Bellevue/Issaquah Chapter-Trout Unlimited * Berkley Conservation Institute * Elliot Bay Chapter-Trout Unlimited * Inland NW Hunting and Fishing Conservation Coalition * National Wildlife Federation * Native Fish Society * Northshore Chapter- Trout Unlimited * Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association * Overlake Fly Fishing Club * Public Lands Initiative-Trout Unlimited * Puget Sound Anglers * Seattle Chapter-Izaak Walton League of America * Sky Valley Chapter-Trout Unlimited * Tacoma Chapter-Trout Unlimited * Washington Backcountry Hunters and Anglers * Washington State Council-Federation of Fly Fishers * Washington Council-Trout Unlimited * Washington Wildlife Federation * Wild Steelhead Coalition
6 March 2007
The Honorable Nick J. Rahall
1329 Longworth House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington D.C. 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
As hunting and angling conservation organizations representing thousands of Washington citizens who rely on healthy local fish and wildlife populations for recreation, enjoyment, sustenance, and as an important part of our quality of life, we enthusiastically support the Wild Sky Wilderness Act of 2007 (H.R. 886; S. 520).
Wilderness and roadless backcountry areas are an essential element to the American and democratic hunting and fishing tradition that has continued over the past two hundred years. These wild landscapes allow us to challenge ourselves and gain access to some of the best fish and wildlife habitat in our national forests.
The proposed Wild Sky Wilderness provides a diversity of wildlife habitat for many non-game species and opportunities to hunt blacktailed deer, black bear and mountain lion as well as upland game birds. Even hunters who do not venture into the wilderness proposal itself benefit from the security and habitat that it provides, which allows big game animals to mature and grow. Wilderness and backcountry lands are a critical part of the public commons that benefit all sportsmen and all Americans.
The North Fork Skykomish River and its tributaries are home to one of the best remaining strongholds of wild anadromous and resident fresh water fish in the Puget Sound basin. Furthermore, by protecting the pristine headwaters of our rivers where reproduction occurs, we are helping to ensure quality down stream angling.
- Skykomish Steelhead are sought after by anglers from throughout the nation and provide the predominant sport fishing opportunity on the North Fork.
- Federally-listed Bull Trout use the North Fork Skykomish high mountain spawning areas as one of their most important refuges in the Puget Sound Basin. The Bull trout populations here are among the healthiest in the Cascades and should continue to flourish if their habitat is protected.
- Four species of salmon (Puget Sound Chinook, Pink, Coho, and Chum) rely on the North Fork Skykomish River for spawning habitat and in turn provide an important source of food for eagles and other wildlife.
The North Fork Skykomish is an unusual river in the Puget Sound Basin in that anadromous fish can swim so far up river. Bear Creek Falls, at 1400’ elevation is a partial barrier, but many fish including Steelhead and Bull Trout climb it and continue as far as Deer Falls (just 5 miles from the Cascade crest).
Hunting and fishing in the Wild Sky area also generates economic benefits for rural communities near these healthy streams and rivers. According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, hunters, anglers and wildlife viewers spend a combined total of over $2.18 billion annually in Washington State. In Snohomish County alone, a 2001 study by Dean Runyan and Associates totaled destination spending at $509 million. Protecting the Wild Sky area will preserve and enhance these economic benefits not only for the rural communities closest to the proposal but also for those throughout the Snohomish River Basin.
We value the age-old tradition of passing on our hunting and angling heritage to our children and families. Instilling the ethic of providing sustenance through a portion of the food that nourishes and sustains our families is both meaningful and healthy but depends upon healthy habitat.
Thank you for your consideration of this important legislation and we also urge you to support all of Washington’s roadless backcountry areas and the outstanding fish and wildlife habitat that they provide.
Sincerely,
Mike Beagle
Pacific NW Field Coordinator
Public Lands Initiative-Trout Unlimited
Mark Taylor
President
Bellevue/Issaquah Chapter-Trout Unlimited
Jim Martin
Conservation Director
Berkley Conservation Institute-Pure Fishing Company
Bill Robinson
President
Elliot Bay Chapter-Trout Unlimited
Jeff Holmes
Chair
Inland NW Hunting and Fishing Coalition
James Schroeder
Senior Environmental Policy Specialist
National Wildlife Federation
Bill Bakke
Executive Director
Native Fish Society
Sid Burklund
President
Northshore Chapter-Trout Unlimited
Liz Hamilton
Executive Director
Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association
Ed Kane
President
Overlake Fly Fishing Club
Clint Muns
Director of Resource Management
Puget Sound Anglers
Bruce McGlenn
President
Seattle Chapter-Izaak Walton League of America
Gary Bee
President
Sky Valley Chapter-Trout Unlimited
Gene Harshman
President
Tacoma Chapter-Trout Unlimited
Gregg Bafundo
Chair
Washington Backcountry Hunters and Anglers
Carl Johnson
President
Washington State Council-Federation of Fly Fishers
Mark Taylor
President
Washington Council-Trout Unlimited
John McGlenn
President
Washington Wildlife Federation
Rich Simms
President
Wild Steelhead Coalition
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