The Washington Wildlife & Recreation Program (WWRP) received $80 million with the recent passage of the state’s $4.3 billion capital budget. Included in the funding are two projects in or near the Methow Valley that are funded under WWRP’s land-restoration and enhancement category.
Endangered Species Act
State protections continue for threatened squirrels, owls
Two species native to the Methow Valley — western gray squirrels and northern spotted owls — will retain threatened and endangered status, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission (WDFW) has decided.
Lawsuit seeks more protection for lynx habitat
By Ann McCreary
The Western Environmental Law Center (WELC) filed suit Monday (Nov. 17) against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in federal court under the Endangered Species Act for inadequately protecting Canada lynx habitat in Washington and other parts of the nation. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Montana on behalf of Conservation Northwest, WildEarth Guardians, Cascadia …
USFS sets meeting to discuss Flagg Mountain drilling proposal
The U.S. Forest Service will host a meeting on Monday (May 19) at the Winthrop Barn to provide information about a proposed minerals exploration project on Flagg Mountain. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Methow Valley District Ranger Michael Liu said the meeting will not be a public hearing but rather an opportunity for the […]
Drilling concerns aired
By Ann McCreary
Community members and representatives of environmental groups met Monday (April 28) with U.S. Forest Service officials to discuss concerns about exploratory drilling for copper proposed to take place as early as August near Flagg Mountain in Mazama. Concerns included potential impacts on wildlife and water, noise levels that might …
B.C. company to explore Mazama-area copper mining
By Ann McCreary
A Canadian mining company is proposing to conduct exploratory drilling in a search for copper on Flagg Mountain near Mazama, with the intention of beginning in August. The company is proposing to drill 15 holes to depths of up to 1,900 feet on U.S. Forest Service land in an operation that would include day and night shifts. The project goal is to determine if there are sufficient copper resources to warrant future mining.
