Cascade Chapter -

2010 Legislative Session : From Craig Engelking, Cascade Chapter Legislative Director

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:16:13 +0000

In many ways, the upcoming 2010 Legislative Session will be even more challenging than what we encountered last year. When lawmakers return to Olympia in January, they will be dealing with a $2.6 billion budget deficit.

Even though it is less than the budget shortfall last year, this year’s problem is actually more challenging in many respects. Last year, there was the assistance of federal stimulus money. Not so, this year. Last year, there were opportunities to find more efficient ways to spend money and get similar outcomes. This year, those opportunities are pretty much gone.

No more tweaks available--whole programs are on the chopping block.

Furthermore, we are heading into what promises to be another contentious midterm electoral cycle.

Help Us Protect Washington Wolves - Attend a Hearing And/or Submit a Public Comment Letter!

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:19:31 +0000

Let the WA Department of Fish and Wildlife know that you value wolves and their positive effect on ecosystems and wish to see their recovery to Washington's wildlife and habitat. The wolves will thank you for ensuring a wild future for our corner of the world! Click here to learn more about how you can help, talking points & how to submit written comments!

Sierra Club members in Washington State care passionately about protecting the Northern Gray Wolf, an endangered species that faces extinction from human predators. Our Fall 2009 edition of the Cascade Crest included a postcard for members to fill out and return for our use in organizing for the public comment period of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding their draft policy on Gray Wolf management for our state. Soon we will deliver your postcards to the WDFW. The postcard response has been extraordinary, send in yours today! We have posted comments from some of the postcards at the end of this article. To acquaint yourself with some background on the Gray Wolf, some important “talking points” for speaking publicly at the public hearings, and other pertinent materials.

Attend the Seattle Wolf Hearing and Show Your Support for Protecting Wolves and Wolf Habitat! Nov. 2nd

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:29:09 +0000

Let the WA Department of Fish and Wildlife know that you value wolves and their positive effect on ecosystems and wish to see their recovery to Washington's wildlife and habitat. The wolves will thank you for ensuring a wild future for our corner of the world! Click here to learn more about how you can help, talking points & how to submit written comments!

Sierra Club in 'Architecture Week': High Tension Over Big Timber

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:15:51 +0000

High Tension over Big Timber, by Christine MacDonald

Late in 2007, storm-driven rains in southwestern Washington sent floodwater, mud, and tons of logging debris crashing into homes and farmland downstream of the Chehalis River. Numerous landslides destroyed wide swaths of mountain habitat, caused hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage, and downed an estimated 140,000 truckloads of timber — much of it on land owned by the Weyerhaeuser Company, the state's largest private timberland owner.

In the storm's aftermath, the state senate summoned timber industry executives to Seattle and grilled them about their logging practices. And when election season arrived in fall 2008, Doug Sutherland, the state commissioner of public lands, a Republican with campaign finance ties to logging companies, was swept from office. He was replaced by Democrat Peter Goldmark, who railed against Weyerhaeuser for clear-cutting that many believe had exacerbated — if not caused — the disaster.

Click here to read the entire article in Architecture week!

2010 Sierra Club Wilderness Calendars for Sale Now!

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:54:24 +0000

Purchase a Sierra Club calendar from the local Sierra Club and and proceeds benefit our local conservation work. There are two kinds, wall calendars for $14 each plus $2 shipping, or engagement for $15 plus $2 shipping; shipping is free for orders of five or more.

*A bestseller for thirty years -- over 8 million sold

*All the grandeur of the North American wilderness

Department of Natural Resources Begins Restoration and Trail Construction in Reiter Foothills Forest

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:38:10 +0000

Temporary closure goes into effect November 2

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be giving extra attention to state trust lands in the Reiter Foothills Forest in southeastern Snohomish County this fall, winter, and spring. DNR staff and volunteers will be restoring damaged habitat, beginning construction on new trail systems, and working to improve public safety. To accomplish these goals, DNR will temporarily close the Reiter Foothills area to everything but foot traffic beginning November 2. The closure will allow restoration work to proceed more effectively. At the same time, DNR will be working with volunteers to locate trails that are fun, challenging, and environmentally sustainable, with low maintenance.

Sierra Club Joins Lawsuit to Protect Drinking Water, Rivers

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:09:38 +0000

By Stan Moffett, Water and Salmon Committee

In 2005, Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna declared that livestock producers could use unlimited quantities of groundwater, with no permit required. The result, four years later, is that water availability is becoming a big problem in certain areas of the state.

The lower Yakima Valley and Pasco areas are particularly attractive to livestock producers because of their lax zoning laws and arid climate. Family farmers are being displaced as mega-dairies and industrial-size feedlots move in, raising thousands of cattle in Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. These require more water than has ever been used here before, but thanks to McKenna’s opinion, this does not concern them.

Let's Move Beyond Coal: Make Washington the FIRST COAL-FREE STATE

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:20:13 +0000

Help us to make Washington a coal free state by phasing out the TransAlta coal plant, which is responsible for 20% of our electricity.

