Washington waterways benefit from national public lands protection package

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 12, 2019

Contact: Crystal Elliot-Perez, Washington Habitat Director for Trout Unlimited. celliot@tu.org or 509-386-7768 or
Lisa Pelly, Washington Water Project director for Trout Unlimited. lpelly@tu.org or 509-630-0467

Washington waterways benefit from national public lands protection package

WENATCHEE, Wash. - In response to The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act signed today in the Oval Office by the President, Trout Unlimited issued the following statements regarding implications for Washington's Methow Headwaters and Yakima Basin, respectively, included in the Act:

we are grateful for our Washington U.S. Congressional Delegation’s support for protecting 340,000 acres in the Upper Methow Valley from harmful threats posed by large-scale mining. Some places are too special to mine, and this region is one of them – it sustains habitat for Endangered Species Act-listed Upper Columbia Chinook, steelhead, and bull trout, as well as a diversity of other native fish and wildlife species. In addition to protecting the integrity of the Methow River watershed, The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act protects our recreational and agricultural economy, which is dependent upon our clean water, intact landscapes, and healthy fish and wildlife populations. This is the kind of forward-thinking conservation action our state needs," said Crystal Elliot-Perez of Trout Unlimited.

In response to the inclusion of the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan, Lisa Pelly of Trout Unlimited stated the following:

“The Yakima Basin Integrated Plan is a nationally recognized plan agreed upon by an incredibly diverse coalition of irrigators, farmers, environmental and outdoor enthusiast groups, local, state and federal governments, and the Yakama Nation,” said Lisa Pelly, director of the Washington Water Project for Trout Unlimited. “Our success comes from the community-driven approach designed to resolve differences and collaborate to restore salmon, tribal treaty rights, provide reliable water supplies for fish and farms, and link land management with the watershed needs. We are thankful for the support and advocacy on behalf of Representatives Newhouse and Schrier and Senator Cantwell to get this legislation passed.”

In addition, The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund and extends authorization for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Partners for Fish and Wildlife program, both of which support habitat protection and restoration across Washington state.

"This bipartisan package is a great win for Washington state, and we thank our entire U.S. Congressional Delegation for their support,” said Elliot-Perez.

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Trout Unlimited is the nation’s oldest and largest coldwater fisheries conservation organization dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s trout and salmon and their watersheds. Follow TU on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and our blog for all the latest information on trout and salmon conservation.