Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions Approved by Senate Committee!

Published: December 30, 2009

Today, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act. This legislation will protect an additional 22,000 acres of wilderness adjoining the existing Alpine Lake Wilderness Area, as well as 10 miles of the Pratt River and nearly 30 miles of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River as Wild and Scenic Rivers. Supporters praised and thanked Senator Murray for her leadership on and continuing support of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness additions and the Wild and Scenic River designations.

The bill protects low-elevation old-growth forests and wildlife habitat along the Pratt, Middle Fork, and South Fork Snoqualmie river valleys. The original Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area, established in 1976, did not include this important and unique ecosystem. Designation of the proposed additions would protect wildlife habitat for salmon, cutthroat trout, elk, and other endangered or threatened species and would help to ensure the biodiversity of the region.

The existing Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area is one of the most popular wilderness areas in the United States. It is readily accessible to the large population centers of the Puget Sound region as well as to growing eastside communities. Visitors are drawn to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area for its superb recreation opportunities, which include climbing, backpacking, dayhiking, snowshoeing, and Nordic skiing. The protection and enhancement of these recreation opportunities provided by this bill are essential to the economic stability of many small towns throughout the region.

The proposed legislation would also designate 10 miles of the Pratt River and nearly 30 miles of the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River as Wild and Scenic Rivers. This designation ensures the protection of clean water resources for residents of the region, as well as safeguarding critical wildlife habitat. The Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie rivers offer high quality water-based recreation, including world-class fishing and whitewater paddling.