Wild Sky Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The Wild Sky Wilderness is a 106577 acres (431 km²) wilderness area
in the western Cascade Range
of Washington state. The wilderness is within the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
north of the U.S. Highway 2 towns of Index
and Skykomish
. The wilderness flanks, but does not include, the North Fork Skykomish River
and the Beckler River
. The Henry M. Jackson Wilderness
is adjacent to the east and northeast.
The Wild Sky Wilderness is significant because it is the first new federally-designated wilderness in Washington since 1984. Also, unlike many other wilderness areas in the Cascades, Wild Sky protects significant amounts of high productivity
low-elevation forest
.
of California
, who was not reelected in 2006. President
George W. Bush
had been receptive to the proposal.
In February 2007, Senator
Patty Murray
and Rep
. Rick Larsen
introduced legislation
to designate the Wild Sky as wilderness. The bill then passed the House and had been approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Before the bill came to the Senate floor, however, it was put on hold
by Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn
, and never reached a vote.
The Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008
, creating the Wild Sky Wilderness, was finally passed by the U.S. Senate on April 10, 2008, and then passed the U.S. House of Representatives a little less than three weeks later on April 29. President Bush signed the Wilderness into law on May 8, 2008.
s) were within its boundaries. Since 2003 the Wilderness Land Trust
and Cascade Land Conservancy have purchased about one-third of this amount. Efforts continue to acquire the remaining inholdings.
National Wilderness Preservation System
The National Wilderness Preservation System of the United States protects federally managed land areas designated for preservation in their natural condition. It was established by the Wilderness Act upon the signature of President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964...
in the western Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
of Washington state. The wilderness is within the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington extends more than along the western slopes of the Cascade Range from the Canadian border to the northern boundary of Mount Rainier National Park. Forest headquarters are located in the city of Everett....
north of the U.S. Highway 2 towns of Index
Index, Washington
Index is a town in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 178 at the 2010 census.-History:Prior to settlement by westerners, the Skykomish Indians lived in the area between Sultan and Index...
and Skykomish
Skykomish, Washington
As of the census of 2000, there were 214 people, 104 households, and 58 families residing in the town. The population density was 623.2 people per square mile . There were 162 housing units at an average density of 471.8 per square mile...
. The wilderness flanks, but does not include, the North Fork Skykomish River
Skykomish River
The Skykomish River is a Washington river which drains the west side of the Cascade Mountains in the southeast section of Snohomish County and the northeast corner of King County. The river starts with the confluence of the North Fork Skykomish River and South Fork Skykomish River approximately one...
and the Beckler River
Beckler River
The Beckler River is a tributary of the South Fork Skykomish River in the U.S. state of Washington in the United States.The Beckler River originates near Jack Pass and flows southeast about where it is joined by the Rapid River, its principal tributary...
. The Henry M. Jackson Wilderness
Henry M. Jackson Wilderness
The Henry M. Jackson Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area in the state of Washington, United States.-History:The Henry M. Jackson Wilderness was created by the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act and named after former US Senator Henry M. Jackson of Washington...
is adjacent to the east and northeast.
The Wild Sky Wilderness is significant because it is the first new federally-designated wilderness in Washington since 1984. Also, unlike many other wilderness areas in the Cascades, Wild Sky protects significant amounts of high productivity
Primary production
400px|thumb|Global oceanic and terrestrial photoautotroph abundance, from September [[1997]] to August 2000. As an estimate of autotroph biomass, it is only a rough indicator of primary production potential, and not an actual estimate of it...
low-elevation forest
Temperate rain forest
Temperate rainforests are coniferous or broadleaf forests that occur in the temperate zone and receive high rainfall.-Definition:For temperate rain forests of North America, Alaback's definition is widely recognized:-Global distribution:...
.
Legislative history
The Wild Sky Wilderness required several legislative attempts before becoming law, despite broad local support. Prior to 2007, the Wild Sky bill was blocked in committee by Representative Richard PomboRichard Pombo
Richard William Pombo is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, having represented California's 11th congressional district from 1993 to 2007...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, who was not reelected in 2006. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
had been receptive to the proposal.
In February 2007, Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Patty Murray
Patty Murray
Patricia Lynn "Patty" Murray is the senior United States Senator from Washington and a member of the Democratic Party. Murray was first elected to the Senate in 1992, becoming Washington's first female senator...
and Rep
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. Rick Larsen
Rick Larsen
Richard Ray "Rick" Larsen is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
introduced legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
to designate the Wild Sky as wilderness. The bill then passed the House and had been approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Before the bill came to the Senate floor, however, it was put on hold
Secret hold
In the United States Senate, a hold is a parliamentary procedure permitted by the Standing Rules of the United States Senate which allows one or more Senators to prevent a motion from reaching a vote on the Senate floor....
by Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn
Tom Coburn
Thomas Allen "Tom" Coburn, M.D. , is an American politician, medical doctor, and Southern Baptist deacon. A member of the Republican Party, he currently serves as the junior U.S. Senator from Oklahoma. In the Senate, he is known as "Dr. No" for his tendency to place holds on and vote against bills...
, and never reached a vote.
The Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008
Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008
The Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 was an act passed in the 110th United States Congress and enacted on May 8, 2008.-Legislative history:...
, creating the Wild Sky Wilderness, was finally passed by the U.S. Senate on April 10, 2008, and then passed the U.S. House of Representatives a little less than three weeks later on April 29. President Bush signed the Wilderness into law on May 8, 2008.
Private Land
When the Wild Sky Wilderness was first proposed, about 2000 acres (8.1 km²) of private land (inholdingInholding
An inholding is privately owned land inside the boundary of a national park, national forest, state park, or similar publicly owned, protected area...
s) were within its boundaries. Since 2003 the Wilderness Land Trust
Wilderness Land Trust
The Wilderness Land Trust is a 501 non-profit organization based in Carbondale, Colorado, whose mission is to acquire private lands in current and proposed wilderness areas and transfer them to the federal government so that they will be kept forever wild as wilderness...
and Cascade Land Conservancy have purchased about one-third of this amount. Efforts continue to acquire the remaining inholdings.
External links
- The Wild Sky Wilderness Proposal, Washington Wilderness Coalition (political advocacy)
- Wild Sky Wilderness, U.S. Senator Patty MurrayPatty MurrayPatricia Lynn "Patty" Murray is the senior United States Senator from Washington and a member of the Democratic Party. Murray was first elected to the Senate in 1992, becoming Washington's first female senator...
(political advocacy) - The Wilderness Land Trust