What We Do: Accomplishments
2008:
- Northwest Storm Recovery Coalition Wins Department of Interior Award
The Northwest Storm Recovery Coalition and its Mount Rainier Recovery Initiative, which includes NPCA, the Student Conservation Association, Washington Trails Association, Washington’s National Park Fund, and The Mountaineers, focused primarily on restoring Mount Rainier National Park due to the extreme damage inflicted on the park during 2007. By the end of the summer season, more than 1700 people donated more than 84,000 volunteer hours to storm recovery. Due to such a successful turnout, the Mount Rainier Recovery Initiative, created by the Coalition, was awarded the 2008 Cooperative Conservation Award (CCA) from the US Department of Interior. The CCA, the Interior Department’s highest award for partners, is presented to private citizens and organizational partners who support the agency’s mission and demonstrated significant contributions to its programs. On April 21st, Interior Secretary Kempthorne will officially present the award to the park and coalition partners in Washington D.C.
- Fisher Reintroduced to Olympic National Park after 100 Years
NWRO participated in the National Park Service and Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife plan to restore fishers (a weasel-like animal) to Olympic National Park. Our involvement included generating broad support for the effort and submitting supportive comments on the proposed plan. This effort will hopefully lead to the successful reintroduction of 100 fishers over the next three years. Fishers are native to the Olympic ecosystem, but have been missing for 100 years after being trapped and hunted to extinction.
- Obtained over $100 Million Increase in Park Funding
NWRO worked with many members of congress to pass an omnibus bill that contained a much-needed $122-million operating increase, which will enable the National Park Service to fill some seasonal ranger positions and cover fixed costs, which had been straining park budgets. The omnibus also provided nearly $25 million to begin funding the National Park Centennial Challenge and $44 million to acquire nationally significant lands.
2007:
- Elwha Dam Removal
Working with Congressman Norm Dicks, NWRO continues to work towards removing two dams along the Elwha River in Olympic National Park. The dams currently prevent native salmon from spawning up the river, hurting the entire ecosystem of the park. NPCA led several educational tours of the Elwha River and the dams, including a presentation to the Sierra Club, an interpretive exhibit at a local festival, a river rafting trip with Olympic scientists, local media, and community members, and hikes along the river valley with people from local communities. We also led work days along the Elwha River to remove exotic species.
- Formation of Northwest Storm Recovery Coalition to Help Northwest Parks
NWRO formed a coalition with The Mountaineers, the Student Conservation Association, Washington Trails Association, and Washington’s National Park Fund to address damage to Washington’s national parks from the 2006 fall and winter storms. The coalition was successful in restoring hundreds of miles of trail, countless bridges and historic structures, as well as rebuilding backcountry campsites and facilities. The coalition also hosted a town hall-style event to discuss storm recovery at Washington’s three national parks. Finally, we helped secure $40 million from Congress for Northwest park storm recovery..
- Supported and Advocated for Park Service’s Centennial Initiative
NWRO presented at the Department of Interior’s Seattle listening session on the future of the national park system. The Seattle listening session was part of a series of nationwide meetings that ultimately led to a vision statement for the National Park Service’s centennial in 2016.. Besides testifying at the listening session, we met with many northwest members of congress to discuss the importance of this program and urge them to support it.
2006:
- Keep Conservation as Prevailing Factor in Park Management Policies
During the summer of 2006, NWRO staff and volunteers reached out to visitors in five national parks in Washington and Oregon. The focus of this effort was gaining signatures for a letter addressed to the new Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne. Nearly 2,500 visitors signed the letter asking Kempthorne to make national parks a priority in regard to funding and sound policy. Secretary Kempthorne finalized the National Park Service's highly-debated 2006 Management Policies, keeping conservation as the prevailing factor in regard to park management decisions.
- Interpretation onboard Holland America Cruise Line with National Park Service
NWRO teamed up with Holland America Cruise Line and Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park to provide onboard interpretive programming on the 61 Alaska bound cruise ships departing from Seattle during the 2006 cruise season. Nearly 7,000 cruise passengers heard the story of the Klondike Gold Rush, saw photos of the Alaska national parks they would be visiting, and learned how NPCA is protecting all of our parks.
- Centennial Challenge Roundtable Event
On the evening of December 12, 2006, NWRO welcomed more than 75 members of the concerned public and distinguished panelists, including members of Congress, to a Centennial Challenge Roundtable Event at the Seattle, Washington, REI Flagship store to discuss the future of the National Park System.
2005:
- Tracking Teddy Campaign
In 2005, our Tracking Teddy campaign collected over 5,000 personalized comment cards from park visitors to support the Centennial Act. Upon the close of the campaign, a congressional hearing to discuss chronic underfunding of national parks was held in Bellevue, Washington.
- Building Community Support for Olympic National Park
NWRO worked to build bridges between parks and gateway communities through educating local communities about visitor spending generated by national parks and by hosting workshops with business and community leaders to build public support for Olympic National Park.
2004:
- Mt. Rainier National Park Carbon River Additions
Along with allied organizations, NWRO added 800 acres of the Carbon River Valley's inland rainforest to Mt. Rainier NP. Hundreds of postcards signed by our information center visitors encouraged Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) in her legislative efforts to make this important addition to the park a reality.
2003:
- Park Information Center and Gallery Opens in Pioneer Square
NWRO’s Parks Information Center and Gallery has attracted nearly 20,000 visitors since opening in May 2003. Many took action to support greater funding for parks and supported local initiatives to protect our northwest parks.
- Endangered Ranger Campaign
NWRO's summer outreach campaigns have reached thousands of park visitors over the last few summers. Our Endangered Rangers campaign mobilized nearly 10,000 park visitors to support our endangered park rangers. This outpouring of public support helped convince Congress to pass a substantial budget increase for all national parks in 2004
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