ecoGraphics seattle, Wa 98145-2980 The Wild Cascades is published three times a year (Spring, Summer/Fall, Winter). executive director, Jim davis letters, comments, and articles are invited, subject to editorial review. 1-360-296-5159 The Wild Cascades editor North Cascades Conservation Council NCCC Website University Station, Seattle, Wa 98145-2980 www.northcascades.org The Wild Cascades is printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink. 2 The Wild CaSCadeS • Summer/Fall 2010 NCCC Board president Marc Bardsley board chairman Founded in 1957 Patrick Goldsworthy seaTTle, WASHINGTON vice president Charles ehlert treasurer The President’s Report Summer/Fall 2010 Tom Brucker This summer as many of us were enjoying our wilderness areas secretary Phil Zalesky and national parks, i hope we all took some time to reflect on how they came to be and who helped make it happen. as president of executive director North Cascades Conservation Council, i often get caught up with Jim davis efforts to convert roadless areas into park and wilderness and how difficult it sometimes becomes. Thinking back, i wonder how it Bruce Barnbaum must have been for those early pioneers who blazed the trail to create our first protected areas. Their skill and perseverance seem Polly dyer astonishing. John edwards Who were they? of course there was John Muir, clearly the most influential citizen activist in the last few hundred years. The per- Philip Fenner sons (and my heroes) that made the most difference in the North- dave Fluharty west have to include dave Brower, Polly dyer, Patrick Goldsworthy, harvey Manning, and Phil and laura Zalesky. These folks, all board anders Forsgaard members of the NCCC, were instrumental in creating the new North Cascades National Park, the Glacier Peak Wilderness and sev- Karl Forsgaard eral other important protected areas we all know and love. Kevin Geraghty it is always difficult to point out a few leaders and not mention others who were also instrumental in achieving so many of our suc- Tom hammond cesses. a few of these other important people must include Grant Betty Manning McConnell, a Stehekin stalwart, Joe and Margaret Miller — our alpine native plant specialists, dave Fluharty, who led the fight to Carolyn McConnell stop high ross dam, Brock evans, and others. rick McGuire While we should not be continually dwelling on the past, it is good to occasionally reflect on how these folks led the way and Thom Peters worked out many of the methods we are still using today to protect additional land for the public good. Mike Town Ken Wilcox laura Zalesky visit www.northcascades.org • americanalps.blogspot.com/ The Wild CasCades • Summer/Fall 2010 3 a special contribution to NCCC would help volunteers • NCCC has played a leadership role in We urge you to support our conserva- and staff have promoting scientific management of our tion efforts. Without NCCC, the bad guys NCCC public lands and wildlife in the North would already have prevailed on many of been very engaged and productive Cascades. our participation in the ross these issues. Without NCCC and partner in 2010. it is time for you to con- lake National recreation area Manage- organizations like the Mountaineers, there ment Plan review has provided guidance would be no effort to fulfill the conserva- sider a special end-of-year contribu- for NRA management for the next de- tion vision for the North Cascades by com- tion to NCCC. have we met your cade. Comments on the Stehekin river pleting the North Cascades National Park. expectations? have we protected Corridor implementation Plan have We need your support more than ever in supported a scientific approach to river this tough fund-raising environment. the North Cascades as you expect- management and helped thwart heavy- ed? Below are some of the high- handed engineering fixes to flooding. Visit the NCCC website (www.northcas- cades.org) to make a special contribution lights from 2010 that you can read • NCCC has worked with other conserva- to NCCC. Use the membership/donation about in this and recent editions of tion groups to promote new wilderness form in this edition of to mail in your and wild and scenic rivers in western The Wild Cascades. contribution. NCCC is a non-profit, 501(c)3 Washington. We have insisted that the organization. Your contributions will be Washington State Wolf Conservation and tax deductible. • The american alps legacy Project Management Plan be based on popula- We also strongly encourage you to has made major strides in educating tion biology science and not crippling consider a bequest to NCCC in your will. Washington residents on the benefits of compromises with ranchers. We have Your bequest will help assure that NCCC is completing the North Cascades National led the charge in protecting reiter State around in future decades to continue the Park. Special reports on the economic Forest from off-road vehicle damage and fight against hydropower development, and biodiversity benefits of park expan- Blanchard State Forest from chainsaws. mining, logging, motorized recreation, sion have been published and circulated and, we have continued efforts to and many other major threats to the North widely. The initiative has gotten the protect lake Chelan from holden Mine Cascades. attention of our elected officials. Suc- runoff. cessful visits to Washington, dC and on- • We have honored the contributions of the-ground tours of the american alps one of NCCC’s founding members, with have provided the information needed a big 90th birthday party for Polly dyer. for our elected officials to take action. saving the Cascades with social Media That title may sound a bit overly http://americanalps.blogspot.com also on FB will see our posts added to ambitious, and indeed it may be. But The most recent story appears at the their “news feed” by becoming a “fan” with a little effort, the new ways of com- top. Scroll down for older stories, and of ours. if you’re on Facebook, type municating on the web may go a long there’s a table of contents in the right col- “american alps” in the search box at way toward bringing new interest and umn, along with a “search” box. the top, then when our page appears, involvement our way. i’d also like to offer any NCCC member click the “like” button to become a i launched a blog and a Facebook authorship — just email me for info: fan. once you’re a fan, click the “Sug- page for NCCC and our american alps [email protected]. The more authors gest to Friends” link and help our fan project recently. it’s been easier than the better, and your voice can be heard! base grow. These fans could make the i anticipated, and quite rewarding to difference when it comes time to start The most recent blog stories also now writing letters to elected officials.