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Watershed Restoration Initiative
Washington Watershed Restoration InitiativeThousands of miles of crumbling USDA Forest Service (USFS) roads in our state are degrading water quality, causing flooding and harming habitat for endangered salmon runs. Two-thirds of the problem roads drain into an already ailing Puget Sound. The Washington Watershed Restoration Initiative -- a coalition of state government, treaty Indian tribes in northeast Washington, and many conservation groups -- successfully sought federal funding to fix failing roads on national forest lands in Washington State. The Washington Watershed Restoration coalition was instrumental in building the case that eventually led to federal “Legacy Roads and Trails” funding. Rep. Norm Dicks, who served as the Chairman of the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, was a key partner who led the creation of the Legacy Roads and Trails funding, which benefits Washington and other states. In Washington state, federal Legacy Roads and Trails funding provided $3.4 million in 2008; $3.7 million in 2009; $8.1 million in 2010; and $2.3 million in 2011. This translates into 283 – 425 jobs in the past four years. Washington Watershed Restoration coalition members:
Presentation and BrochurePresentation: USFS Failing Road Networks News coverage“Norm Dicks, Jay Manning honored for commitment to restoring Washington state forests” – Sept. 23, 2010 “Federal funding grows green, family-wage jobs and restores national forest lands in state” – Aug. 19, 2010 "Future gets brighter for state’s aging national forest roads” – Dec. 21, 2009, news release from Washington Watershed Restoration Coalition "Feds Double Funding for N.W. Forest Road Repairs" - December 24, 2009, Public News Service:
Congress dedicates more money for aging forest roads - December 22, 2009, The Oregonian “More Spending to Fix Old Logging Roads” - National Public Radio Oct. 24, 2008 Washington Watershed Restoration Initiative TV Washington coverage of April 04, 2008, Watershed Restoration & Forest Roads Symposium, Tacoma Congress Approves $39 Million for Vital Watershed Restoration on National Forest Lands "Feds must live up to commitment to maintain failing logging roads" - Jay Manning's guest editorial in the Seattle Times For more informationStephen Bernath Water Quality Program WA Department of Ecology Phone: 360-407-6459 Email: Stephen.Bernath@ecy.wa.gov Last updated March 2012
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Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
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