The TransAlta coal plant is the largest source of global warming pollution in the state. It's the largest source of toxic mercury pollution, which is especially dangerous to children and future mothers, and is also responsible for haze pollution which destroys the beauty of 12 wilderness areas, including Mt. Rainier. WE CAN DO BETTER. We can replace coal with clean, renewable forms of energy like wind, solar and efficiency that will create jobs and reduce global warming. Washington can be a national leader on clean energy. Over the next several months, we will be turning the heat up on Governor Gregoire, urging her to be a leader in getting us off our dirty coal habit. We can make Washington coal free, but we can’t do it without your help. Click here to take action to make Washington a coal-free state.

Nation's First Phosphate Ban: Working

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:59:24 +0000

"We’re literally leading the nation here in Spokane County, which is pretty amazing if you think about it."
-- Rachael Paschal Osborn, Spokane River coordinator, Sierra Club

The Spokesman-Review, August 16, 2009 written by Johathan Brunt

The storyline of the near-ban on phosphorus in dish detergent in Spokane County has focused on scofflaws sneaking Cascade across the state line in a dogged attempt to keep their dishes sparkling.

Washington and Oregon Must Keep Moving Forward to a Clean Energy Future

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:46:54 +0000

Northwest Energy Plan Stalled - Press Statement August 13, 2009

On August 12th, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council unexpectedly reached a deadlock and failed to approve their draft Sixth Power Plan which will provide a 20-year electric energy blueprint for the Northwest. The Sixth Plan will provide a broad baseline of information which all utilities in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana will use to measure their energy plans. Specifically, the plan will provide a five-year mandate of energy conservation targets for the Bonneville Power Administration’s utility customers. The Plan must provide for a 60-day comment period and public hearings in all four states before final approval in December of this year.

Roadless Forests Win in Court -- Decision Reinstates Most of National Rule Opposed by Bush, Timber Lobbyists

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:23:23 +0000

WASHINGTON -- The Wilderness Society and 19 other environmental organizations notched a huge victory today when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco affirmed protection for almost 40 million acres of wild national forests and grasslands from new road building, logging, and development. The decision puts an end to the Bush administration’s efforts to open these last great natural areas to development. Today’s ruling protects the majority of national forest roadless areas in the country.

No New Dams in Yakima River Basin

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:14:15 +0000

News Release: Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 Contact: David Ortman (Sierra Club): 206-354-2910 (mobile) deortman@msn.com

Sierra Club: No New Dams in Yakima River Basin Yakima - Today the Sierra Club issued a formal statement to state and federal officials that Sierra Club opposes new dams proposed for the Yakima River Basin as environmentally damaging and not cost effective. This was the second meeting of the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project 2009 Work Group.

"Sierra Club opposes expanding the dam at Bumping Lake adjacent to the William O. Douglas Wilderness," said David Ortman representing Sierra Club and a long time environmental advocate in the Pacific Northwest. "The Bureau of Reclamation dropped the Bumping Lake Enlargement from its December 2008 Yakima Water Storage Feasibility Final Report. This report also confirmed that the proposed Black Rock Dam and Wymer Dam are huge money losers for taxpayers. In the face of climate change, the future of water for irrigators is conservation, water markets, and improved efficiencies." Yakima River Basin's water future

DNR to Close Some ORV Trails in Reiter Foothills

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:22:18 +0000

From the Washington State Department of Natural Resources:

OLYMPIA – This weekend, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will begin closing some of the off-road vehicle (ORV) trails in Reiter Foothills. The measures are necessary to reduce the loss of fish habitat and to protect downstream health.

ORV riding will still be allowed in many areas, specifically in places that are being considered as potential riding areas under a recreation plan for Reiter due out this summer.

2000 Turn Out for EPA Rally!

Tue, 26 May 2009 23:45:05 +0000

Three weeks ago the EPA announced that it would hold two hearings on its endangerment finding, that global warming pollution is a threat to public health and welfare. The Sierra Club kicked into gear to demonstrate the outpouring of public support for fast, scientifically-based, and substantial actions on climate change. We turned to our volunteers, coalition partners and staff throughout the country to lead that effort.

A spirited crowd estimated at 2,000 people gathered outside an EPA hearing in Seattle today, urging the Obama Administration to take action on reducing global warming pollution. Hundreds of children and students joined members of the faith community, health officials, business leaders, environmental leaders, and elected officials to call upon the administration and congress to address the threat to public health posed by global warming pollution, support real solutions to global warming, create more green jobs and opportunity in the growing clean energy economy and end America’s dependence on dirty energy sources like coal. The rally was kicked off by Sierra Club staffer Kathleen Ridihalgh rallying dozens of kids on the stage in a chant -- "Act Now! End Coal!"

2009 Washington State Legislative Session

Tue, 05 May 2009 19:58:41 +0000

Thankfully, the 2009 regular session is now over. The environmental community brought an ambitious agenda into the session and we ran into a buzzsaw caused by a deep recession, concern about unemployment, and an unprecedented budget deficit. We are disappointed only one out of the four environmental community priorities passed, but we survived this brutal session without any major rollbacks, and managed to pass some good legislation on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and transportation.