Winter 2008-2009
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THE WILD CASCADES THE JOURNAL OF THE NORTH CAS CADES CONSERVATION COUNCIL WINTER 2008-2009 THE WILD CASCADES • Winter 2008-2009 1 The North Cascades THE WILD CASCADES Winter 2008-2009 Conservation Council was formed in 1957 “To protect and In This Issue preserve the North Cascades’ scenic, scientific, recreational, educational, 3 President’s Report — Marc Bardsley and wilderness values.” Continuing 4 The Long-Term Future of NCCC: The Role of Bequests in Conservation this mission, NCCC keeps government — Jim Davis, Executive Director, North Cascades Conservation Council officials, environmental organizations, and the general public informed about Announcing the closing of the North Cascades Foundation issues affecting the Greater North 5 Reiter Forest Update — Karl Forsgaard Cascades Ecosystem. Action is pursued 6 Heybrook Ridge: Protected as a Snohomish County Park — Conway through legislative, legal, and public Leovy participation channels to protect the 7 Azurite Mine Cleanup lands, waters, plants and wildlife. NCCC Hosts North Cascades’ 40-Year Celebration Over the past half century the NCCC 8 NCCC Announces “American Alps Legacy Project” — Rick McGuire has led or participated in campaigns to create the North Cascades National 11 Re-Wilding the Cascades: Middle Fork Snoqualmie Bridge Out Park Complex, Glacier Peak Wilder- — Kevin Geraghty, Rick McGuire ness, and other units of the National 12 The Secret Lives of North Cascades Wildlife — Jim Davis Wilderness System from the W.O. 15 What Ever Happened to WPN-114: Life and Death Among the Bristle- Douglas Wilderness north to the cones — Charles Ehlert Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the Henry M. 19 Book Reviews — John S. Edwards Jackson Wilderness, the Chelan-Saw- The Bridge at the Edge of the World tooth Wilderness, the Wild Sky Wil- Two Planks and a Passion — the Dramatic History of Skiing derness and others. Among its most 20 North Cascades Glacier Climate Report for 2008 — Tom Hammond dramatic victories has been working with British Columbia allies to block 22 Conservation Updates and Alerts the raising of Ross Dam, which would 23 NCCC Membership Application have drowned Big Beaver Valley. The NCCC is supported by member dues and private donations. These contributions support the full range Cover: Tower Mountain and Silver Star Mountain from the slopes of Golden of the Council’s activities, including Horn (1976). —JOHN ROPE R publication of The Wild Cascades. As a 501(c)(3) organization, all contribu- 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, Tom Hammond, Conservation Council Carolyn McConnell 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 • Winter 2008-2009 NCCC Board PRESIDENT Marc Bardsley BOARD CHAIRMAN Founded in 1957 Patrick Goldsworthy SEATTLE, WASHINGTON VICE PRESIDENT Charles Ehlert TREASURER Tom Brucker The President’s Report Winter 2008-2009 SECRETARY Phil Zalesky he American Alps Legacy Project, our lead article in this issue (page 8), points out the North Cascades Conservation Council’s EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Tstrategy for completing the historical vision of the North Cascades Jim davis National Park. As we have developed our “American Alps Legacy Project”, some people have asked why we are so interested in changing the great park we already own. Why? After 40 years of enjoying a park second to Bruce Barnbaum none, the park faces many challenges and threats. The park needs many improvements and adjacent surrounding areas need the protection of Jim Davis having park status. Let me be more specific: Polly Dyer • Threats to land bordering the park that are either existing or John Edwards imminent include mining, off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, and small-scale hydro developments. Dave Fluharty • There are financial problems maintaining existing infrastructure Anders Forsgaard and non-motorized recreational access in the area. Administrative consolidation in some locations would be desirable. Karl Forsgaard • Other important reasons to make adjustments to the park Kevin Geraghty boundaries are the same as they were 40 years ago. The more Tom Hammond important would be to maintain scenic quality, protect wildlife habitats and travel corridors, provide economic benefits to local Betty Manning communities, maintain traditional recreational access, protect Puget Sound headwaters, and finally, secure