Wilderness Program
Why Wilderness?
The pressure of expanding development on our natural resources is putting the health of the land, wildlife and water at risk. Only 2.64% of the contiguous United States, an area about the size of South Dakota, is protected as Wilderness. 96% of official Wilderness in Washington is located in the Cascade Mountains and Olympic Peninsula. In northcentral and northeastern Washington just 3% of the Colville National Forest is protected wilderness.
A History of Wilderness Organizing
Wilderness designation for unprotected Public Wildlands is now and has been a long organizational goal.
Action Alert!
Wilderness Campaign Update
Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act
“NREPA (Ner-EEpa) will preserve a vital ecosystem and watersheds in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Eastern Washington, and Oregon. It will also preserve biological corridors that are essential for biodiversity of native species.”
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NREPA Wilderness Additions in Washington
Mountains and forests east of US 97 are part of the Rocky Mountains, part of the NERPA landscape. These lands contain incredible diversity terrestrial and aquatic species, equal to and more diverse than the Cascade Mountains – but only a fraction of it is protected Wilderness.- Selkirk, Cabinet, Yaak Ecosystem The wettest region of the eastern Rockies, this ecosystem contains its last major stands of low elevation ancient forests. Halliday Fen is a rare ecological community with several plants and animals unique to this habitat. Woodland caribou, wolverine, Canada lynx and grizzly bears still roam these mountains. Various successional stages of the cedar-hemlock forest type occupy lower elevations with Douglas-fir, western larch, whitebark pine and grand fir trees present along with the cedar and hemlock at higher elevations. Towering spires and remote, lake-filled basins define the Cabinet, Selkirk, and Purcell Ranges.
- Columbia / Okanogan Highlands – Kettle River Mountains Wilderness Proposal Presently, designated Wildernesses in the Colville National Forest / Columbia Highlands represent less than 1% of the total in Washington state despite its ecological significance, low human population density and amazing biodiversity. From sagebrush grasslands and ponderosa pine lowlands to aspen, spruce/fir and whitebark pine highlands, the Kettle River Mountains, Midway Mountains and eastern Cascade Mountains, to verdant lush cedar-hemlock forests in Selkirk Mountain interior rainforest. This is the home to grizzly bear, mountain caribou, gray wolf, Canada lynx and many sensitive plants. There are 20 unprotected inventoried roadless areas that meet criteria under the Wilderness Act for possible future designation.
- Blue Mountain Additions The Blue Mountains of southwest Washington and northeast Oregon is massive mountain range, the largest in Oregon. Ranging in elevation from a few hundred feet to 9,845 feet in the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, the hiking experience varies as much as the elevation. This ecoregion contains deep rock-walled canyons, glacially-cut gorges, sagebrush steppe, juniper woodlands, mountain lakes, forests, and meadows.
Wilderness Facts
The word “wilderness” means different things to different people based on their experiences, beliefs, and misconceptions. The legal definition set by the U.S. Congress was published in the Wilderness Act of 1964.
Roadless Areas of the Columbia Highlands
Wilderness News
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On March 27th, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Representative Madeleine Dean reintroduced the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act in the U.S....
