Wild Olympics

The Wild Olympics campaign is an effort to designate additional areas on the Olympic Peninsula as protected.

Under a bill introduced by United States Senator Patty Murray in January, 2014, logging on 20% of the Olympic National Forest's lands would be disallowed, and Wild and Scenic River designations would extend to 19 rivers, including those originating in the Olympic National Park, such as the Quinault, Hoh, Elwha, and Hamma Hamma, and some that do not, like the Middle Fork of the Satsop River.[1][2]

Like the Northern Spotted Owl controversy two decades earlier,[3] the action has met opposition from some residents on and near the Olympic Peninsula who see it as a threat to their livelihoods. Handmade "Stop Wild Olympics" signs can be seen in the Aberdeen area and on the peninsula, expressing displeasure,[2][4] and an opposition group, Working Wild Olympics, was set up in 2011.[5] The effort is said to have the support of dozens of "major hunting and fishing organizations" who see it as a way to sustain elk, salmon and other fish.[6][7] Debate on the topic in 2014 has included community meetings drawing hundreds of individuals on both sides, and full-page advertisements in local newspapers.[8]

An episode of This American Land concerning the Wild Olympics proposal showed nationally on PBS in 2014.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Rob Ollikainen (January 18, 2014), "Forestry group opposes Wild Olympics legislation introduced by lawmaker", Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, Washington
  2. 1 2 Ashley Ahearn (January 17, 2014), Legislation Revived To Protect 126,000 Acres Of Olympic Peninsula, Seattle, Washington: KUOW-FM
  3. ↑ Angelo Bruscas (May 11, 2012), "Wild Olympics — not much middle ground", The Daily World, Aberdeen, Washington, The first part of the event featured 30-minute presentations from the Wild Olympics campaign and from the group opposed to it, Working Wild Olympics...a retired logger...said the proposal "totally ignores the last 20 years of what has happened here on the Harbor" after the federal 1994 Northwest Forest Plan curtailed logging in an attempt to preserve spotted owl habitat.
  4. ↑ More anti Wild Olympic signs going up locally, Aberdeen, Washington: KXRO radio, September 30, 2013
  5. ↑ Steven Friederich (September 23, 2011), "Working Wild Olympics -- Timber workers have their say", The Daily World, Aberdeen, Washington, The Working Wild Olympics Coalition, made up of timber interests and supporters, was convened to directly oppose the Wild Olympics Campaign, made up of conservation and recreation groups who want to see more protections brought on areas surrounding Olympic National Park.
  6. ↑ Wild Olympics have Olympic Peninsula hunting and fishing support, Aberdeen, Washington: KXRO radio, February 5, 2014
  7. ↑ Sportsmen for Wild Olympics announce new endorsements & video, Aberdeen, Washington: KBKW radio, February 5, 2014
  8. ↑ Mark St.J. Couhig (March 20, 2014), "Wild Olympics debate heating up", Sequim Gazette, Sequim, Washington
  9. ↑ Wild Olympics Campaign featured on "This American Land", The Conservation Alliance, July 9, 2014

Further reading

  • Underwood, Daniel; Cross, Jason (November 26, 2012), Analysis of the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2012: economic impacts and opportunities., Port of Port Angeles, Washington
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