Campaign Chronology

The Wild Olympics Campaign has been developing its proposal to protect watersheds on the Olympic Peninsula since 2008. Since then we have been committed to soliciting feedback from local stakeholders, educating the public through local public workshops, the media and the Campaign’s web site.

2008

  • January – A working group of conservation and recreation groups formed the Wild Olympics Campaign to develop a campaign to protect Olympic Peninsula’s watersheds
  • May – The Olympic National Park finalized their General Management Plan which considered including recommending a 16,000 acre addition using a “willing seller’ mechanism
  • September – The Wild Olympics Campaign organized “Celebrate the Wild Olympics” event in Jefferson County to educate membership and get initial feedback on developing proposal

2009

  • June – The Wild Olympics Campaign developed an initial draft vision including 160,000 acres of wilderness additions and more than 550 miles of Wild and Scenic rivers on Olympic National Forest and 64,000 acres of wiling seller park additions.
  • September – The Wild Olympics Campaign initiated 10 public workshops to discuss draft vision and solicit local feedback. More than 200 individuals attended the events which were held in all four counties of the Peninsula as well as Bremerton and Tacoma.
  • October thru June, 2010 – The Wild Olympics Campaign reached out to local stakeholders and user groups on the Peninsula to solicit feedback and adjustments to the draft vision. More than 200 meetings took place with local stakeholders , Tribes, residents and federal and state land management agencies.

2010

  • February –  Wild Olympics leaders met with over 30 west-end timber community leaders and Tribal members at the Merrill & Ring Lodge in Pysht (Clallam County) to present the draft proposal and hear feedback.
  • July – The Wild Olympics Campaign web site is launched with discussion draft maps soliciting feedback from stakeholders and residents on proposal. The discussion draft includes 134,000 acres of Wilderness additions and 469 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers on Olympic National Forest and 37,000 acres of wiling seller park additions. A press release is sent to all peninsula media outlets.
  • July thru October 2011 – The Wild Olympics Campaign and Senator Murray and Congressman Dicks’ offices reached out and respond to local stakeholder feedback from 7/10/10 proposal with intent of addressing issues. More than 150 meetings took place with local stakeholders , Tribes, residents and federal and state land management agencies.
  • September – Wild Olympics Campaign members toured municipal watershed with City of Port Townsend officials to address issues raised pursuant to web site launch.

2011

  • March –  The Wild Olympics Campaign hires former Grays Harbor County Commissioner Al Carter as our Grays Harbor Representative to assist in outreach and gathering additional public input from Grays Harbor communities. Held meetings with Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Hoquiam Business Association, local opponents and community leaders
  • April – The Wild Olympics Campaign held public workshop at Grays Harbor Community Collegeto present the draft proposal and receive community input.
  • May – The City of Aberdeen held a public meeting in advance of passing a resolution relating to the Wild Olympics proposal.
  • June – Campaign held a public workshop in Amanda Park to hear public input and address local issues
  • June –  Campaign held a public workshop in Shelton to hear public input and address local issues
  • Summer/Fall – The Wild Olympics Campaign continued to gather signatures at numerous festivals, fairs community events and supermarkets in all four counties of the Peninsula, and canvassed door to door in local communities.
  • August – November – The Wild Olympics Campaign began holding weekly public open houses at our Grays Harbor office in downtown Hoquiam to answer questions and gather input
  • November – An independent organization of local sportsmen – Sportsmen for Wild Olympics – is formed based in Quinault highlighting that benefits from the proposal for continued and enhanced hunting and fishing access
  • November – Congressman Dicks and Senator Murray announced their own reduced draft Wild Olympics proposal containing 130,000 acres of Wilderness, 464 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers and 20,000 acres of willing seller National park/Preserve additions.
  • December – Congressman Dicks and Senator Murray held public workshops – one in each of the four Olympic Peninsula counties to receive feedback on their draft proposal.

2012

  • May – The Grays Harbor County mayors held a public meeting to discuss the Congressional draft proposal in Aberdeen, WA.
  • June – The City of Cosmopolis held a public meeting in advance of passing a resolution relating to the Wild Olympics proposal.
  • June – The City of Hoquiam held a public meeting in advance of passing a resolution relating to the Wild Olympics proposal.
  • June –  Congressman Dicks and Senator Murray introduced the Wild Olympics and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act into the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate which would protect 126,000 acres of Wilderness and 461 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers. 
  • Summer/Fall –  The Wild Olympics Campaign continued to gather signatures at numerous festivals, fairs community events and supermarkets ts in all four counties of the Peninsula and canvassed door to door in local communities.
  • October – City of Port Angeles held a public meeting to receive input on the recently introduced Wild Olympics legislation.

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