BILL REQ. #:  S-1782.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/21/11.   

     TO THE HONORABLE BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, AND TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, The United States Department of the Interior manages one-fifth of the land of the United States and offers unparalleled recreational opportunities throughout the nation, affirming the nation's intent to set aside certain areas of outstanding scenic and scientific value for the enjoyment of present and future generations; and
     WHEREAS, The National Park Service is a bureau of the United States Department of the Interior and manages the 394 units of the national park system. Annually, more than 500 million people visit the national parks and monuments, wildlife refuges, and recreational sites; and
     WHEREAS, Tourism is an important component of the Washington state economy and is sustained, in part, by our national parks and forests, including Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, and the Olympic National Park; and
     WHEREAS, National parks provide significant economic benefits to local communities, many of which are almost solely dependent upon visitors to these parks; and
     WHEREAS, the North Cascades National Park honors Washington state's natural and cultural heritage and provides valuable educational and recreational opportunities for our citizens; and
     WHEREAS, The primitive road to Cottonwood Camp was built over 100 years ago in the late 1800s and existed prior to the creation of the North Cascades National Park in 1968 and the Washington Parks Wilderness Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-668); and
     WHEREAS, The road leading to Cottonwood Camp provides revered access to exceptional day hikes and fishing opportunities in the upper Stehekin Valley by the residents of eastern Washington, as well as for many people across this state and beyond; and     
     WHEREAS, The National Park Service developed a shuttle system utilizing this primitive road corridor to facilitate more than 2,500 people per year access to the upper Stehekin Valley from eastern Washington; and
     WHEREAS, The upper portion of the road between Car Wash Falls and Cottonwood Camp has been closed for many years due to historical flooding events of the Stehekin river in two key areas, destroying a critical link for hikers, horseback riders, and other recreationalists between the Lake Chelan National Recreation area, the Stephen Mather Wilderness trailheads, and the North Cascades National Park; and
     WHEREAS, The closure of this primitive road has restricted access for the old and young alike to witness the grandeur of this special place in a day hike from eastern Washington; and
     WHEREAS, Allowing the National Park Service to relocate and rebuild the upper Stehekin Valley Road on higher ground with no net loss of acreage to the park or the wilderness would preserve the park's existing use as identified in the 1988 Washington Wilderness Act and would mitigate the negative environmental impact of the road washing out;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States Congress, the United States Department of the Interior, and the National Park Service work cooperatively with Washington state to ensure that all citizens have the continued opportunity to access the upper Stehekin Valley within the North Cascades National Park by reestablishing this primitive road to keep this essential recreational access corridor open.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, the Director of the National Park Service, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.