The new Wild Sky Wilderness bill is a carefully crafted proposal that deserves congressional approval.
The bill reflects an admirable sensitivity to the ideas of a variety groups concerned with the future of the national forest land in the Skykomish Valley. Rather than rushing ahead with a proposal last summer, bill sponsors Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Rick Larsen made sure that differing interests were heard before the wilderness bill was offered late last month.
The proposal would give wilderness area protection to more than 106,000 acres north of Index in eastern Snohomish County and Skykomish in King County. Unlike most of the wilderness areas in the state, it includes a good deal of lower-elevation forest land.
Opponents of the idea object to that point. They see potential for someday logging the areas. There have also been concerns that too much of the state has been designated as wilderness, or that recreational usage will be limited.
In fact, one of the strongest points of the Wild Sky Wilderness is that it does extend protection into lower-level areas of the state. Those areas are more accessible for hiking, camping and canoeing. With so little river valley land in wilderness now, the proposal can contribute to protecting the diversity of Washington’s natural heritage. In addition, the wilderness would encompass tributaries of the North Fork Skykomish River that are home to a variety of fish runs, including threatened three salmon species.
There are legitimate disagreements over whether the proposal will provide any economic boost to nearby towns, but Index Mayor Kem Hunter believes there will be benefits. Maybe the ultimate answer on that point will come from the environmentalists and hikers who support the proposal. If they decide to shop, buy gas or rent canoes near the wilderness area, they will assure that the change is a paying proposition for neighbors.
Unlike many wilderness proposals, moreover, the Wild Sky legislation began with significant attention to recreational opportunities. The bill will allow floatplanes to continue to drop fishing parties at Lake Isabel. And the boundaries were drawn to exclude some popular snowmobiling areas.
U.S. Rep. Jennifer Dunn, R-Bellevue, cited that kind of sensitivity in supporting the bill from her Democratic colleagues Larsen and Murray. "In Washington state," Dunn said Thursday, "we are leading the nation in cooperative partnerships among business, government and conservationists, and proving that when a common goal is sought, great things can be achieved."
With its carefully crafted language, the Wild Sky Wilderness proposal doesn’t live up to the "wild" part of its name. But it should be a wild success.
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