An environmental group aiming to preserve recreational
trails and wildlife habitat in the Central Cascades yesterday
announced that more than 9,000 acres of land will soon be
publicly owned.
The Plum Creek Timber Co. has agreed to sell 15 parcels
of land encompassing 9,119 acres -- 14 square miles -- for
$7.8 million, according to representatives of the Cascades
Conservation Partnership, a non-profit coalition that has
worked toward the purchase. Funds allocated by Congress
from the Land and Water Conservation Fund will be used to
buy the land.
The checkerboard parcels -- the legacy of more than a century
of mixed ownership by railroads, timber companies and the
federal government -- lie in areas of the Cascades where
growth and private development threaten to shrink wildlife
corridors north and south of Interstate 90, degrade the
land or prohibit public access to recreational areas, including
the Pacific Crest Trail, partnership officials said. Key
areas lie around Stampede Pass and near Salmon la Sac in
Central Washington.
"This is an incredible day to celebrate. We have been working
on this a long time," said David Atcheson, campaign director
for the Seattle-based coalition of environmental groups.
"It is one of the largest acquisitions at one time -- it
is a lot of land, but also very popular, important and strategically
located land." Eight of the newly protected parcels lie
north and south of Stampede Pass along a stretch of the
Pacific Crest Trail, west of Keechelus Lake and down to
the headwaters of the Green and Naches rivers.
The lands and trail segments will be added to the Wenatchee
and Mount Baker-Snoqualmie national forests.
Protection of six miles of the scenic trail was heralded
by those who have hiked the stretch of logged land adjacent
to pristine areas.
"This is a very big deal," said Elizabeth Lunney, executive
director of the Washington Trails Association. The Pacific
Crest Trail "is like being on top of the world and staying
there, but there are some raggedy stretches of the trail
because a substantial section has been logged. Now we know
this section can be restored. Over time, we'll see the forest
grow. We're definitely looking to the future."
Darrel Kenops, acting supervisor of the Okanogan and Wenatchee
national forests, said the lands have "an extraordinary
mix of values for public ownership," noting not only the
scenery but watershed and recreation values. "I'm taking
my grandson there this summer to hike," Kenops said of the
Pacific Crest Trail stretch.
Bob Jirsa, director of corporate affairs for Plum Creek
Timber, said the sale places the lands "into permanent conservation,
providing present and future generations with lands for
recreation and also to ensure connectivity for wildlife
throughout Central Washington."
Referring to other lands targeted by the coalition, Jirsa
said, "We will continue to work with the congressional delegation,
the federal agencies and the partnership to complete the
purchase of those lands identified for public ownership."
Those lands include other parcels in the I-90 corridor,
partnership officials said. Atcheson said the partnership
has until the year's end to buy such parcels, when their
purchase options expire.
The Cascades Conservation Partnership hopes to get congressional
and other funding for an additional 5,300 acres of I-90
option lands and for two other parcels along the Pacific
Crest Trail.
To date, the partnership has raised $57 million and protected
30,000 acres of threatened forest land.
The group has raised in excess of $15 million from more
than 16,000 private donors and helped secure an additional
$42 million in federal funds.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
· Cascades Conservation Partnership: www.cascadespartners.org
· Northwest Ecosystem Alliance: www.ecosystem.org