carbon sequestration Carolyn McConnell in mature second-growth and old-growth forests. Rick McGuire In developing our plan, it was deemed important to include most of the major stakeholders such as hikers, hunters, fishermen, skiers, car Thom Peters campers, and the one-time vacationer from out-of-state. Consequently, we are proposing to expand certain wilderness areas adjacent to the Mike Town park as part of the project as well as include much of Highway 20 and Ken Wilcox Cascade River road into the national park. Virtually the entire package of boundary adjustments are on public land that is designated roadless Ted Willhite area or other national forest land that is not protected by Congress. Laura Zalesky We urge you to join us in this effort to complete the historical vision for the North Cascades National Park. THE WILD CASCADES • Winter 2008-2009 3 The Long-Term Future of NCCC The Role of Bequests in Conservation Jim Davis Executive Director, North Cascades Conservation Council ith more than 50 years of accom- sector, including conservation groups ation, and human population growth. plishments and a raft of new con- that are confronted with significant fund Take action on your own to include W servation initiatives, NCCC is now raising challenges. Some groups may close NCCC in your Will or contact us for assis- taking a hard look at its long-term future. their doors. We can not let that happen to tance in setting up your bequest, We remain the leading conservation orga- NCCC. In addition to focusing on project [email protected]. We will soon nization focused specifically on protection support, we must also turn our attention be distributing a special mailing with guid- of the North Cascades. All other groups to fund-raising strategies that will support ance on how to make this very important have either a much broader geographic NCCC for decades to come. Dedicated contribution to NCCC. focus, with the North Cascades as only an members are the key to long-term survival Please help us preserve the North Cas- occasional priority, or a much narrower of NCCC. cades for future generations. geographic focus on only a portion of the We strongly encourage you to leave a be- North Cascades. Without a single focus quest to NCCC in your Will. Your bequest conservation group like NCCC, the future will assure that NCCC is around to coun- of the North Cascades could be very bleak. teract the expanding threats of wildlife Current economic conditions are hav- extinction, water shortages, hydropower ing a major impact on the not-for-profit development, mining, motorized recre- www.northcascades.org Announcing the closing of the North Cascades Foundation he North Cascades Foundation (NCF) The North Cascades foundation is no Patrick Goldsworthy was set up around 1970 by members longer necessary because of the change in T of the North Cascades Conservation the NCCC tax status. The trustees of the Paul Gerhardt Council to receive gifts, deductible to the foundation voted to cease operations and Ned Graves donor, which would provide support for turn over most of its remaining funds to non-political actions advanced by NCCC the North Cascades Institute. (As a remind- Emily Haig and other groups or individuals. The er, the institute is based in Sedro Woolley stated purpose of the foundation would be and – thanks to the High Ross Dam Settle- Charles Hessey “ . to protect and preserve the North ment - has a splendid mountain school on Phil Hyde Cascades’ scenic, scientific, educational, Diablo Lake.) This leadership gift will be wildlife and wilderness values.” known as the NCCC Founders Endowed Neva Karrick Scholarship Fund. The annual earnings of During the first twelve years NCF Rick Mack wholly funded actions to block High Ross the fund will aid graduate students at the Dam. If the $100,000 had not been raised Institute. Individuals who want to enhance Grant McConnell though the foundation, it is doubtful the the legacy of our founders can contribute High Ross Dam could have been stopped. to the fund at the North Cascades Insti- Rod O’Conner During the next 12 years NCF supported tute. The NCF founders were: Chester Powell defense of the Stehekin Valley and other valleys from inappropriate development. David Brower Dave Simons In the succeeding 12 years contributions Joseph Collins Jack Stevens to the foundation paid for publishing The Wild Cascades and Wilderness Alps by Ray Courtney John Warth Harvey Manning. And finally last year the