What We Do: Current Regional Issues
- Restoring Native Species: At Olympic National Park, NPCA is working with NPS and the state of Washington on a plan to return the fisher, a weasel-like animal, to the park's primeval forests.
- Protecting Public Access: NPCA will continue monitoring negotiations between the Quileute Tribe and the Park Service over maintaining access at Olympic's Second Beach.
- Expanding the System: At parks like Mount Rainier NPCA has successfully advocated for federal legislation to exand the park. Specifically, NPCA efforts led to the adding of approximately 800 acres to the park’s northwest boundary. This expansion involves three main landowners who are willing and ready to sell their property to the park. NPCA is working to secure funding for these properties to help protect one of the Northwest’s most popular national parks.
- Removal of Exotic Species: North Cascades Fish Stocking: This past fall North Cascades National Park released an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) regarding fish stocking in high mountain lakes. These lakes have historically been fishless and the introduced non-native species threaten the native plants and animals that live in and around these untouched places. NPCA is advocating against fish stocking, a position contrary to the park’s EIS.
- Congressional Capacity: NPCA will also work on identifying and grooming Northwest congressional champions for the parks. We will pay particular attention to reaching out to non-traditional allies such as gateway communities in this effort.
- Protecting Habitat: Elwha Restoration/Speakers Bureau: NPCA is leading the conservation community to make sure the Elwha River dams are removed and salmon restoration takes place. The Elwha Speakers Bureau has been developed to offer communities educational presentations from experts on the Elwha River.
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