Congress should expand North Cascades National Park

The return of wolverines to Washington is another welcomed success story, and it’s thanks in part to the vast and wild North Cascades [“Wolverines rebound,” page one, Feb. 1]. These rugged mountains and huge tracts of forest provide the critical habitat that endangered species, like the wolverine, need to recover. Unfortunately, full protection is not guaranteed.

Outside of the protection of North Cascades National Park, there are huge stretches of critical wilderness habitat that are vulnerable to clear-cutting and large-scale, destructive mining. These activities would fragment the park, destroy habitat for unique wildlife, and increase poisonous runoff into streams where salmon spawn.

If we want to fully protect the wolverine and other endangered species like wolves, grizzly bears and spawning salmon, we need to afford them full habitat protection by expanding North Cascades National Park.

Expanding the park requires an act of Congress. That’s why we need Washington leaders like Sen. Maria Cantwell, Rep. Suzan DelBene, and Rep. Dave Reichert to advocate for the North Cascades in Congress. Contact your legislators today and urge them to support the North Cascades and our recovering wildlife.

--Robb Krehbiel, program associate, Environment Washington, Seattle